September 10, 2007Print this page
In essence, the environmental strategy of General Motors and Opel is to reduce CO2 emissions in the short term and introduce new propulsion technologies in the long term. The goal is to offer customers vehicles that can operate on many different energy sources. The multi-tiered approach includes accelerating the development of electrically powered vehicles, stepping up efforts to displace fossil fuels and increasing the efficiency of gasoline and diesel engines.
Electrically powered vehicles: Electric cars, hybrids and fuel-cell models
The Opel Flextreme concept car embodies this vision of versatility. It combines electric propulsion and a combustion engine in a fundamentally different manner than in conventional hybrid propulsion vehicles. Regardless of the Fkextreme’s operating mode, it is always electrically powered. The diesel engine is onboard solely to increase the electric car’s range. When needed, it runs constantly within its optimum operating range, powering a generator that charges the battery. Flextreme passengers can also travel electrically and environmentally compatibly over short distances in cities, as two Segway Personal Transporters(1) are always onboard and easy to load and unload.
Like the Chevrolet Volt, the Opel Flextreme is based on the E-Flex electric vehicle architecture and both feature increased operating range. Under the category of full hybrids, GM’s portfolio also includes the “Two-Mode” hybrid system, which was developed jointly with BMW and DaimlerChrysler and made its US production premiere in the large Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon SUVs in 2007.
The “Two-Mode” system is unique in its compactness and adaptability to various vehicle sizes and driving conditions. Its integrated electric propulsion operates autonomously over short distances, but also contributes to covering the powertrain’s performance peaks. This allows for a more efficient layout of the combustion engine, which includes Active Cylinder Control (ACC). GM will bring 12 hybrid models with this concept on to the market, offering its customers a variety of options to minimize fuel consumption in different price and vehicle classes.
The Opel Corsa Hybrid Concept, which will also make its world premiere at the IAA 2007, is in contrast a mild hybrid. The belt-driven starter-generator combines the functions of starter and generator, and thanks to the automatic stop/start system, helps save fuel by immediately switching off the combustion engine when the car stops. The starter-generator only restarts the combustion engine when the brake is released. On the road, the electric unit provides additional torque for improved driving performance, for example by boosting the combustion engine when starting up from a standstill or accelerating.
In North America, General Motors also offers a mild hybrid in which the electric propulsion helps increase the performance and efficiency of the combustion engine. The Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid system reduces fuel consumption in a number of ways, including: switching off the engine at every stop, immediately switching it on again as soon as the brake pedal is released, early fuel supply cut-off during overrun, recouping kinetic energy when braking and charging the battery during driving conditions during which this is particularly efficient.
At the IAA, GM will also unveil the next generation of hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles with the HydroGen4. The fuel cells utilize an electro-chemical process between hydrogen and oxygen to produce electrical energy – and water as a by-product – and power the HydroGen4’s electric motor.
Alternative fuels: Ethanol and natural gas models advancing
In the mid-term, GM wants to offer an increasing number of models that run on alternative fuels. In Europe, the Swedish brand Saab is very successful in its pioneering role with its BioPower technology. The Cadillac will also tap into this success when it launches its BLS model with bioethanol propulsion this fall. Bioethanol variants will be available for Opel/Vauxhall and Chevrolet brands from 2010.
Natural gas is a further highly efficient alternative fuel. Opel currently offers two models ex works with this especially environmentally friendly and economical form of propulsion: the Zafira CNG and Combo CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) consume just 5.0/4.9 kg of natural gas per 100 km (corresponding to 138/133 g CO2/km respectively). The seven-seat Zafira CNG emits just under 20 g CO2 per kilometer and seat. Both can also operate on biogas.
Consumption-optimized combustion engines: ecoFLEX initiative from Opel
Opel’s environmental strategy includes the introduction of low-emission ecoFLEX models in every Opel/Vauxhall model line. These gasoline and diesel cars combine economy and driving fun with low fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions in every vehicle class. The premiere ecoFLEX Opel/Vauxhall model is a Corsa 1.3 CDTI that produces just 119 g/CO2 per kilometer. The Corsa ecoFLEX will debut at the IAA 2007 and enter the market in early 2008.
gmeurope
Electrically powered vehicles: Electric cars, hybrids and fuel-cell models
The Opel Flextreme concept car embodies this vision of versatility. It combines electric propulsion and a combustion engine in a fundamentally different manner than in conventional hybrid propulsion vehicles. Regardless of the Fkextreme’s operating mode, it is always electrically powered. The diesel engine is onboard solely to increase the electric car’s range. When needed, it runs constantly within its optimum operating range, powering a generator that charges the battery. Flextreme passengers can also travel electrically and environmentally compatibly over short distances in cities, as two Segway Personal Transporters(1) are always onboard and easy to load and unload.
Like the Chevrolet Volt, the Opel Flextreme is based on the E-Flex electric vehicle architecture and both feature increased operating range. Under the category of full hybrids, GM’s portfolio also includes the “Two-Mode” hybrid system, which was developed jointly with BMW and DaimlerChrysler and made its US production premiere in the large Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon SUVs in 2007.
The “Two-Mode” system is unique in its compactness and adaptability to various vehicle sizes and driving conditions. Its integrated electric propulsion operates autonomously over short distances, but also contributes to covering the powertrain’s performance peaks. This allows for a more efficient layout of the combustion engine, which includes Active Cylinder Control (ACC). GM will bring 12 hybrid models with this concept on to the market, offering its customers a variety of options to minimize fuel consumption in different price and vehicle classes.
The Opel Corsa Hybrid Concept, which will also make its world premiere at the IAA 2007, is in contrast a mild hybrid. The belt-driven starter-generator combines the functions of starter and generator, and thanks to the automatic stop/start system, helps save fuel by immediately switching off the combustion engine when the car stops. The starter-generator only restarts the combustion engine when the brake is released. On the road, the electric unit provides additional torque for improved driving performance, for example by boosting the combustion engine when starting up from a standstill or accelerating.
In North America, General Motors also offers a mild hybrid in which the electric propulsion helps increase the performance and efficiency of the combustion engine. The Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid system reduces fuel consumption in a number of ways, including: switching off the engine at every stop, immediately switching it on again as soon as the brake pedal is released, early fuel supply cut-off during overrun, recouping kinetic energy when braking and charging the battery during driving conditions during which this is particularly efficient.
At the IAA, GM will also unveil the next generation of hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles with the HydroGen4. The fuel cells utilize an electro-chemical process between hydrogen and oxygen to produce electrical energy – and water as a by-product – and power the HydroGen4’s electric motor.
Alternative fuels: Ethanol and natural gas models advancing
In the mid-term, GM wants to offer an increasing number of models that run on alternative fuels. In Europe, the Swedish brand Saab is very successful in its pioneering role with its BioPower technology. The Cadillac will also tap into this success when it launches its BLS model with bioethanol propulsion this fall. Bioethanol variants will be available for Opel/Vauxhall and Chevrolet brands from 2010.
Natural gas is a further highly efficient alternative fuel. Opel currently offers two models ex works with this especially environmentally friendly and economical form of propulsion: the Zafira CNG and Combo CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) consume just 5.0/4.9 kg of natural gas per 100 km (corresponding to 138/133 g CO2/km respectively). The seven-seat Zafira CNG emits just under 20 g CO2 per kilometer and seat. Both can also operate on biogas.
Consumption-optimized combustion engines: ecoFLEX initiative from Opel
Opel’s environmental strategy includes the introduction of low-emission ecoFLEX models in every Opel/Vauxhall model line. These gasoline and diesel cars combine economy and driving fun with low fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions in every vehicle class. The premiere ecoFLEX Opel/Vauxhall model is a Corsa 1.3 CDTI that produces just 119 g/CO2 per kilometer. The Corsa ecoFLEX will debut at the IAA 2007 and enter the market in early 2008.
gmeurope
Wow, great SUV !b