Saturn Sold to Penske, What About the Hybrids?

As Saturn is sold off to Penske Automotive Group, headed by Roger Penske, we're left with some questions about what will happen to Saturn.  Although the deal includes all of the Saturn dealerships (350 or so) and GM will continue to build Saturn cars for two years, it's unclear about how the future will unfold.  In my case, I'm left wondering a great deal about how GM will handle their hybrids in the future.


Saturn has been a test-bed for GM, with the Aura and Vue receiving the mild hybrid system (BAS) developed for GM cars.  The Vue was supposed to get the dual-mode hybrid system, turning it into a full hybrid vehicle, as well as becoming one of the first plug-in hybrids from GM.  But both of those are off the table now.

That leaves Penske with the mild hybrid Vue and Aura, but no ability to develop the next level of hybrids.  If Penske has dealers, but no production, what then?  What if he turns to other automakers in the future to build hybrid cars?  Will it be like the Nissan Altima Hybrid built with the Toyota Hybrid System?  Or will Penske stick with GM after two years to building whatever they have in stock, just with a different brand name?

Some would say this leaves Penske (Saturn) with all the options in the world.  Able to pick and choose what to build and what to sell, Saturn could do very well in the future. 

But GM is losing something here.  The hybrid technology isn't going anywhere, but their test bed is.  How will that affect future line-ups?  Is the Volt the pre-cursor to a change in how GM goes about their future?  If Saturn used to be the testing site, will Chevy now be considered first in line for any future vehicle propulsion?

Lots of questions and few answers...

Saturn Buyer Wants to Build Hybrids and Plug-in Hybrids Only

As GM moves to sell off Saturn, one of the bidders is thinking they could capitalize on the Saturn brand by turning it into a hybrid and plug-in hybrid brand. (Source: GM set to send terms of sale sheets to potential Saturn buyers | detnews.com | The Detroit News)

Gint Federas et. al. know that a hybrid/plug-in hybrid brand might be hard to sell with gas selling at $2 a gallon. But they believe oil prices are only going to continue to rise. 

"When it comes time and gas prices hit $3 or $4 a gallon, we'll differentiate ourselves," he said.

Eventually, Federas would turn Saturn into an electric car company.

It's an interesting idea and one that would appeal to the old buyers of Saturn, who were looking for something different from an American car company. It's also not a unique idea. Fisker is looking to build a low-cost plug-in hybrid (Source: Fisker CEO has plans for smaller electric car in 2010 - The Oakland Press Business).

“We’re first doing the four-door and then we’re doing the convertible and then we’re planning some third derivative off the Karma platform. Then we’re planning a high-volume vehicle for a lower price. We’ve applied for a Department of Energy grant. If that loan comes through, we’ll have this vehicle on the road in 29 months,” he said.

No word on what he means by 'low cost,' however.  The Chevy Volt, the highly touted E-REV from GM due out in 2010 will cost $40K or more, while the Prius and Insight are coming in at half the price.  If real world fuel economy reports from plug-in hybrids continue to come in at 60-70 mpg, rather than the 100 mpg people are hoping for, that price difference is going to make it hard to sell a high production plug-in hybrid.

GM Promises Plug-in Hybrid SUV

GM was supposed to have a plug-in hybrid Saturn Vue in 2011.  But with Saturn production ending, GM is re-arranging things.

General Motor's new product development chief, Tom Stephens, is now saying (source: The Associated Press: GM promises plug-in hybrid by early 2011) a new plug-in hybrid SUV in early 2011.  It will only be for fleet testing, but it would be there.  GM will conduct the testing with U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) and nonprofit Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) fleets in early 2011. (source: autonews)

GM will be modifying their two-mode hybrid system with a larger battery pack and plug.  The plug-in Vue was expected to get 35 mpg or better, but it's uncertain what a new SUV plug-in will get.

Ford is already testing a plug-in version of their SUV Escape and Toyota is already road testing a plug-in Prius, so GM is a bit behind with this announcement.  But I guess they had to think about how they were going to compensate for the loss of the plug-in Vue.

No word on what brand or vehicle would get the plug-in technology.

The Loss of Saturn Hybrids

GM has said they will stop building Saturn models with the 2009 MY, which means they will stop building Saturn vehicles in just a few weeks. That means GM is ending their Saturn hybrid line-up, the Vue and Aura hybrids. The Vue was also scheduled to come out with a plug-in version as well as a full hybrid two-mode hybrid engine.

There are three things here that need to be discussed (Source for the basis of two of the three issues: autonews). One, how the loss of the fuel efficient line-up from Saturn will affect GM under CAFE. Two, the loss of so much of their hybrid line-up (two of their six hybrid models) will have an affect on the image GM wants to present. And three, how the loss of Saturn will affect people's image of GM.

CAFE and the Loss of Saturn
First, the CAFE standards shouldn't be a problem as far as losing the more fuel efficient line-up from Saturn. Since GM is also cutting Hummer and Pontiac, the initial hit will be minor for their overall fleet. The long term shouldn't be a problem in relation to whether they kept Saturn or not. They just don't sell enough Saturns to make a big enough difference in the upcoming years when they really will have to increase their overall fuel economy levels.

The Loss of Saturn Means the Loss of Hybrids
The other issue is their hybrid technology, which won't be lost. The mild hybrid versions of the Aura and Vue were already incorporated into the mild hybrid Malibu. The BAS system from GM hasn't been very popular with buyers, but it's still there and it's still a cheap option to be employed elsewhere to raise the GM fleet's fuel economy.

The Vue two-mode, while it would have been exciting to see a full hybrid with Saturn badging, wasn't native to Saturn. The dual mode hybrid system was co-developed by GM, BMW and Chrysler and has already been sold in the Hybrid Tahoe and Yukon SUVs since last May. And more recently, it's been deployed in the Hybrid Silverado and Sierra truck platform. So there's no loss there.

The plug-in Vue may be the biggest loss, since it would have been the first major plug-in SUV on the road from a major automaker. It's unknown what kind of system the plug-in Vue would have employed, since it was never really backed by the hype machine the Chevy Volt has enjoyed. It may have been a technical nightmare or it may have been lauded as the next best thing. We'll never know now.

The real loss here is the test-bed Saturn has been, especially the Vue. Over the past few years, GM has used the Vue to showcase and test out their mild hybrid system (BAS), and was slated to receive the full mode hybrid system as well as the plug-in hybrid electric motor. GM is also losing out on 25% of their hybrid car sales, even if the were mild hybrids, which may be harder to swallow from an image standpoint. But the Saturn line-up hasn't exactly wowed spectators with their sales, anyways.

Goodbye Saturn
Mostly, what they're losing in the Saturn hybrid vehicles is their sympathy. The Saturn divisions was supposed to be different. It garnered a lot of support, a lot of popularity, and a lot of positive feelings towards GM. The hybrid models were part of that image. But like Saturn itself, it seems that those dreams of a better GM are going nowhere.

Other people have told the story of Saturn and how it got lost on the way, so I won't go much farther than this. It just makes me sad to say goodbye and I guess I just wanted to send that out there.

Saturn Vue 2-Mode Hybrid on the way to the Inauguration

GM is sending a caravan of 2-Mode Hybrid Vues to the Presidential Inauguration straight from the Detroit Auto Show. The caravan will start in Detroit and will stop off at OSU, Ottawa Elementary in Toledo, PSU, Saturn of Monroeville, PA, Saturn of Harrisburg, PA and Howard University in Washington, D.C.

The 2-Mode Saturn Vue Hybrid will go on sales later this year. GM expects the 2-Mode Hybrid Vue to be the most fuel-efficient gasoline V-6 vehicle on the market.

The caravan will make the stops in order to give people a chance to pledge to make positive changes to reduce the country's energy consumption. The Hybrid Vues will be used in D.C. as courtesy transportation, while the oversized card made infused with wildflower seeds wishing Obama well will be presented to the President-elect and then planted.

I wonder if they're going to discuss the future plans for Saturn with Obama at the same time? According to the latest news report, Saturn may be a casualty of the economy, as GM focuses in on just four brands.

Anyone signing a pledge can have their photo taken. The photos will be posted on Facebook (search on "Saturn").

2009 Saturn Vue Recall Notice

There's a recall notice on the 2009 Saturn Vue. Some (2,149) may have been built with an incorrect right and/or left front steering knuckle.

I'm not sure what a steering knuckle is, but the overall consequences could be severe. It's unclear whether the Vue hybrid is affected, but I thought there was a possibility, so I'm posting the rest of the information here.

Recall Results : ODI - Office of Defects Investigation

GM IS RECALLING 2,149 MY 2009 SATURN VUE VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECT RIGHT AND/OR LEFT FRONT STEERING KNUCKLE. AS A RESULT OF THE INCORRECT KNUCKLE AND RESULTING INADEQUATE CLEARANCE, THE TIE ROD BALL STUD COULD PULL OUT OF, OR FRACTURE, THE TIE ROD HOUSING. THIS COULD CAUSE THE TIE ROD TO SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE.
Consequence:
ALTHOUGH STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE MAINTAINED AFTER A TIE ROD SEPARATION BY THE UNAFFECTED WHEEL ON SMOOTH ROADS OR DURING LIGHT BRAKING, WITH MORE SIGNIFICANT SUSPENSION OR BRAKING INPUTS, THE AFFECTED WHEEL COULD TURN OUT AND SKID. IF A VEHICLE BUILT WITH TWO INCORRECT STEERING KNUCKLES HAD BOTH TIE RODS SEPARATE AT THE SAME TIME, STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE LOST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING KNUCKLES AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE STEERING KNUCKLE(S) AND TIE ROD(S). THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 8, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR THROUGH E-MAIL AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Saturn Vue Hybrid Delayed

GM is delaying the launch of their new two-mode hybrid Saturn Vue. Built using the same technology as their other two-mode hybrids (Tahoe, Yukon and Escalade), the Vue hybrid launch is being pushed back into 2009.

It was originally scheduled to begin deliveries in December, 2008. Now it will start appearing in dealerships in 2009.  The Vue was rumored to be delayed earlier this month, but now Saturn has confirmed it.

"It will help save some costs, and it dominoes down the line," says Saturn spokesman Steve Janisse.

In addition to postponing costs for distribution to dealers and marketing, Janisse says, "We can put off the expense of dealer training, and the dealers can put off buying special equipment to service the vehicle. It helps everybody right now."

So, they are pushing off the costs from this quarter into next.  This sort of cost cutting is not affecting the development of the Chevy Volt, so far, but apparently every little bit helps GM push off their own bankruptcy.

The Vue has been the test-bed for all things hybrid and GM.  It has been a mild hybrid (once called the GreenLine), will be a full hybrid when it goes on sale in 2009, and GM also plans on delivering a plug-in version.

Death and Re-Birth of the Two Mode Hybrid

Even as we get word Chrysler is shutting down the plant that makes the Durango and Aspen, including the two-mode hybrid models, GM has just announced they will be shutting down the plants that build the Tahoe, Suburban, Escalade and Yukon. Again, that includes their hybrid versions.

Hopefully, you weren't one of the few who went out and bought these hybrids, or if you had plans to do so, you might want to think twice about it. Re-sale value for these will tank on these truck based SUVs once the plant closes.

GM Vice-President Lutz had this to say, "It would have been very difficult in today's environment to spend a couple of billion dollars to do a replacement." Or, as Edmunds correspondent put it, "Look for the classic truck-based sport-utility vehicle to completely vanish from the American landscape over the next 24 to 36 months. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent."

But this does not spell the end of the two-mode hybrid, although it will likely go on hiatus. The Saturn Vue is due to be outfitted with a two-mode hybrid system, plus Chrysler wants you to know about the Ram Hybrid. But given how little support the companies seem to be giving these programs, it'd be a wonder if customers got behind the effort and bought one.

The lone investor in the system we haven't heard from, yet, is BMW. But since they haven't released their own version of the hybrid SUV, what chances that they will after seeing what Chrysler and GM have done?

BMW, Chrysler (when it was DaimlerChrysler) and GM spent a lot of money developing the two-mode hybrid engine. Has it all been for nothing?

Saturn Drops Green Line for Hybrid

Saturn is dropping the 'Green Line' name from their hybrid car line-up (Source: Saturn to ditch 'Green Line' nameplate for 2009). It seems customers are looking for hybrids and aren't finding them under the Saturn name.

“It was simply a practical matter. As we expand our hybrid lineup, the names were getting a bit long. It's hard to write a short sentence about the Saturn Vue Green Line 2-Mode Hybrid," Saturn spokesman Mike Morrissey told KickingTires.com.

So instead of Saturn Vue Green Line and Aura Green Line, the 2009 model year vehicles will become Vue Hybrid and Aura Hybrid.

Hopefully, customers will be able to buy more than 100 per month, too. GM, like the other car makers, has been suffering from a lack of battery packs for their hybrid line-up. Unlike the others, GM had a problem with the nickel metal hydride battery packs used in their mild hybrid line-up. Leaks were causing a loss of power, which forced GM to recall the battery packs and replace them with ones that were in line for the new hybrid cars. That put a severe crimp on the number of new hybrid cars they could sell.

The battery issue only affected the Saturn line-up of mild hybrids.

Saturn Hybrid Sales Suffer From Recall, Lack of Production

Saturn is suffering when it comes to hybrid car sales. Despite accounting for 10% of all Vue sales, for example, when they are only selling 100 or so hybrid cars a month, that can hardly be called a successful campaign.

Mostly, sales have suffered because people aren't willing to pay $1,000 more for a car that only improves their fuel economy by 1 or 2 mpg. They want the wow factor (alright, I want the wow factor, but I don't think I'm alone in that).

Another part of the problem they are having recently is a recall they had to issue on their Saturn Vue Green Line. It seems the batteries they had installed weren't holding a charge. Which means they needed to install new batteries. The batteries had to come from somewhere, so that slowed down the 2008 Vue battery supply.

But good news is on the way, as the Vue experiment continues to evolve. The next generation of Vue hybrids will come with the dual-mode hybrid system. Since it's a full hybrid, unlike the previous generation, it will see a nice increase in fuel economy. It will also need different battery packs, so it won't be slowed down by the issues facing the mild 2008 version.

Saturn is planning on boosting output of the Vue dual mode.

After that, we'll see a plug-in version of the Vue in 2009.

Source: KickingTires: Hybrid Demand Staying Strong

Saturn Donates Vue Green Line as Art

Saturn is donating the car pictured here to the Nature Conservancy of North Carolina. The 2008 Vue Green Line was painted by elementary school students in Charlotte, N.C..

Artwork from elementary school students in Charlotte, N.C., is reproduced on a 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line being donated by Saturn to The Nature Conservancy of North Carolina.

Photo by Saturn on Flickr.

Press Release Follows:

CHARLOTTE, NC — November 15, 2007 — The North Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy accepted a brand-new, 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid crossover SUV today at the Charlotte International Auto Show. Saturn General Manager Jill Lajdziak handed the keys to Mike Horak, associate director of TNC’s North Carolina Chapter, on behalf of Saturn and General Motors.

The Vue Green Line hybrid, which boasts the highest highway fuel economy (32 mpg) of any SUV in the industry, will be used by Conservancy staff to travel to and from various projects throughout the state.

“Saturn is pleased to live its values by providing this Vue Green Line to the North Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy and, in the process, raise the community’s awareness of our commitment to the environment,” said Lajdziak. “This is another example of GM’s ongoing global partnership with the Conservancy – a partnership that successfully demonstrates how a healthy economy and a healthy environment can go hand-in-hand.”

Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid
2008 Saturn Vue Hybrid donated to The Nature Conservancy © Saturn Communications

Since 1977, The Nature Conservancy’s North Carolina Chapter has sought to preserve the state’s natural diversity and has protected nearly 700,000 acres, from the Alligator National Wildlife Refuge to Grandfather Mountain. In North Carolina, it currently owns and manages more than 60 preserves encompassing more than 117,000 acres. Conservancy scientists and land stewards will use the donated Saturn Vue Green Line for land protection activities across the state.

“Given The Nature Conservancy’s mission to protect critical natural areas, it is important that we ‘walk the talk’ when it comes to the vehicles we drive. When we do need vehicles for our work, it only makes sense that we drive fuel-efficient models. Saturn’s donation of a new Vue Green Line hybrid will help us carry out our conservation mission and at the same time be good environmental stewards,” said Katherine Skinner, executive director of the North Carolina Chapter.

A compact, five-door crossover vehicle with European-inspired design and sporty ride and handling, the 2008 Saturn Vue is the latest Saturn model to showcase the brand’s new design character and intensified focus on driving characteristics. It also reinforces Saturn’s commitment to safety by offering a comprehensive list of safety-enhancing features.

The affordable hybrid system on the Vue Green Line combines sophisticated controls with an electric motor/generator mated to a 2.4L four-cylinder engine and a modified four-speed automatic transmission. The system saves fuel by providing an electric power assist during acceleration; shutting off the engine at idle; early fuel cut-off during deceleration and capturing energy through regenerative braking. This affordable hybrid system enables EPA estimated fuel economy of 25 mpg city and 32 mpg highway.

The Nature Conservancy and General Motors
In 1994, The Nature Conservancy and General Motors began a relationship that was unprecedented for both organizations because of its size and scope. General Motors was drawn to the Conservancy because its collaborative approach promotes a healthy economy and a healthy environment. It also generates innovative initiatives within local communities that preserve our landscapes, help local economies and save precious places around the world.

During the past 13 years GM has donated more than $10.3 million in cash and more than 180 vehicles to aid the often-rugged conservation work of The Nature Conservancy. GM’s funding supports many different projects within the Conservancy and GM’s donated vehicles are serving on preserves in all 50 states and in 20 other countries.

In addition, GM has provided more than $10 million to The Nature Conservancy to restore and protect about 30,000 acres of endangered land in the Atlantic Rainforest Restoration Project in Brazil. To date, GM’s total donation to the Conservancy totals more than $25 million.

GM employees also have been very generous. Through the employee-giving program, employees are allowed to donate a portion of their pay to The Nature Conservancy. Since 1998, GM employees have pledged and donated more than $1 million.

AFS Trinity Gives the Saturn Vue a 150 mpg Makeover

AFS Trinity took a 2007 Saturn Vue Green Line SUV and turned it into the XH-150, a 150 mpg gas sipper extreme plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV). Using a hybrid system that utilizes both lithium-ion batteries and ultra capacitors, they not only turned on the fuel economy, but they also improved the power. The SUV can now go 0-60 in 6.9 seconds when in full hybrid mode. That's better than the Lexus RX400h.

The 'extreme' hybrid can go 40 miles up to 87 miles per hour on all electric power assuming a full overnight charge. It can extend it's range to 400 miles when performing as a hybrid.

The cost is about $8,700 more for the technology, but "... if the price of gasoline is, say, $2.85 per gallon, XH™ gasoline cost savings could repay the purchase price premium in 3.5 years," AFS Trinity CEO Edward W. Furia said. "The higher fuel prices go, of course, the faster the premium is repaid. At a price of $5 a gallon, which is the price already being paid in parts of the world, the premium could be repaid in less than three years and the savings would continue to grow. Tax and other incentives could accelerate this process."

Furia also thinks if they put the technology into a sedan, they would get 250 mpg. AFS wants to license the technology to car makers, but if that fails, they would like to raise funding to do it on their own. Furia goes on to say he believes these vehicles could be available in three years and that the price tag will come down as more are sold.

YouTube Video From AFS Trinity describing how the XH works.

Ultra-capacitors were recently seen in use by Toyota, in its Supra Hybrid Engine. Toyota used that engine to win the 24 hour Motor Race.

Update: I noticed some people visiting from technocrat and thought you should know that AFS Trinity is not an Australian company. AFS Trinity is a privately-owned Delaware corporation headquartered in Bellevue, Washington. Their partner on this project was Ricardo, who, I believe, is located in the UK.


Press Release Follows:

DETROIT, January 13, 2008 . . . In just completed road tests, a 2007 SUV straight off an American automaker’s showroom floor and subsequently equipped with the patent pending Extreme Hybrid™ (XH™) drive train, exceeded 150 mpg, AFS Trinity Power Corporation reported today at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.

AFS Trinity CEO Edward W. Furia provided details of the tests and the patent pending Fast Energy Storage™ system that makes the Extreme Hybrid™ possible. During Furia’s report, a second, identically-equipped and fully functional SUV demonstrator of the XH™ technology was unveiled and will remain on display throughout the Auto Show.

“Extreme Hybrids™ don’t need high priced technology and don’t require new or expensive fuels, such as hydrogen, which, according to Argonne National Labs, will cost twice as much as gasoline at the pump and require installation of an infrastructure costing half a trillion dollars. The Extreme Hybrid™ is not a concept,” Furia said, “but a practical alternative that relies on cheap electricity from America’s vast existing energy infrastructure—the electric power grid.” Furia also pointed to a recent U.S. DOE study that concluded sufficient excess electrical generating and transmission capacity exists today during off-peak hours in America’s power grid to recharge 84% of America’s light duty car, truck and SUV fleet—184 million vehicles—even if they were all converted to plug-in hybrid drive trains.

TEST RESULTS

According to Furia, the Extreme Hybrid™ tests just completed at Michelin’s Laurens Proving Grounds in South Carolina produced . . .

• more than 150 miles per gallon of gasoline based on the EPA Combined Urban/Highway Driving Cycle with 6 days per week of 40 miles per day in all electric mode and one day at 100 miles with assistance of the gas engine. Different driving patterns will produce different results
• 40 mile all-electric range on a single, overnight charge.
• Extended range of 400 miles with hybrid operation.
• Rapid acceleration in all modes of operation, including all electric mode in which no gasoline is burned at all.
• Highway speeds up to 87 miles per hour in either all electric or hybrid mode
• Even faster acceleration and higher speeds possible in future production models should the company decide to configure them for such performance.

AFS Trinity XH-150™ Performance Comparison Table

	AFS Trinity XH-150™	2008 Lexus RX400h	2007 Saturn Vue Greenline	2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
Combined City/Hwy Mileage	150 MPG	25 MPG	26 MPG	20 MPG
0-60 time • Full Hybrid mode • All-electric mode • Mild Hybrid mode	6.9 secs 11.5 secs 12.5 secs	7.5 secs	12.5 secs	8.1 secs
Top Highway Speed	87 MPH	116 MPH	106 MPH	112 MPH
Weekly Gasoline Cost	$7.93	$47.60	$45.77	$59.50
Weekly Electricity Cost	$7.56	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Total Weekly Fuel Cost	$15.49	$47.60	$45.77	$59.50

1. Fuel economy figures for Chevrolet Tahoe, Toyota RX400h, Saturn Vue Greenline reflect published data citing latest 2008 EPA calculation method.
2. Weekly fuel cost based on gasoline at $3.50/gallon and 40 miles/day of driving Monday through Saturday and 100 miles of driving on Sunday for a total of 340 miles.
3. Tahoe top speed estimated based on 2007 conventional Tahoe.
4. Fuel economy figures for XH-150™ based on projections of mixed urban/highway drive cycle.
5. Electricity cost based on PG&E off-peak EV charging rate of 6 center/kWh.
6. Top speed based on transmission limit. Higher speeds possible with other components.
7. Although the XH™ system can be optimized for fuel economy, top speed or acceleration, fuel economy is the company’s priority.

“Keep in mind that these results were not in a small two-seater, but in a medium-size family SUV designed to support a serious supermarket run or a family’s weekend recreational activities,” Furia said.

LICENSE OR MANUFACTURE

According to Furia, the next step for AFS Trinity is to license its breakthrough technology to carmakers who want to incorporate the XH™ drive train into their vehicles. “That would be our preference,” said Furia.

“However,” he continued, “If carmakers decide not to take advantage of this offer, AFS Trinity intends to raise the funds to begin modifying existing hybrids or manufacture its own 150 mpg SUV’s and, eventually, 250 mpg sedans. We believe such production models could be available for sale in three years.”

Furia explained, “The SUVs that we just completed that were outfitted with the XH™ drive train could have been any SUV made by anyone. The XH™ is a new generation of plug-in hybrid drive train ready to multiply the gas mileage of any SUV or any standard sedan.”

XH™ WILL PAY FOR ITSELF

“In spite of growing popularity of hybrid vehicles,” Furia said, “none of them have delivered gasoline savings sufficient to repay the purchase price premium of the hybrid system during the useful life of the vehicle. With the Extreme Hybrid™ that is about to change.”

Extreme Hybrid technology in commercial production is expected to cost around $8,700 more than current, gas-only SUV’s. “However, if the price of gasoline is, say, $2.85 per gallon, XH™ gasoline cost savings could repay the purchase price premium in 3.5 years,” Furia said. “The higher fuel prices go, of course, the faster the premium is repaid. At a price of $5 a gallon, which is the price already being paid in parts of the world, the premium could be repaid in less than three years and the savings would continue to grow. Tax and other incentives could accelerate this process.”

ROCKET SCIENTISTS AND CAR GUYS

The technology that made these results possible came from the former space and atomic energy scientists at AFS Trinity's Livermore, California, laboratory with integration of the technology into the American SUVs made possible by respected global automotive engineering leader, Ricardo.

“This has been a collaboration of rocket scientists and car guys,” Furia said. “They have taken the best from aerospace and computer science as well as automotive engineering to produce in a very short time frame and largely with off-the-shelf components a working vehicle prototype in which the XH™ plug-in hybrid drive train has been demonstrated in a family-size SUV.”

A SOLUTION READY NOW

Furia said, "The Extreme Hybrid drive train is an economical solution to the high cost of gasoline, the dangers of oil dependence and the environmental damage caused by too much gasoline being used to travel too few miles.”

“This is a time in automotive development where many promises have been made and a wait-and-see attitude has developed,” Furia said. “The XH-150 is not a promise but a fact with ‘tires to kick.’ The XH-150 does not require exotic or controversial fuels, it works within the present energy infrastructure, and components are available off-the-shelf at reasonable prices – prices that will only drop lower as volume demand increases. Just as important, XH™ production vehicles are capable of being built now at prices many people can afford.”

AFS Trinity issued a 14-page summary of key factors surrounding the XH-150, including how the Extreme Hybrid technology works. (Editors’ note: If the summary is not attached it is available as .pdf file by emailing hq@afstrinity.com).

Furia also invited review of the XH-150 data gathered during road tests at Michelin’s Laurens Proving Grounds by visiting www.afstrinity.com.

TECHNICAL BREAKTHROUGH

“Addressing the central limitations of chemical batteries was critical to creating the Extreme Hybrid,” Furia explained. “Batteries work best when they provide a slow, steady flow of electricity. Offering enough power for fast acceleration is difficult and damaging to batteries, and this is especially true as batteries become deeply discharged.”

“The most common solution is to employ many more batteries and simply shallow-discharge them, which is impractical for all but expensive, exotic vehicles. Instead, the Extreme Hybrid accesses AFS Trinity’s long history of developing Fast Energy™ solutions for NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense and others. At the heart of this new Fast Energy™ technology are patent pending control electronics to cache power for short periods in ultra-capacitors and provide this power in bursts for all-electric acceleration that is better, in many cases, than the internal combustion engine of the host vehicle,” Furia said. “Until the Extreme Hybrid, hybrids have resorted to gasoline to satisfy acceleration demands.”

SAFETY BREAKTHROUGH

According to Furia, one reason carmakers have resisted plug-in hybrids has been reports of some isolated, but troubling fires involving lithium batteries in laptops that were pushed beyond thermal limits. “All devices through which currents are drawn experience some resistive heating, including all types of batteries. Batteries can be safe if they avoid excessive resistive heating. By using ultra-capacitors as pools of rapid energy," Furia explained, "the proprietary control electronics of the Extreme Hybrid™ not only keep the batteries within safe resistive heating limits, but also extend battery life. We regard XH™ technology as an important safety breakthrough, which is a critical factor in making Extreme Hybrids™ practical now."

CALCULATING MILEAGE

“Gasoline mileage is calculated by using average American driving patterns estimated by the U.S. Department of Transportation and simulating the EPA combined urban/highway driving cycle of the host vehicle operating only with its conventional hybrid drive train. In 2003, the U.S. Department of Transportation reported that 78% of Americans drive less than 40 miles a day. On those days, drivers of Extreme Hybrids will need no gasoline at all -- even driving an SUV,” Furia said.

“Say someone drives 40 miles a day 6 days a week and 100 miles the seventh. That’s 340 miles a week. The first 280 are electric. The next 60 miles use gas. That’s 340 miles on a little more than two gallons of gasoline for the week, assuming 32/29 urban/highway mileage in the host unmodified hybrid SUV. Although this translates into 170 MPG, we use a more conservative 150 MPG to take into account that mileage will vary depending on where and how a car is driven, but we are comfortable that 150 miles per gallon of gasoline is a good number.”

2009 Saturn Vue Green Line 2 at the Detroit Auto Show

The 2009 Saturn Vue Green Line Two-Mode Hybrid SUV will be introduced by GM at the Detroit International Auto Show. The Saturn Vue has been the test bed for hybrids inside GM. It has received a mild hybrid system (the 2008 Saturn Vue Hybrid which is produced in Mexico), it will be one of the first two-mode hybrids on the road (the 2009 model) and in the future, GM has promised the Vue will be one of the first cars to come with a plug (perhaps the Vue plug-in will be in 2009?).

"I think some consumers today might be held back if the hybrid is not affordable," Jill Lajdziak, Saturn general manager, said ahead of the Vue's premiere this month at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. "I think we give people the option that you don't have to go broke to go green by offering choice in the marketplace."

The two-mode hybrid Vue will go into production in late 2008. It is expected to improve the fuel economy by 50% over the V6 model, which will put it at 29 mpg combined (35 mpg highway). It will also have a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. The two-mode hybrid system will cost more than the mild version (mild hybrid Vue MSRP $24,795), so it won't be the cheapest hybrid on the road.

The current mild hybrid system gets 32 mpg on the highway, 28 mpg combined. Which makes me wonder why anyone would go for the 'upgrade' to the two-mode system? According to GM, the towing and performance (0 to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds) will make it worthwhile.

The two-mode hybrid system was co-developed by BMW, Chrysler and GM and will be seen first in the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid and GMC Yukon Hybrid. The Vue will be the first front-drive vehicle to get the two-mode hybrid engine.

The 2009 Saturn Vue Green Line 2 (and isn't that a mouthful?) comes with a 3.6-liter direct-injection V-6 with four-speed automatic, two 55-kilowatt electric motors and a 300-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery. It also comes equipped with lightweight aluminum wheels, low-rolling resistance tires and an electric power-steering system.

There is no reverse gear. Instead, the electric motor will power the vehicle when backing up. The suspension was changed a little by revising the spring and stabilizer bar rates, along with recalibrated front struts and rear shock absorbers.

The tachometer is replaced by a fuel-efficiency gauge that also tells the driver when the vehicle is in electric-only mode, engine-only mode, or a combination of the two and serves as a reminder the vehicle is on even if the engine is off.

Saturn Vue Hybrid Begins Production in Mexico

The new hybrid Vue from Saturn began production in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico (Source: GM launches Saturn Vue hybrid production in Mexico - Automotive News). The 2007 Vue Greenline stopped production back in February.

The Vue is a popular testbed for GM to try out the hybrid systems it has. It started as a mild hybrid system, with start-stop technology and regenerative braking, but not much else. The newest incarnation of the hybrid Vue will be based on the two mode hybrid system co-developed by DaimlerChrysler, GM and BMW. GM has also said the Vue will become a plug-in hybrid when the technology for it is developed (in other words, when the batteries are ready).

Vue production started in Mexico back in July. Through November 24, 58,836 Vues have been produced there. The plant has a capacity of 6,500 hybrid Vues annually.

The 2008 Saturn Vue Hybrid will be available in the US in the first weeks of 2008. If it goes on sale in Mexico, it will badged as a Chevy and called Captiva.

2008 Saturn Vue Hybrid Green Line

The 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid is set to receive a 25 mpg city and 32 mpg highway rating from the EPA. The 4 cylinder 2008 Vue XE gets a 19 city/26 highway, so that's quite a good increase in fuel economy. The Green Line MSRP of $24,795 is $3,345 more than the XE, so that's about an average premium price for the hybrid system. (Note: the Ford Escape Hybrid comes in with a MSRP of just over $25,000).

If you drive 15,000 miles a year (60% highway), you will be saving around 140 gallons a year in fuel or just under $400 a year in fuel costs. Add in the possible tax savings from the federal tax credit on hybrid cars ($650 for the 2007 model, unknown right now for the 2008 model), and you can make up that price differential. But unless you can add in some local incentives (state tax breaks, HOV access, parking, local tax break, insurance costs), it will take years.

The Vue Green Line Hybrid mates an electric motor to the 2.4-liter, 172 hp, four cylinder engine with a modified automatic transmission. The internal combustion engine (ICE) will shut off during deceleration and when the vehicle is stopped and the battery pack is recharged through regenerative braking or the gas engine when needed. The electric motor assists the ICE when accelerating. To improve fuel economy, low resistance tires have been added.

The hybrid system comes with some displays to help the driver out when driving to maximize the fuel economy.

• Charge/assist gauge - Indicates when the hybrid system is providing propulsion assist or when the hybrid battery is being re-charged.
• Eco light - Illuminates when the vehicle is meeting or exceeding the federal government's fuel economy rating.
• Auto stop position on tachometer - Indicates when the engine shuts off at idle.
• Driver information center - provides instantaneous and average fuel economy information, in addition to other important vehicle data.

You also get 17-inch polished alloy wheels, rear spoiler, painted fascias and single-zone automatic climate control. Other standard features include:

• OnStar
• six air bags
• antilock brakes
• tire pressure monitors
• active front head restraints
• a pedal release system for the accelerator and brake
• StabiliTrak electronic stability control withtrailer sway control

The Vue was chosen to be the test bed for GMs hybrid innovation. GM started off with the mild hybrid version, but in 2008 the Vue will get the 2-mode hybrid system co-developed with BMW and DaimlerChrysler. GM has also said the Vue Hybrid will get a plug-in version whenever the battery technology arrives.

Saturn Plug-In Vue in 2009-ish?

Saturn is looking to be the first to market with a plug-in, and is hoping to bring it in using the Vue. The Vue has had a mild hybrid system and will be updated with the dual mode hybrid system in 2008. And now, we have a possible time line on when to expect the plug-in version.

The Vue may be available in "2009-ish" according to Jill Lajdziak, brand general manager for Saturn. The Vue will likely be able to run for 10 miles on electric power alone. It will then be powered (or recharged?) by the gas engine.

GM has been very serious about its development of plug-in hybrids. But GM has also said the plug-in Vue would be powered by a Lithium-Ion battery. I wonder if that is still true given the 2009 figure?

Source: Saturn's plug-in hybrid coming around 2009

Saturn Aura Hybrid Tax Credit

The IRS is setting the Saturn Aura Hybrid tax credit at $1,300. Since the price tag of a hybrid Aura is only $1,700 more than a conventional, gas-only model, this mild hybrid could be very tempting for those who are looking at the Aura.

The Aura Green Line gets an EPA rating of 28 mpg city/35 mpg highway, which is a 30% improvement over the XE model. It's a mild hybrid, capable of turning the gas engine off when the car is stopped (say at a red light), with regenerative braking for the nickel-metal hydride battery pack. The electric motor is paired with a 2.4-liter gas engine that together provides 164 horsepower (122 kW) at 6400 rpm and 159 lb.-ft (215 Nm) of peak torque at 5000 rpm.

In case you missed the commercials, the Aura midsize sedan won the 2007 North American Car of the Year. It received five stars in government frontal and side-impact crash tests. Standard features include dual-stage front, side head-curtain and front-seat thorax protection air bags; StabiliTrak electronic stability control; four-wheel disc brakes with ABS; and GM’s OnStar safety and security system.

Compare the Aura to other hybrids.

GM Update on the Volt and PHEV Saturn Vue

GM wants everyone to know they are working on bringing concepts like the Volt and the plug-in electric hybrid (PHEV) Saturn Vue into production. Apparently, they have been accused of 'greenwashing' the public (I like that... greenwashing. I need to remember that one).

So, what are they doing to make these ideas a reality?

• Invested in an upgrade to battery testing and development facilities
• Dedicated a battery team, with plans to increase staffing by 30% (over two years)
• Promoted Denise Gray to be the new "battery czar," i.e. Director of Energy Storage Systems
• Cobasys/A123Systems and Johnson Controls-Saft received development contracts for lithium-ion batteries
• Testing to begin on the batteries for the Vue Plug-In Hybrid by the end of this year
• first demonstration vehicles that use E-Flex.
• Formed a special executive leadership council for the E-Flex program

GM seems to be taking this pretty seriously. Given their lackluster performance so far in hybrid technology, I believe most people will take a wait and see attitude, however.

GM Source: GM FastLane Blog: Getting a Jolt From Volt

Saturn Aura Hybrid Price Tag

The Saturn Aura Green Line (Hybrid) is going on sale in April at $22,045. While this price is only slightly ($1,700) above the conventional 2007 Aura price, it's $4,000 below the Toyota Camry Hybrid starting price. It's also cheaper than the Nissan Altima Hybrid ($2,000) and almost $9,000 less than the Honda Accord Hybrid. The Toyota Prius, on the other hand, has an MSRP of $22,175.

The Saturn Aura did just win the 2007 North American Car of the Year at the Detroit Auto Show. But at 28/35 mpg, you're not getting the wow! factor for mileage you would expect from a hybrid. That's because the 2007 Aura Hybrid is what's being termed a mild hybrid. The electric motor/generator is tied into the 2.4L Ecotec-based engine as an assist, not as a full partner in powering the car.

So, although the Aura Hybrid gets similar numbers to the Accord Hybrid, the Accord was built for performance, not fuel economy. The other hybrids listed here are rated for more than 40 mpg city.

In other words, this is a case of getting what you pay for.

Saturn Vue Green Line Ending Production

The 2007 Saturn Vue Hybrid is ending production at the end of March. At that time, the factory in Spring Hill, Tennessee will stop building the 2007 model. Sometime in September, a redesigned 2008 model will begin production in Mexico.

The Vue Hybrid is selling around 700 units a month, which puts it at a pace well below the Highlander Hybrid and Ford Escape Hybrid. The Vue Green Line is the least expensive hybrid SUV on the road, but the old saying about you get what you pay for comes to mind.

The Saturn Vue Hybrid runs off the belt alternator system (BAS) which allows the electric motor to assist the gas engine in propelling the car. It also has regenerative braking to power the battery pack. That gives it the better fuel economy, but unlike the Highlander or Escape, the Vue is not a full hybrid and cannot run on the electric motor alone. And so it's Green Score isn't as high, either.

This change over will result in a sales low point in the spring for the Vue, just as it did for the Civic Hybrid back in October, 2005. The Aura Green Line will be out mid-April, so Saturn won't be completely out of the hybrid market during this six month hiatus.

In other news, Troy Clarke, president of GM North America said he hopes Saturn's US sales could rise more than the 6 percent it did this past year.

"We think we can," Clarke told reporters at the Chicago Auto Show when asked if he thought Saturn could turn in a better performance in 2007 than it did in 2006, when sales rose 6 percent.

"Just look at the portfolio we've laid out here," he added. "These guys have never had anything this good to sell in the past in terms of the quality and the range of vehicles."