GM to discuss its hybrid future today?
Today we find out a little more about the rumors that have been flying across the Internet regarding GM's turnaround plans. According to the Detroit News, GM's CEO Rick Wagoner is going to stress GM's new commitment to "energy diversity" - using "a variety of advanced technologies and fuels that emphasizes the use of electricity to power vehicles."
While GM has already announced plans to develop dual mode hybrid vehicles, the real buzz and speculation is regarding the I-car. The I-car, otherwise known as the icon car, is meant to emphasize GM's commitment to its green revolution, and most believe the i-Car is a plug-in hybrid vehicle that will be displayed in early 2007 at the Detroit Auto Show.
Still, this is pure marketing, pure buzz.
Already Bob Lutz, GM product engineer, whom not too long ago ridiculed the hybrid movement, has stated that lithium-ion technology - the key to plug-ins - is still 3 to 4 years away. Moreover, the Detroit News reported that "Wagoner won't commit to building a plug-in until the company can overcome technical hurdles and improve battery technology."
Hopefully, however, this isn't just a public relations move, but truly a new beginning for GM. I guess only time will tell.
-- See also - GM working on Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid vehicle
While GM has already announced plans to develop dual mode hybrid vehicles, the real buzz and speculation is regarding the I-car. The I-car, otherwise known as the icon car, is meant to emphasize GM's commitment to its green revolution, and most believe the i-Car is a plug-in hybrid vehicle that will be displayed in early 2007 at the Detroit Auto Show.
Still, this is pure marketing, pure buzz.
Already Bob Lutz, GM product engineer, whom not too long ago ridiculed the hybrid movement, has stated that lithium-ion technology - the key to plug-ins - is still 3 to 4 years away. Moreover, the Detroit News reported that "Wagoner won't commit to building a plug-in until the company can overcome technical hurdles and improve battery technology."
Hopefully, however, this isn't just a public relations move, but truly a new beginning for GM. I guess only time will tell.
-- See also - GM working on Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid vehicle
Labels: GM, i-Car, lithium battery, plug-in hybrid vehicles
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HYBRID AUTO'S SOON OBSOLETE?
"rev the engine up to 300 RPM and take off"
Las Vegas, NV September 28th ...... In two days, the local manufacture of the OmniValve automobile intake valve, brings to the floor of the SEMA show, what they say "will make hybrid's obsolete" their latest version of the OmniValve. The new design has higher lift and is designed to go the distance 100,000 miles or more.
Hybrid technology uses electricity generated by the engine to do the low speed driving in the city with lots of starts and stops. Electric motors can generate very large amounts of torque efficiently to get your car moving. This is where Internal Combustion engines are the most inefficient. Using this arrangement, hybrid cars today get city mileage greater then they do highway mileage. However with the cost of gasoline in decline so are sales of these hybrid autos. Saving money owning a hybrid, even with $3.00 a gallon gasoline, which was with us just a few months ago, is not a guarantee. The auto itself is much more expensive and the batteries are quite expensive to replace. The life span of the batteries varies but if your not careful you could be buying 3000 dollars worth of batteries after just 3 years of using the car. That is 1000 gallons of gasoline, more then offsetting any fuel savings. So, the hybrids future is unclear at this point, so says OmniValves of Las Vegas.
OmniValves say there is a better solution, if you use there patented intake valve, you can create the low end torque similar to that of an electric motor for your autos city driving needs. This would do away with the need for an electric motor and more importantly the batteries.
An OmniValve V-8 engine can idle at 200 RPM, creating enough torque to run the A/C the Alternator, water pump and the power steering, then just rev the engine up to 300 RPM and take off. This is a significant improvement in low end torque. It is basically unheard of for a cars engine to idle at 200 RPM. For example a hybrid car would normally idle at 700 RPM. OmniValves also say that an auto with their technology generates far less pollution than a hybrid. The amount of, heavy metals like Lead and Zinc that is used in making and running Hybrid's makes it not very environmentally friendly, says OmniValves.
OmniValves say they will save the most precious resource there is ..................... Money! Saving money is the same as saving the environment, according to OmniValves. "While the Hybrid cost is up to $15,000.00 more then a conventional car of the same size and style, the auto that uses the OmniValve is about $150.00 more, which will be saved in about 3 months of driving" says OmniValves.
"Then you have the savings in R&D and tooling to make these new hybrid models, your talking 100s of millions saved and passed on to the consumer, it is a win, win scenario" says OmniValves.
OmniValve is so satisfied from their testing and that there is no doubt what so ever this technology works and works extremely well and they are so comfortable with their broad patents and patents pending, that they are offering to engineers, manufactures and even some individuals, free sets of the OmniValve. To qualify for a free set, you must be either a potential customer or someone who can advance the technology or someone willing to do advanced testing. Further details can be seen at www.omnivalves.com or Booth 51008 at 2006 SEMA in Las Vegas The Valves can be seen in person also in the Grand Ballroom New Products Showroom.
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