Where
are GM's dual mode hybrid vehicles?
Monday,
January 29, 2007
Where
is the Yukon hybrid?
This is a question I have been asking ever since NAIAS.
Before NAIAS, I didn't really care about the GMC
Yukon hybrid. I don't like large SUVs. Since NAIAS,
however, I am interested in the Yukon because it will be
the first GM hybrid to utilize GM's dual mode hybrid
powertrain and it will be a small step towards the Volt
concept.
In Detroit Beth Lowery told me that the dual mode hybrid
powertrain would not be a part of the E Flex Drive, of
which the Volt will be the first variant. The dual mode
hybrid powertrain, however, will be the powertrain of the
Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid vehicle. Consequently, the
investment in battery technology for the Vue plug-in
hybrid will aid in the development of the battery
technology for the Volt and the E Flex platform.
As a result, it seems the faster GM puts Yukon hybrids on
the road, the faster the Volt might hit the road.
Recently, Beth Lowery made a post on the FastLane
blog stating, "We believe there are a number of
solutions to ending our dependence on oil, and we are
working on many of them simultaneously, including hydrogen
fuel cells, clean diesel, FlexFuel and hybrids."
So, is GM still working on its dual mode hybrid powertrain?
Is the Yukon hybrid still just a concept? Are there
problems with the dual mode hybrid powertrain? Is GM just
playing tax credit games?
If not, where is the Yukon hybrid?
posted by Dahcredyns
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