Wednesday, November 14, 2012

EVs, plug-in hybrids

DRIVE MAGAZINE -

General Motors' future green-car efforts can concentrate on plug-in hybrids and electrical vehicles instead of typical hybrid powertrains, product chief The Virgin Barra aforementioned weekday.

Barra aforementioned gram has narrowed its future development stress in a shot to defend its leadership position earned with the Chevrolet V plug-in hybrid. gram can unveil an electrical Spark machine in late November at the l.  a.   car show.

"A major focus for GM's electrification strategy can center on the plug," Barra aforementioned via a satellite feed to reporters gathered in urban center for a gram event. She other that plug-ins provide "a distinctive chance to alter the approach individuals commute" which V homeowners "love the flexibility to refuel reception."

Barra aforementioned she has worked together with her world team over the past few months to slender GM's electrification focus. within the past, gram wanted to "cover the waterfront" by following myriad powertrain technologies, however that approach is just too expensive and inefficient, she said.

"We got to create educated bets on that technologies hold the foremost potential for making values for our customers and our company," Barra aforementioned.

Traditional hybrid technology, a realm currently dominated by Toyota Motor firm., "is necessary, of course," Barra aforementioned. "But we predict plug-in technology can play Associate in Nursing more and more necessary role over the years to return."

The strategy leaves gram with an important concentrate on each finishs of the electrification spectrum: alleged pure EVs at one end and plug-in hybrids, beside its eAssist mild-hybrid technology, that uses a far smaller battery and little motor to help the internal-combustion engine below bound conditions, at the opposite.

Unlike hybrid powertrains, gentle hybrids cannot propel the vehicle below wattage alone. Barra aforementioned GM's eAssist technology provides concerning twenty five p.c higher fuel economy than a typical powertrain in some vehicles, like the Buick field game.

GM launched eAssist on the field game last year and since has other the technology to the Buick purple and Chevrolet Malibu. it'll be offered as Associate in Nursing choice on the Chevrolet antelope once the redesigned version hits showrooms early next year.

Through Oct, gram has sold  over twenty six,000 eAssist vehicles, Barra said. By 2017, gram expects to sell five hundred,000 vehicles a year globally with some style of electrification, from gentle hybrids to pure electrics, Barra said. that may equal concerning half dozen p.c of the roughly nine million vehicles gram sold  globally in 2011.

GM's sharpy concentrate on EVs and plug-in hybrids comes despite lukewarm sales of EVs like the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i.

GM has found relative success with the V, sales of that have a lot of} eclipsed the Leaf since each cars were launched with much fanfare in late 2010.

Through Oct this year, GM sold 19,309 Volts, vs. 5,003 within the year-earlier amount. Leaf sales sank sixteen p.c, to 6,791, consistent with the Automotive News knowledge Center.

GM believes the Volt's extended-range technology offers it a plus over the Leaf and different EVs by eliminating consumers' vary anxiety. The V runs for concerning thirty eight miles in electrical mode before alittle fuel generator kicks in to power the car's motor, giving the automobile a complete vary of concerning 380 miles.

GM has not nonetheless disclosed the vary of the Spark energy unit.

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