Originally published February 8 2006
GM attempts different approach to cleaner vehicles with the "mild hybrid"
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
As the hybrid market continues to expand in the wake of rising gas prices, American automakers seem to have been left behind, but auto giant GM is planning to approach the market in a different way through its "mild hybrid"; a system that adopts some of the less complicated aspects of a regular hybrid, to give the vehicle an economy gain of around 15 percent.
The latter probably accounts for the difference between those who say they would consider purchasing a hybrid (as many as 68 per cent of all new-car buyers) and those who actually drop the cash and buy.
It does, however, have an important role to play, as the hybrid represents the bridge between today's wallet-gouging gas guzzlers and the hydrogen-based fuel cells of tomorrow.
Toyota and Honda have been leading the hybrid charge, each offering full-on hybrids that use both electricity and gasoline to boost performance, lower emissions and improve fuel economy.
If there's a drawback, it's the upfront cost of adding the hybrid components to a conventional vehicle -- the electric motors, battery and power inverters/computers needed to control the lot.
These components form the basis of GM's so-called battery/alternator/starter system (BAS).
The system also features a high-strength drive belt that hooks up the electric motor/generator to the Green Line's 170 horsepower, 2.4-litre Ecotec gas engine and a four-speed automatic transmission.
This simple change allows the system to take advantage of regenerative braking and so there is no need to plug in the Green Line to keep the 42-volt battery charged.
Whenever the driver lifts off the gas or begins to brake, the electric motor reverses function to convert otherwise wasted energy into the electricity needed to charge the battery.
Once up to cruising speed, the engine not only drives the vehicle but it is also capable of driving the electric motor/ generator to keep the main 42-volt battery topped up and fully charged.
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