Hybrid Car Review

GM's bid for publicity happens to be of larger interest to me, given my interest in football (see my other blog). The hybrid buses will be providing transportation to all the activities in Detroit for the journalists and VIPs.

Press release follows:

GM to Provide Hybrid Transit for Super Bowl XL

Journalists and VIPs from around the world will experience the benefits offered by GM's hybrid technology

DETROIT - Journalists and VIPs attending NFL-related activities during the week of Super Bowl XL will be shuttled around the Motor City in five buses powered by GM's hybrid propulsion technology.

While transporting the media and NFL guests to and from press conferences, parties and other Super Bowl events Tuesday-Saturday (Jan. 31-Feb. 4); the five GM hybrid-powered buses will save more than 100 gallons (1,135 L) of fuel compared with conventional buses. On an annualized basis, the five GM-hybrid buses conserve more than 7,500 gallons (28,390 L) of fuel.

One of the world's premier sporting events, the Super Bowl is attended by 3,500 credentialed international journalists. The GM hybrid powered buses will be part of the NFL's transportation fleet, which consists of over 30 transit buses and more than 400 vehicles from Cadillac.

"The NFL has provided GM with an outstanding opportunity to showcase the benefits of our advanced hybrid technology to the world," said Beth Lowery, GM vice president of environment and energy. "Transit buses are an excellent application for hybrid propulsion systems, because buses consume significantly more fuel than cars or light trucks and they are often utilized in stop-and-go city traffic."

In addition to achieving significantly better fuel economy, GM hybrid-powered buses produce up to 60 percent fewer oxides of nitrogen emissions and 90 percent fewer particulate, hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions compared with conventional diesel buses.

Other benefits include reduced maintenance costs resulting from extended brake, engine oil and transmission oil life; 50 percent faster acceleration than conventional diesel buses and operational sound levels approaching that of passenger cars.

Currently, there are nearly 380 GM hybrid-equipped buses operating in 29 cities in the U.S. and Canada. For 2006, GM starts the year with 216 hybrid-powered buses scheduled for delivery to six U.S. cities.

"The General Motors hybrid system in these buses uses the most efficient parallel hybrid architecture available in the world today, and has served as a starting point for GM's co-development with BMW Group and DaimlerChrysler of a two-mode full hybrid system for applications in trucks, cars and sport utility vehicles," said Tom Stephens, group vice president of GM Powertrain. "GM will launch the two-mode full hybrid in 2007 in the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon."

The clean hybrid technology is manufactured by GM's Allison Transmission, maker of transmissions and hybrid propulsion systems for commercial trucks, buses, off-highway equipment and military vehicles, headquartered in Indianapolis. The hybrid buses for the Super Bowl were provided by North American Bus Industries (NABI), the Transit Authority of River City (TARC) and GM Allison.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader for 75 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 327,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2005, 9.17 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GM operates one of the world's leading finance companies, GMAC Financial Services, which offers automotive, residential and commercial financing and insurance. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.