GM orders 100,000 Hitachi Lithium-Ion Batteries BAS+ comming soon

[johnstarnes]

Originally Posted by Dr. Show-Me

My understanding of the first generation of BAS was a system that basically restarted an engine that was stopped, and running accessories and ac with the engine off. I thought I read that the BAS+ would be powerful enough that it could also accelerate the car, thus increasing fuel economy in city driving while not affecting city driving economy. Some 10-15% improvement in city mileage.

That reminds me that I have never really looked into what BAS actually IS.....I will now. But I think it involves a generator sandwiched inbetween the engine and transmission.

['Vette Dude]

Originally Posted by johnstarnes

That reminds me that I have never really looked into what BAS actually IS.....I will now. But I think it involves a generator sandwiched inbetween the engine and transmission.

Nope. BAS is just a very large alternator. It uses 2 extra tension pulley's to take slack out of the belt, and a large alternator that is placed where the small regular alternator was.

[johnstarnes]

Originally Posted by 'Vette Dude

Nope. BAS is just a very large alternator. It uses 2 tension pulley's to take slack out of the belt, and a large alternator that is placed where the small regular alternator was.

Thanks....sounds quite simple. My interest in cars since I was 10 has been mostly about the styling (nuts about aerodynamic and futuristic designs), although alternative power plants (turbine, Voltec, Wankel, etc.) have also always interested me. This BAS sounds like a VERY conservative approach to making a "hybrid"...is it very effective? Worth spreading across much of GM's lineup?

[Dr. Show-Me]

Will the BAS+ be able to accelerate a car?

[johnstarnes]

I've always heard that a generator/alternator is a drag on the ICE that drives it. Why does enlarging the alternator suddenly make that car a "hybrid"? I guess I have no clue as to what "hybrid" actually means these days.

[psece]

Originally Posted by johnstarnes

I've always heard that a generator/alternator is a drag on the ICE that drives it. Why does enlarging the alternator suddenly make that car a "hybrid"? I guess I have no clue as to what "hybrid" actually means these days.

Once marketing takes over, clear and concise meaning is the first victim....

The drag is what is used for regenerative braking for the hybrid. While the engine is moving the drag corresponds to the amount of juice required from it. So if the lights, 500 watt stereo, and 3 screen entertainment system is on, it will cost some amount of mpg(probably miniscule). Or in the case of regenerative braking, the charging of the batteries.

[goblue]

Originally Posted by johnstarnes

I've always heard that a generator/alternator is a drag on the ICE that drives it. Why does enlarging the alternator suddenly make that car a "hybrid"? I guess I have no clue as to what "hybrid" actually means these days.

It is a small drag - you're right.

What this system does is replace both the starter (a powerful motor meant to run for a short time) and the alternator (which is really just a generator) with a single motor.

That motor is attached to the engine by way of a special high tension belt. So, much like Honda's system, it's essentially tied to the crankshaft.

It can perform multiple functions. Our previous discussion of motors acting as generators in reverse is key.

1) It can function as a motor to start the engine
2) It can function as a motor to assist in acceleration or briefly power the car with the engine off. (Insight can't do that)
3) It can act as a generator to recharge the battery when braking
4) It can act as a generator (alternator) to recharge the batteries whenever the software wants.

[stormwatcher]

Originally Posted by MechEng

Hitachi has already received orders for lithium-ion batteries for 100,000 hybrid autos that General Motors (GMGMQ.PK) plans to sell from next year, Nikkei said.

100,000 BAS+ hybrids the first year on the market?? That sounds overly optimistic considering what a roaring success the first-gen BAS system was.

[plane]

Originally Posted by stormwatcher

100,000 BAS+ hybrids the first year on the market?? That sounds overly optimistic considering what a roaring success the first-gen BAS system was.

Read the article?

[stormwatcher]

Originally Posted by plane

Read the article?

Of course.

Its says:

"Hitachi has already received orders for lithium-ion batteries for 100,000 hybrid autos that General Motors plans to sell from next year."

Still sounds overly ambitious to me.

[derek77]

Originally Posted by Dr. Show-Me

Will the BAS+ be able to accelerate a car?

This chart is over a year old, so I don't know if it is still accurate, but it shows that it will.

[FenwickHockey65]

About freaking time. I've been wondering about the status of BAS+ for a while.

[CUtiger08]

Originally Posted by stormwatcher

100,000 BAS+ hybrids the first year on the market?? That sounds overly optimistic considering what a roaring success the first-gen BAS system was.

Maybe they'll do what they should have done from the start with BAS: make it the standard automatic transmission setup on as many cars as possible. Don't advertise it directly or call it a hybrid/change extra for it... just suddenly have every car that has it get slight price increase and a notable jump in fuel economy.

For what it's worth, the US market Cruze, which will have a different powertrain than the rest of the world has gotten so far, featuring a new engine and amazing fuel economy, which is why it was delayed for us, goes on sale next year. And based on the Cobalt's numbers and assuming it's as good as promised, I would think 100k Cruzes sold in the first year would seem like a reasonable estimate. Just something to think about.

[AMERICA 123]

Originally Posted by derek77

This chart is over a year old, so I don't know if it is still accurate, but it shows that it will.

Hey, there is - thats great to see.

All that is likely to have happened since that was released is that they made it a little better - so probably / possibly similar to that graph - 'more' yellow. .

[Joe in T.O.]

Why would they make the announcement to cancel the Hybrid Malibu then?