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GM pushes hybrid envelope to 70 miles-per-gallonGM states future plug-in hybrid achieve 70 mpg
Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrid
Previously, General Motors announced that it will be introducing a plug-in version of its Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid in 2008 for the 2009 model year which will achieve 70 mpg. (Pictured is the non-plugin 2006 model.) The market expects to expand the number of hybrids from around 200,000 units per year to 800,000 units a year in 2012.
The advanced hybrids are said to be a step toward GMs ultimate goal of producing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. But is the goal feasible? Four of the most popular hybrids on the market today are the Ford Escape, Honda Civic, Toyota Camry, and the Toyota Prius. The latter currently delivers 60 mpg in the city and 51 mpg on the highway; the Camry offers 40 mpg in the city and 38 on the highway; the Civic achieves 49 mpg in the city and 51 mpg on the highway; and the Escape rates 36 mpg in the city and 31 on the highway. So it is not surprising that most in the industry are shocked and excited about GM's mpg estimates for the Green Line while many scoff at the 70 mpg estimate. Our take? We don't see why GM couldn't achieve such figures. The biggest hurdle that automakers are facing is the battery: while the technology is available, it is prohibitively expensive. GM, like the rest, are looking over their options to see if such batteries can not only be made more efficient but less costly as well.
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