Green Car Congress

MAY 4, 2009

Monthly US sales of hybrids. Reported sales of hybrids in the US reported by Toyota, Honda, Ford, GM and Nissan dropped 45.5% year-on-year in April to 21,735, despite full month sales for the new Honda Insight and the Ford Fusion and Milan hybrids. Year-to-date in 2009, hybrids are holding a 2.4% Click to enlarge.

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Sale Hybrid LS 600H VUE 186

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.

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VUE Plug-in GM Saturn 150

Green Car Reports

AUGUST 4, 2010

With the demise of Saturn, GM was left with only one model featuring its mild hybrid system, the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid sedan, but sadly even that green vehicle was dropped from the automaker's lineup this year.

GM 79

GM Malibu Hybrid Saturn Hybrid 79

Green Car Congress

MARCH 5, 2009

Reported sales of hybrids. Reported sales of light-duty hybrids in the US dropped 29% by volume in February year-on-year to 16,020 units. The decline in hybrids was less than the 41% decline in the overall light-duty vehicle market for the month. New hybrid sales represented 2.3% In February 2008, hybrids held 1.9%

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GS 450h VUE Sale Hybrid 170

Green Car Congress

APRIL 3, 2009

Reported US sales of hybrids. US sales of hybrids in March 2009 as reported by the automakers dropped 44% by volume year-on-year to 21,433 units; that performance was worse than the total light duty vehicle market, which posted a 36.8% US hybrids monthly new vehicle market share. Camry Hybrid posted 2,554 units, down 63.1%

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2009 LS 600H GS 450h Sale 170

Green Car Reports

FEBRUARY 23, 2011

Our reader Jonathan P asks: I have a 1997 Saturn that, remarkably, is still running. If that Saturn were a hybrid, I'm guessing the battery pack would have died about four years ago, give or take. It probably has the book value of a large watermelon, so if anything major goes wrong with it, that's the end of that.

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Saturn Hybrid Batteries Battery 83

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 24, 2016

His career has spanned nearly 40 years with GM, allowing him to work on gasoline engines, manual and automatic transmissions, propulsion and vehicle controls, and hybrid and electric systems. His work in clutch-to-clutch control set the stage for other 6-, 8-, 9- and 10-speed transmissions at GM.

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International Engine Saturn GM 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. Click to enlarge. Earlier post.)

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VUE GM San Diego Hybrid 150

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.

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Buick Li-ion Plug-in GM 210

Green Car Congress

JULY 3, 2009

Hybrid new vehicle market share by month. Reported sales of hybrids in the US increased 5.2% For the first half of 2009, hybrids held a 2.6% For the first half of 2009, hybrids held a 2.6% Hybrids significantly outperformed the total light-duty vehicle market, which dropped 27.7% Reported US hybrid sales by month.

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LS 600H Camry Hybrid GS 450h Sale 150

Green Cars News

MAY 21, 2009

However, as green cars become more mainstream could it mark the end for exclusive green car brands? It appears that it is no longer viable for companies to designate one of their brands as green because advanced fuel efficient technology is expected across their range.

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Green Cars Green Saturn Malibu Hybrid 36

Green Car Reports

MARCH 10, 2010

Recent spy shots posted by our sister site Motor Authority show that despite delays, General Motors is continuing to develop the plug-in version of its Two-Mode Hybrid system.

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Plug-in VUE Saturn Plug 60

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. In year two of the competition, teams incorporate their unique powertrains into the Saturn VUE.

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Ohio Universal 2009 Design 150

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 18, 2009

Saturn will remain in operation for the next several years, through the end of the planned lifecycle for all Saturn products. In the interim, if Saturn retailers or other investors present a plan that would allow a spin-off or sale of Saturn Distribution Corporation, GM would be open to any such possibility.

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Chrysler GM Saturn Production 150

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 4, 2009

Monthly new vehicle market share for hybrids. Hybrids had an especially good month, with reported sales jumping 31.8% Hybrid gains were largely due to an increase in Prius sales (up 29.7% to 19,173 units) and Ford hybrids (up 323% to 5,353 units). Monthly sales of hybrids. Click to enlarge. to 443, 297 units.

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Cash For Clunkers Sale Hybrid Dodge 150

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 16, 2010

The first two vehicles available for AMP conversions are the GM Saturn Sky and the GM Pontiac Solstice. By comparison, a full hybrid application yielded only a 5 °C difference between the two motor technologies over the same drive cycle. GM presented the study at the recent SAE 2010 Hybrid Vehicle Technologies Symposium.

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Conversion Motor Motors Motoring 218

Plugs and Cars

JANUARY 16, 2007

Everyone is paying attention to green. As far as greens are concerned, everything that advances that goal should be supported. The simple fact all greens need to internalize is that it's easier to find clean, renewable sources of electricity than it is to find clean, renewable liquid fuels. But enviros are all over the map.

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VUE Saturn Sierra Plug-in 100

Green Cars News

MAY 4, 2009

Yesterday we told you how hybrid sales continued their downward trend in the US. Overall, reported sales of hybrids dropped 45.5 per cent year-on-year to 21,735 even though it incorporated a full month’s sales for new vehicles such as the Honda Insight, as well as the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan Hybrids.

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Sale Hybrid GS450H Saturn 39

Green Cars News

JULY 5, 2009

After months of doom and gloom for the auto industry in the USA, there is finally a ray of hope courtesy of hybrid cars. Reported sales of hybrids in the US increased by 5.2 This meant that a total of 26,205 hybrid units were sold - some three per cent of all new vehicles, the highest monthly new vehicle share since April 2008.

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Sale Hybrid Camry Hybrid Saturn 42

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 19, 2009

GM has cancelled its recently announced compact Buick crossover, which would have offered the plug-in hybrid system originally targeted for the Saturn VUE. And we decided that the important plug-in hybrid technology would be applied to another vehicle, at no delay, that we’ll discuss in the very near future. Earlier post.).

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Buick Plug-in Plug GM 186

Green Cars News

MAY 7, 2009

In an online blog, General Motors’ (GM) vice chairman Tom Stephens stated that the company will apply plug-in hybrid technology to one of its four core brands followings its’ restructuring. The company will be divided into Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC and Buick following the decision to close Pontiac and sell Saturn.

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VUE Plug-in Saturn GM 36

Green Cars News

AUGUST 6, 2009

The two-mode plug-in hybrid technology that was originally supposed to appear in the Saturn VUE will now make its debut in a new Buick crossover vehicle in 2011. On the road, the two-mode plug-in hybrid system can use any combination of electric or petrol power to move the vehicle depending on the conditions.

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Plug-in GM Plug Buick 32

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 25, 2010

The AMP Equinox features dual Remy motors—the same model used in the GM two-mode hybrid system—applied in an AMP-manufactured drivetrain that is the “ secret sauce ” for the converted vehicle, according to Steve Burns, AMP’s CEO. found that a lot of [OEM] hybrid parts are suitable for us. Close-up of the drive system showing gearing.

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GM Conversion Saturn Li-ion 199

Green Car Congress

MAY 20, 2009

Work on a research project developing an actively coupled ultracapacitor-battery system targeted at plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) applications is attracting interest from a variety of OEMs both at a component and a system level, according to Argonne’s Ted Bohn, in his presentation at the Department of Energy Merit Review this week.

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PHEV Li-ion Batteries Battery 247

Plug In Partners

JANUARY 28, 2008

Priority given to recently closed facilities or facilities in danger of closing SEC 133 Inclusion of Electric Drive in Energy Policy Act of 1992 Adds PHEVs, hybrids, and Neighborhood Electric Vehicles to list of those vehicles receiving credit under Epact fleet requirements. Sign the On Line Petition News Summary I HOME.

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PHEV Energy Energy Storage Saturn 100

Plug In Partners

FEBRUARY 15, 2008

I t's fair to say that the plug in hybrid ( watch video ) was born in California at UC Davis through the vision and tenacity of Andy Frank; but now, as the idea and the technology begins to mature and spread, another State and another University is joining the effort: Here's the story from Channel Nine news : N.C. NCSU Chancellor James L.

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Transportation North Carolina VUE Plug-in 100

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 16, 2012

Soy-based polyurethane foams have been placed in the seat cushions and seatbacks of the Ford Mustang, Expedition, F-150, Focus, Escape, Escape Hybrid, Mercury Mariner, Lincoln Navigator, Lincoln MKS, and, most recently, 2010 Taurus. The 2010 Ford Flex’s third-row interior storage bins contained 20% wheat straw biofiller. General Motors.

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Auto Industry Industrial Industry Auto 252

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.

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GM Saturn Hybrid VUE 257

Plugs and Cars

DECEMBER 22, 2006

There is more to Dan Neil's recent LA Times column than a favorable review of yet another gasoline-only hybrid. He likes the Nissan Altima Hybrid well enough. Calls it a "Camry hybrid in tight jeans." More important, Neil says, is that it comes from an automaker that had scoffed at "hybridization."

Altima Hybrid 100

Altima Hybrid Gasoline-Electric Lithium Ion Plug-in 100

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.;

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NiMH Energy Storage VUE Saturn 299

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 30, 2009

The Saturn version of the two-mode plug-in hybrid at the Milford Proving Grounds. As part of the culling, GM has the option to re-badge vehicles from the non-core brands, such as the Pontiac G8, Opel Insignia and Saturn Vue. I was able to spend 10 minutes driving a Saturn Aura sedan with an (HCCI) engine system.

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GM Buick Fuel Economy Economy 262

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

APRIL 23, 2009

Though 12 miles is well short of the 40 plus miles of the upcoming Chevy Volt, the costs associated with the hybrid system should also fall well short of the Volts costly power train. The plug-in Prius is a separate model from the all new 2010 Prius Hybrid. Part of HighGear M E D I A Welcome to LuxuryCarReport.com!

Prius 28

Prius Plug-in Plug Miles 28

Plugs and Cars

AUGUST 18, 2007

As Burning Man attempts to go green, here's to hoping they become the first American City to ban the internal combustion engine within its borders. The founders of Google have made personal investments in Tesla as befits dotcom billionaires, and they're converting Priuses to plug-in hybrids for the company fleet with battery maker A123.

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NiMH Google Prius EPRI 100

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

APRIL 21, 2009

About CalCars Plug-In Hybrids FAQ How to Get a PHEV Where PHEVs are Carmakers Say. Our PRIUS+ Project Photos PHEV Resources Global Warming Take Action News and Events Contact Us How Carmakers are Responding to the Plug-In Hybrid Opportunity If you ask, "have major auto-makers come around on PHEVs?", Plans Saturn Vue PHEV-10.

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Plug-in Plug Hybrid PHEV 45

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

APRIL 21, 2009

How Real, How Soon, and What Must Happen Next,” which concludes the costs of creating an automotive market dominated by electric and hybrid cars are prohibitively high for the foreseeable future – as high as $49 billion for Europe alone (along with another $21 billion for battery-charging infrastructure). The group pointed to a B.C.G.

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Volt Green Electric Cars 2009 42

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

APRIL 16, 2009

It also offers eight hybrid models. They only have that many models because they use the same chassis and drivetrain to build 3 different cars, one branded as a Chevy, the next a Pontiac, then a Saturn, etc. Volt like hybrids are the intermediate future between hydrogen or fast charging electric cars. Thats short-sighted.

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Volt GM Chevrolet EV1 41