Last week, General Motors announced to the press that the 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line will be equipped with its 2-mode hybrid engine, the results of its collaboration with BMW and DaimlerChrysler. (Pictured is the standard, all-new Vue.)
2-mode hybrid engine use a sophisticated continuious variable transmission (CVT) to increase fuel economy and power. According to GM, the 2008 Vue Green Line will have up to 45 percent better fuel-economy than its non-hybrid counterparts while still possessing plenty of torque for quick acceleration and going up hills.
The 2-mode engine will later follow in the future Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon.
Our take? We think the 2-mode hybrid's a smart move for GM. While the Prius continues to be the darling among many hybrid-lovers, a sedan actually is the last vehicle that should have a hybrid engine. Most of today's 4-cylinders cars have equivalent gas range and power while emitting low pollution. SUVs, on the other hand, practically cry out for hybrid engines due to their low mileage. Unfortunately for the hybrid manufacturers, consumers are used to their SUVs being powerful as well. The 2-mode hybrid engine may be give GM (and Chrysler and BMW, if they decide to use their share) the advantage.
LOS ANGELES – General Motors Corp. will expand the industry’s most diverse portfolio of hybrid technologies in 2008 with the debut of its front-wheel-drive, 2-mode hybrid system in the Saturn Vue Green Line SUV, the automaker announced at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show.
By using this sophisticated hybrid technology, the Vue Green Line 2-mode Hybrid is expected to deliver up to a 45-percent improvement in combined city and highway fuel economy compared with the non-hybrid Vue, based on current federal test procedures.
“We are delivering on our promise to continue our steady rollout of additional hybrid applications, each offering different levels of affordability, fuel savings and performance,” said Tom Stephens, GM group vice president, GM Powertrain. “This will be the auto industry’s first front-wheel-drive vehicle to use a 2-mode hybrid system, which improves fuel economy while maintaining performance and capability.”
The Vue Green Line 2-mode Hybrid SUV will be powered by GM’s 3.6L V-6 gas engine, with direct injection and variable valve timing, a nickel-metal hydride battery pack and two active cooled permanent magnet motors.
The front-wheel-drive, 2-mode hybrid system optimizes city and highway fuel efficiency by integrating two electric continuously variable modes with four fixed mechanical gear ratios.
This design is similar to the 2-mode hybrid system for rear-wheel-drive applications, which will debut next year in the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon full-size SUVs.
The 2-mode hybrid system improves fuel economy by the following operations:
- Engine off at idle
- Low speed electric-only propulsion
- Electric boosting during brisk acceleration, climbing steep grades or towing
- Cutting off fuel to the engine during vehicle deceleration
- Regenerative braking
- Engine speed and load control
“The 2-mode hybrid system has the flexibility to improve fuel efficiency across a range of vehicles,” Stephens said. “For example, in 2003, we introduced the 2-mode hybrid system for transit buses. In 2007, the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon 2-mode full-size SUVs will debut, followed by the Vue Green Line 2-mode in 2008.”
By using two electric modes and four fixed gear ratios, the 2-mode hybrid system’s electric motors are smaller, compared with traditional “one-mode” hybrid systems, and impose no significant limitation on the size of the engine.
Consequently, the 2-mode hybrid system fits into the same space as a conventional automatic transmission, minimizing packaging, cost and weight issues. The result is exciting performance and outstanding fuel economy.