December 1, 2006

fashion.psfk at the LA Auto Show (part 1)
This year fashion.psfk went to check out the LA Auto Show, hoping to see lots of exciting new concepts and ideas. Having been invited to the event by General Motors, they were impressed that this 100th anniversary of the show was focussed on the theme of sustainability and alternative energy.
fashion.psfk : fashion.psfk at the LA Auto Show part 1

fashion.psfk at the LA Auto Show part 1

This year fashion.psfk went to check out the LA Auto Show, hoping to see lots of exciting new concepts and ideas. Having been invited to the event by General Motors, who kindly paid for our travel and accommodation, we were impressed that this 1ooth anniversary of the show was focussed on the theme of sustainability and alternative energy.
The show opened with a press talk by GM CEO Rick Wagoner who spoke about the auto trade’s commitment to alternative fuels, talking about Energy Diversity and the need to use multiple fuel sources. GM and it’s fellow domestic auto companies Ford and DaimlerChrysler are making a major commitment to ethanol based cars, claiming that by 2012 half of all their car production will be flex fuel/ alternative fuel based- providing there is sufficient national availability of the E-85 Ethanol fuel.
GM then announced that within the next three years their Hummer brand will have ethanol- based bio fuel options across the whole line-up.
Also committed to developing more than fuel cell hybrids, GM is looking towards electric ‘plug-in’ hybrids. The Saturn Vue Green Line, announced during the speech and due in 2008, is a hybrid vehicle that will be the launch platform for plug-in hybrids, which they have already begun work on. GM claim that by 2009 their Green Line will offer fully electric hybrid systems.
In a further announcement about research into hydrogen concept vehicles GM revealed that next year they will launch 100 Chevy Equinox fuel cell SUV’s as a test fleet, with 50 of these being in Los Angeles.
Most interesting were Mr Wagoner’s comments about producing cars that are powered by electricity from locally generated fuel sources; natural gas, coal, nuclear, wind, hydroelectric etc.
It all sounds very impressive, and GM are obviously keen to lead the market in ecologically friendly technologies- which with the growing demand for greener lifestyles should definitely help grow their customer base. Unfortunately whilst GM are pushing the boundaries under the bonnet, the design teams are still playing it too safe. Rick Wagoner stated that the company is “committed to leading in both technology and design”, but on aesthetics at least they still have a long way to go to achieve this.
more to come…
4 Responses to “fashion.psfk at the LA Auto Show part 1”
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Steve Wells
Posted from: 134.215.244.212A hybrid by definition combines (at least) two things into something new. Hybrid vehicles today such as the Toyota Prius combine an electric motor and a common internal combustion engine. GM’s fuel cell development is based on hydrogen and isn’t a hybrid. Also, if they’re developing “fully electric” vehicles, they can’t be hybrids.
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Amanda Gore
Posted from: 195.137.91.143Actually GM’s fuel cell developments and plug-in hybrids are two separate concepts that the company are working on. As for a fully electric hybrid, as far as I can tell this is to do with electricity that is both stored and generated on a vehicle. If i’m wrong then I can only apologise- I am in no way an automotive expert and can only tell you what I heard at the press conference.
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Here’s how to sort ‘em out:
(1) TODAY: A hybrid-electric vehicle is a gasoline-driven car with a battery boost. The batteries are charged both by regenerative braking and by the engine. Toyota’s Prius is the best example. GM will launch its own Two-Mode Hybrid system (also to be used by DaimlerChrysler and BMW) for 2008. (They also have a simpler, cheaper, less capable hybrid system on the Saturn Vue Green Line.)
(2) TOMORROW: Plug-in hybrid (what GM announced it would build, with no date attached). This is a hybrid that can travel significant distances on electric ONLY, and is plugged in at night to recharge its much larger battery pack. This depends (in a production vehicle) on Lithium-ion batteries (a la mobile phones, laptops) which are just now being engineered for automotive durability.
(3) DAY AFTER TOMORROW: GM is expected to show its “I-car” concept at the Detroit Auto Show in January, which I’ll be covering. This is an electric-only car, but it carries a small combustion engine that acts ONLY as a generator to recharge the batteries–that engine cannot directly drive the wheels.
GM and other manufacturers are looking toward a future where most cars are electric-drive. The energy to power those batteries may come from the wall socket … from an onboard gas or diesel generator … from a hydrogen fuel cell … et cetera. But the days of a combustion engine providing mechanical drive to the wheels are starting to wane, they feel.
Amanda: Let me know if you have technical questions and I’m happy to answer ‘em. I’ve spoken to Piers about doing car tech stuff on the site but haven’t quite gotten that bit together yet …. best, jv.
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Steve Wells
Posted from: 134.215.244.212Amanda, you aren’t to blame if GM used poor terminology in their press briefing. Not the first time they’ve been confused or confusing. John, thanks for the clarification. SW






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