Green Car Congress

MAY 9, 2009

At the recent SAE 2009 World Congress in Detroit, General Motors engineers presented the first front-wheel-drive (FWD) iteration of their two-mode hybrid transaxle, termed the 2MT70 ( earlier post ), scheduled for its first application in the Saturn 2009 VUE 2-Mode Hybrid light sport-utility vehicle later this year ( earlier post ).

GM 257

GM Saturn Hybrid VUE 257

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

APRIL 21, 2009

If we optimistically assume the average US fuel economy is 25 miles per gallon, at $3.00 Cost increments for a plug-in hybrid compact vehicle will be 10-20% more than a regular hybrid: $2000-3000 extra for a sedan; $5000 for an SUV. The high demand for the Honda Civic hybrid tell us its at least $3,000. How much more?

Plug-in 61

Plug-in Plugin Plug Hybrid 61

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

APRIL 21, 2009

Plans Saturn Vue PHEV-10. Aims to get Saturn Vue on road in 2010; no production goal. Furia explained, "The SUVs that we just completed that were outfitted with the XHT drive train could have been any SUV made by anyone. Daimler/Mercedes Took over Daimler/Chrysler Sprinter PHEV program. See Chevy Volt for latest.

Plug-in 45

Plug-in Plug Hybrid PHEV 45