SaturnVuePlugin

SaturnVuePlugin

GM may be a slow starter, but they are in full catch up mode now.  In addition to the widely publicized Volt e-Flex vehicle platform, they are putting increasing resources into other parallel paths towards electric drive vehicles.

            GM already has crossovers[CUV’s] and regular cars with mild hybrids, large SUV’s with two mode hybrid systems[which they still can’t move since overpriced], and coming this fall, the Saturn Vue and some pickup trucks with the two-mode hybrid system, which is the first TRUE hybrid in GM’s hybrid engine lineup.

            While speaking with Larry Nitz at the Plug-in 2008 conference, and in this blog posting below, he gave some details on the Vue hybrid status.  They have switched over from the nickel metal hydride batteries on all 11 testbed plug-in Vue’s to Li Ion batteries.

            The plug-in Vue is still expected to be the first production plug-in on the world market when GM releases it next year.  It will have between 10-15 miles of all electric driving range on a charge, with fallback to the regular gas engine for trips beyond that.  Here’s to Q4 2009 coming as fast as it can…

 

Source:  GM FastLane Blog