GMNext: Saturn VUE Plug in

[91 s-10baja]

Wow, this thing sounds extremely promising!

2008-August-27

Plug-in Saturn Vue Electrifies at Plug-In 2008

By: Matt Kelly
GMnext Contributor

During Plug-In 2008 in San Jose, CA, I spoke with GM’s executive director of powertrain engineering Larry Nitz about the new Saturn Vue Plug In Hybrid which was on display at the event. I have to say, I am as excited about this vehicle as I am the Chevy Volt. The vehicle’s lithium-ion battery will allow it to double its fuel economy for about 20 miles.








http://blog.gmnext.com/?p=246

[E. Haskell]

Double? So that would be what...50-60 MPG for 20 miles? Sounds good to me.

[BigAls87Z28]

Its a hybrid hybrid....
Eflex + Two Mode = awesome?

Actually, its more of a regular Two-Mode system? Only thing is you plug the lith ion batteries in to charge them, but the engine doesnt run like a generator, it actually powers the vue like a traditonal hybrid system.
Hrm...this would be a good way to spread costs of the lith ion stuff as well as increase GM's footprint into the advanced hybrid systems development as well as the market place.

[MechEng]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Its a hybrid hybrid....
Eflex + Two Mode = awesome?

Actually, its more of a regular Two-Mode system? Only thing is you plug the lith ion batteries in to charge them, but the engine doesnt run like a generator, it actually powers the vue like a traditonal hybrid system.
Hrm...this would be a good way to spread costs of the lith ion stuff as well as increase GM's footprint into the advanced hybrid systems development as well as the market place.

Nothing to do with E-Flex at all whatsoever (Well the battery will use similar technology).

This is a two mode hybrid with a high capacity Li-Ion battery (but not as high of a capacity as the Volt).

The current two mode hybrid with NiMH batteries has electric only operation. This two mode hybrid will just have a higher capacity battery that can be charged by plugging it in insteady of relying on the engine to charge it and will have a greater electric only operation. It will still probably require the engine under moderate to high load circumstances.

Don't get me wrong still a great vehicle. But not the same as the Volt. More like the next gen Prius with a better battery and transmission operation.

[fp115]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Its a hybrid hybrid....
Eflex + Two Mode = awesome?

Actually, its more of a regular Two-Mode system? Only thing is you plug the lith ion batteries in to charge them, but the engine doesnt run like a generator, it actually powers the vue like a traditonal hybrid system.
Hrm...this would be a good way to spread costs of the lith ion stuff as well as increase GM's footprint into the advanced hybrid systems development as well as the market place.

There is no E-Flex at all in this...

Its a two-mode hybrid with a battery pack.

[jkennedy293]

This sounds like it is going to be a very nice, and efficient, SUV.

[bcjohnso99]

EPA will need a new rating system for plug-ins. MPG will no longer reflect the true consumption of energy.

[fp115]

Originally Posted by bcjohnso99

EPA will need a new rating system for plug-ins. MPG will no longer reflect the true consumption of energy.

Well it would still be nice to see the sticker say "50-60 mpg", afterwards it will still use the 2-mode hybrid to have still better EPA ratings than nearly all cars. Impressive for a crossover.

[JVal14]

So when is this slated for? And does anyone know how much it will cost?

[nsap]

This should be an impressive crossover. I have really not hard much about it. As it is depending on the Lithium batteries, who knows when it will make it to the market.

[fp115]

Originally Posted by nsap

This should be an impressive crossover. I have really not hard much about it. As it is depending on the Lithium batteries, who knows when it will make it to the market.

From the article:

Greenlighted for production, it’s expected to debut around the same time as the Volt rolls off the assembly line.

[Rocket 88]

Originally Posted by fp115

There is no E-Flex at all in this...

Its a two-mode hybrid with a battery pack.

Doesn't E-Flex just mean the engine can run on E-85 or regular gasoline? If so, I'd imagine it would be relatively easy to make that a feature.

[K-1]

Originally Posted by Rocket 88

Doesn't E-Flex just mean the engine can run on E-85 or regular gasoline? If so, I'd imagine it would be relatively easy to make that a feature.

That's FlexFuel. E-flex refers to the flexibility in charging the batteries in the Volt (gas engine, diesel engine, fuel cell).

[bobojay]

Isn't this supposed to be out for the 2009 model year?? Available around the end of 2008.....

[K-1]

Originally Posted by bobojay

Isn't this supposed to be out for the 2009 model year?? Available around the end of 2008.....

The 2-mode VUE is due out this year. The plug-in version is later.