GM To Build Electric Motors For "Future Range Of RWD Vehicles"
It’s one thing to say “the electrification of the car is inevitable” (Bob Lutz) when you’re buying the motors from suppliers. But GM is putting (somebody’s) money where their oracle’s wandering mouth is, and getting into the electric motor building business. The General has announced that $246 million dollars, of which $105 million came from a DOE grant (not loan), will be spent on facilities to build lighter, smaller and more efficient electric motors for the next generation of their two-mode hybrid system and rear-wheel drive applications. Looks like a “slim-Jim” version is being developed for a “future range of rear-drive cars”. Hmm…
The motors will be used in GM’s next-generation rear-drive, two-mode hybrid vehicles, specifically full-sized trucks arriving in 2013. The motors are also expected to be used in a future range of rear-drive cars, GM will announce today. Savagian said the new motor will use less electricity, resulting in better fuel economy. He didn’t provide specifics.
GM currently offers a two-mode hybrid in such vehicles as the 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV and Silverado pickup. They average 21 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.
Additionally, with the smaller packaging, “we will be able to utilize them in (rear-drive) cars as well,” said Tom Stephens, GM vice chairman of global product operations. He made the announcement today at the Washington auto show. No details were given for car applications. The motors will be built at a plant in White Marsh, Md., outside Baltimore, said spokesman Brian Corbett.
And what would that mysterious “future range of rear-drive cars” be? If it’s anything other than an eventual replacement for the CTS or the smaller ATS, you got me.
More by Paul Niedermeyer
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Putting electric motors at the rear minimizes one of their best features: regenerative braking.
So this is the weapon that Holden will use to out ecotech Ford? Drop an electric motor into the Commodore where the auto box lives, batteries where the fuel tank is, or in the now vacant engine bay, electronics in the engine bay, voila! A "normal" looking PEV, no extra tooling for a new body/platform just readjust the suspension to tune it to different weight distribution. That also means you could have a mix of engine options, electric for the the conservationists and petrol for the die hard rev heads and racing. That also means that the kilowatt/hp numbers couldn't be fudged. You will have a 600hp = 447kw