Gm And The Future

By Author: Robert Brogden
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General Motors has recently had a rough run of it. They have suffered losses as a result of changes in the industry, rising gas prices, and the drop in popularity of the traditional models of vehicles which were standard in production. While the automaker is still in recovery mode, GM is a far cry from lost.

High-tech vehicles are now the order of business. Hybrid models converging full-size utility vehicles and trucks with hybrid technology will be one way in which GM emerges in the future market.

GM's venture into cars and trucks which provide consumers with better fuel economy will be among its saving graces. There are a number of approaches to achieving more economic vehicle models, and GM is currently researching technologies that can provide better fuel economy in all their vehicles.

One possible solution will be the use of flex fuel vehicles, those that can use either gasoline or ethanol. As ethanol development advances, GM will continue to investigate the applications of its use in flex fuel vehicle production.

GM has placed a high priority on the reduction of their vehicles dependence on ...
... petroleum. In doing so, they have begun to develop a number of approaches to improve the fuel economy of their vehicles and reduce greenhouse gas emissions of those vehicles as well.

GM is currently focused on Advanced Propulsion Technology which includes an array of advanced systems and alternative energy methods for the operation of cars and trucks. Included in the plans are technological improvements in the traditional combustion engine, which will change the fuel usage in standard gasoline vehicles.

Other approaches include the development of vehicles which utilize alternative energy sources. These include diesel, bio-fuels, hydrogen fuel cells, and electric hybrid models.

Diesel engines are now available in 41 lines of GM vehicles globally. Duramax diesel is now used in a number of GM light trucks in the United States and capable of improving fuel efficiency of these vehicles by up to 25 percent. They are not only more fuel efficient but also meet the current EPA emissions standards in all 50 states.

GM's hybrid vehicles take advantage of a number of emerging technologies. In 2008, there were eight models of hybrid vehicles included in GM's offerings. In 2010, there will be another eight available.

The hybrid program at GM employs various technologies, including two-mode hybrid systems and those that use lithium ion and hydrogen cell batteries.

As technologies emerge in lithium ion batteries, GM is also working to establish models of vehicles that can take advantage of these advancements. Electric hybrid vehicles are already in production. The current models available include the Saturn Aura and Saturn Vue Green Lines; Chevy Malibu and Tahoe Hybrids; GMC Yukon, Silverado, and Sierra Hybrids; and the Cadillac Escalade.

GM plans to introduce 16 additional hybrid models over the next four years. The average should be the introduction of one new model every three months. The intention is to create as many hybrids as possible, utilizing different technologies. The goal is to save as many gallons of fuel as possible through the inclusion of hybrid technology in existing vehicle models. The conversion of current models to hybrids makes it possible to increase fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions without completely revamping the production methods of the company.

Later plans encompass the inclusion of new models of vehicles, alteration in production methods, and the introduction of new technologies. This will move GM from the realm of conversion to true creation of hybrids.

This is only the beginning for GM's contributions to the future of personal and mass transportation. Their hybrid vehicle portfolio is expanding, and they expect to roll out their new hybrid engine system in full gear over the course of 2010 and the next decade. The system has been introduced in the American market this year and will eventually exceed 100,000 vehicles annually.

Hybrid technology is currently being used to improve high fuel consumption vehicles like full-sized trucks and SUVs. GM has also applied this technology to its production of mass transit vehicles like public buses and shuttles. The addition of more and more standard passenger vehicles to their hybrid line continues to carry the company into the future of the automobile industry.
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