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Toward a Plug-in Hybrid Saturn Vue

Plugs and Cars

GM today announced two contracts to "design and test lithium-ion batteries" for use in the Saturn Vue Plug-in Hybrid announced last month at the LA Auto Show. Johnson Controls/SAFT, the huge battery company at which President Bush first publicly announced his support for plug-in hybrids, received one contract.

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GM Suspending 2010 Malibu Hybrid Production; Next-Generation Li-Ion Mild Hybrid Expected for 2011

Green Car Congress

General Motors has announced that there will be no retail production of the Chevrolet Malibu hybrid for model year (MY) 2010 due to “elevated inventory levels of the 2009 model.” A limited amount of 2010 Malibu hybrids may be produced to fulfill fleet sales requests. 2008 Malibu hybrid. Click to enlarge. Jack Rosebro.

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GM Will Apply Plug-in Hybrid Technology To One of Its Remaining Four Core Brands, Delivery Still in 2011

Green Car Congress

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.

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Analysis: What’s the Best Way to Market EVs?

Clean Fleet Report

All of this made me think about of the differences in the way companies are introducing EVs into their product portfolios. They could: Offer an electric version of an existing vehicle Give an electric model a new or additional identity Introduce a new electric model Create a new electric sub-brand Start a new electric car company.

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More information on hybrid sales slump

Green Cars News

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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Sales of hybrid cars increase in US

Green Cars News

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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AMP Unveils Electric Version of GM Equinox; Secret Sauce is the Drivetrain

Green Car Congress

AMP ), a company engaged in the conversion of new vehicles to full battery-electric drive, unveiled its latest all-electric conversion platform, the GM Chevrolet Equinox. found that a lot of [OEM] hybrid parts are suitable for us. AMP’s drivetrain for the electric Equinox. Click to enlarge. Close-up of the drive system showing gearing.

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