GM, Toyota, Fisker Automotive Plan to Launch Plug-In Hybrid Cars by 2010
January 21, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS
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General Motors Corp. (GM), Toyota Motor Corp. and Fisker Automotive plan to launch commercial versions of plug-in hybrid concept vehicles by 2010.
The Saturn division of GM plans to launch a plug-in version of the Saturn Vue Green Line sport utility vehicle (SUV) as early as 2010, according to GM.
The Saturn Vue Green Line Plug-In Hybrid combines a lithium-ion battery pack with GM's dual-mode hybrid system.
The vehicle's battery pack can be recharged in four to five hours by plugging it into any standard 110-volt electrical outlet, and in early testing the batteries allowed the vehicle to travel for more than 10 miles at low speeds using electric-only propulsion, according to GM.
At higher speeds or when conditions demand it, such as brisk acceleration, a combination of engine and electric power or engine power-only drives the vehicle, said GM.
After electric-only propulsion depletes the lithium-ion energy storage system to a specified level, the battery is replenished by using the two-mode hybrid system's electric motors and regenerative brake systems, said GM.
A plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle differs from a non-plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle by offering extended electric-only propulsion, additional battery capacity and the ability to be recharged from an external electrical outlet, said GM.
The two-mode hybrid system to be introduced on the 2009 Saturn Vue Green Line 2 Mode will be altered for use with plug-in technology.
In addition to plug-in capabilities and the modified two-mode hybrid system, the Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid SUV's powertrain will feature two interior permanent magnet motors within the two-mode transmission and GM's 3.6 liter V6 variable valve timing (VVT) gasoline engine with direct injection, said GM.
The Saturn Vue Green Line plug-in is designed to maintain two driving modes - one for city driving, the other for highway driving - and four fixed mechanical gears, said GM.
In addition, special controls will be used to enable higher speeds during electric-only propulsion and maintain electric-only propulsion for longer periods of time, said GM. GM also said that its Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid may be released by 2010.
Toyota Motor Corp.
Toyota Motor Corp. plans to sell plug-in hybrids only to fleet customers in the U.S. and elsewhere by 2010.
Toyota did not reveal which vehicle will be available as a plug-in hybrid although industry observers expect it to be a new version of the Prius, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
The vehicle will feature a lithium-ion battery pack.
A conventional gas-electric full hybrid system, such as that found in the Toyota Prius, is powered by both an electric motor and a gas engine, said Toyota.
The system operates in pure-electric mode, pure-gas mode or a combined gas-electric mode depending on vehicle speed and driving conditions, said Toyota.
The electric motor is powered by a dedicated battery pack that is kept charged by electricity generated by the gas engine and the vehicle's regenerative braking system, according to Toyota.
The prototype plug-in hybrid system is designed to operate in a similar manner to the current Prius switching from pure-electric mode to gas-engine mode to a blended gas-electric mode, said Toyota.
With the addition of a second nickel-metal hydride battery pack, the plug-in Prius is designed to store greater levels of electricity and is charged by plugging into a standard household electrical outlet, said Toyota.
With more electric power in reserve, the vehicle is capable of operating in pure-electric mode for longer periods of time and at much higher speeds than the current Prius, claims Toyota.
The added electrical power is also touted as providing gains in fuel economy and a reduction in total tailpipe emissions versus current conventional hybrid systems, said Toyota.
In addition to testing plug-in hybrid vehicles, Toyota said it is also working on fuel cell hybrid vehicles, flexible-fuel vehicles and diesel engines and intends to offer a clean diesel V8 engine in the "Tundra" full-size pickup truck and "Sequoia" full-size SUV sold in North America.
Fisker Automotive
Fisker Automotive's plug-in hybrid car is the Fisker Karma luxury sports sedan.
Featuring a lithium-ion battery pack and a plug-in hybrid system developed by Quantum Technologies, the Fisker Karma is designed to travel up to 50 miles using only its electric drive, according to Fisker.
The car's plug-in hybrid technology is called the Q DRIVE and was developed by Quantum Technologies.
The Q DRIVE configuration consists of a small gasoline engine that turns the generator, which charges the lithium-ion battery pack powering the electric motor and turning the rear wheels, said Fisker.
It is designed to allow consumers to drive the car emission free for up to 50 miles a day provided the car is charged every evening, claims Fisker.
Deliveries of the car are slated for late 2009, said Fisker.
The Fisker Karma will have an annual production of 15,000 cars and the starting price for the vehicle is $80,000, said Fisker.
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Vehicle Technologies Program, General Motors Corp. (GM), Toyota Motor Corp. and Fisker Automotive.