General Motors Corp (GM) has begun work on a plug-in hybrid power system for its Saturn Vue sport utility vehicle that could save on gasoline use, chief executive Rick Wagoner said at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
He offered no timetable on when it will be available, however.
Wagoner also said GM will start offering versions of its Hummer models that could run on biofuel within three years. The Hummers have become a lightning rod for critics who say they are energy inefficient.
"By developing alternative sources of energy and propulsion, we have the chance to mitigate many of the issues surrounding energy availability," he said in a speech on Wednesday at the auto show.
Hybrid vehicles have both electric and gasoline-powered systems. They lower gas consumption by shutting off the engine while idling, giving the vehicle a boost of electric power during acceleration and capturing electrical energy when the vehicle is braking.
GM already produces a hybrid Saturn vehicle -- the Vue Green Line SUV -- which the automaker says gets 8.7 liters per 100km in the city and 7.3 liters on the highway. The comparable conventional-engine Vue is rated at 10.7 liters in the city and 8.7 liters on the highway.
With a plug-in hybrid power system, batteries can also be recharged by plugging them into an electrical outlet.
GM has been promoting the Vue Green Line as a less expensive alternative to hybrids already on the market from Toyota Motor Corp and Ford Motor Co. The Green Line's hybrid system adds about US$2,000 to the cost of a Saturn Vue, compared with a premium of US$3,500 or more for other hybrids.
In Washington, Toyota North American president Jim Press said the Japanese automaker was "really enthused that the industry and other auto companies are embracing this technology."
Toyota has expressed interest in developing plug-in hybrids and Press said the company's lead in hybrid sales "gives us an advantage."
GM's long-term goal remains the development and production of hydrogen fuel-cell powered vehicles, Wagoner said.
"We continue to make significant progress in this area, and we continue to see fuel cells as the best long-term solution for reducing our dependence on oil," he said.
Wagoner said that according to the Energy Department the world will need about 70 percent more energy from 2003 to 2030, and oil alone will not be able to handle the increase.
"For the global auto industry, this means that we must -- as a business necessity -- develop alternative sources of propulsion based on alternative sources of energy in order to meet the world's growing demand for our products," he said.
DEFENDING DEMOCRACY: Taiwan shares the same values as those that fought in WWII, and nations must unite to halt the expansion of a new authoritarian bloc, Lai said The government yesterday held a commemoration ceremony for Victory in Europe (V-E) Day, joining the rest of the world for the first time to mark the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. Taiwan honoring V-E Day signifies “our growing connections with the international community,” President William Lai (賴清德) said at a reception in Taipei on the 80th anniversary of V-E Day. One of the major lessons of World War II is that “authoritarianism and aggression lead only to slaughter, tragedy and greater inequality,” Lai said. Even more importantly, the war also taught people that “those who cherish peace cannot
Taiwanese Olympic badminton men’s doubles gold medalist Wang Chi-lin (王齊麟) and his new partner, Chiu Hsiang-chieh (邱相榤), clinched the men’s doubles title at the Yonex Taipei Open yesterday, becoming the second Taiwanese team to win a title in the tournament. Ranked 19th in the world, the Taiwanese duo defeated Kang Min-hyuk and Ki Dong-ju of South Korea 21-18, 21-15 in a pulsating 43-minute final to clinch their first doubles title after teaming up last year. Wang, the men’s doubles gold medalist at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, partnered with Chiu in August last year after the retirement of his teammate Lee Yang
The Philippines yesterday criticized a “high-risk” maneuver by a Chinese vessel near the disputed Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Island, 黃岩島) in a rare incident involving warships from the two navies. The Scarborough Shoal — a triangular chain of reefs and rocks in the contested South China Sea — has been a flash point between the countries since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012. Taiwan also claims the shoal. Monday’s encounter took place approximately 11.8 nautical miles (22km) southeast” of the Scarborough Shoal, the Philippine military said, during ongoing US-Philippine military exercises that Beijing has criticized as destabilizing. “The Chinese frigate BN 554 was
The number of births in Taiwan fell to an all-time monthly low last month, while the population declined for the 16th consecutive month, Ministry of the Interior data released on Friday showed. The number of newborns totaled 8,684, which is 704 births fewer than in March and the lowest monthly figure on record, the ministry said. That is equivalent to roughly one baby born every five minutes and an annual crude birthrate of 4.52 per 1,000 people, the ministry added. Meanwhile, 17,205 deaths were recorded, resulting in a natural population decrease of 8,521, the data showed. More people are also leaving Taiwan, with net
RSS