The Truth About Cars

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

We'll remain in the 21st century this week, with a very rare example of one of GM's early attempts to sell hybrid-electric cars. The first mass-produced hybrid-electric car sold in the United States was the 2000 Honda Insight , joined in the following year by the Toyota Prius.

Malibu Hybrid 62

Malibu Hybrid 2009 Chevrolet Hybrid 62

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 10, 2010

A National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) project, funded by GM, found that an ultracapacitor-based energy storage system (ESS) in a Saturn VUE BAS (belt alternator starter) mild hybrid performed at least as well or better than the NiMH battery system in the production hybrid. Tags: Batteries Hybrids. Pesaran, A.;

NiMH 299

NiMH Energy Storage VUE Saturn 299

Green Car Congress

MAY 5, 2009

Prototype Saturn Vue PHEV plugging in to a Coulomb Chargepoint ( earlier post ) in San Jose, CA. In a post on GM’s FastLane blog, Vice Chairman Tom Stephens said that the company will apply plug-in hybrid technology to one of the four core brands remaining after the restructuring: Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC. Click to enlarge.

VUE 150

VUE Plug-in GM 2011 150

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 11, 2009

Simplified schematic of different hybrid systems. The RWD version of the two-mode used to power the full-size SUV and pickup hybrid models incorporates two motors, three planetary gearsets and four clutches. The two-mode VUE, which goes on sale later this year, will accelerate from 0-60 mph in 7.5 Click to enlarge.

VUE 150

VUE GM San Diego Hybrid 150

Green Car Congress

MAY 9, 2009

General Motors 2MT70 FWD two-mode hybrid transaxle, as seen from. GM Developing Additional Full Hybrid System for Smaller Vehicles. To address that, GM is developing a third full hybrid system targeted at those applications, said Larry Nitz, GM Executive Director of Hybrid Powertrains, during an interview at SAE 2009 World Congress.

GM 257

GM Saturn Hybrid VUE 257

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 6, 2009

General Motors will debut its two-mode plug-in hybrid technology—originally intended to appear first in a Saturn VUE, prior to that brand’s sale—in a new Buick crossover vehicle in 2011. In early testing, the plug-in hybrid is capable of electric-only propulsion for more than 10 miles at low speeds. V-6 flex-fuel engine.

Buick 210

Buick Li-ion Plug-in GM 210

Green Car Congress

JUNE 13, 2009

The competition challenges university engineering students across North America to re-engineer a 2009 Saturn VUE to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions while retaining the vehicle’s performance and consumer appeal. liter engine and fueled by E85 ethanol. Tags: Conferences and other events Hybrids Plug-ins.

Ohio 150

Ohio Universal 2009 Design 150