Hi EricGo:

___I do not want people to drive like I do, I want the car to drive like I do and everybody will benefit! Think of an EV. When you let off the accelerator from 65 + mph, you have 2 choices, Regen or free coast. There is no ICE-On/Off decision to mess up the equation. Engineers in the late 80’s/early 90’s chose heavy Regen just as many HEV’s do today. They do not have to however! Take a non-hybrid Camry I4 w/ Auto and let off from 60 mph. Under many scenarios, that thing goes into an almost free ICE-ON coast that literally scares many older drivers who first experience it! ICE braking is a thing of the past because it is too wasteful other then when driving down a mountain and the same can be said with a hybrid under regen from higher speeds to maximize FE. Does ICE-Braking stop you from having an accident or do the brakes? Their is a fine line here of course and you know which way I lean but ICE-Braking is another reason why so many vehicles on the road today receive such poor FE. The Escape HEV goes into an almost free coast in D w/ ICE-On and you never hear those members complaining about a lack of ICE braking, do you? If Crude and refined gasoline was extremely plentiful and cost $1.37/gallon, nobody cares but now that it is $2.60 - $3.00 +, it is not just hurting those who cannot afford to fill up their 15 mpg P/U truck but it is devastating to our balance of trade Regen has its place and I would never like to see it disappear but an ICE-Off - Free Coast is the key to the kingdom! Ford has their eCVT setup right in the Escape HEV while in D except they forgot to run ICE-Off with a let off of the accelerator … except just above crawling speed. Ford has it right under L w/ ICE-Off except they wanted to grab a massive amount of Regen. Toyota has it right in the Prius except they forgot to forgo regen a bit above 40 mph. A Prius shifted to Neutral can cure that issue (the ICE shuts down) but it has some issues with MGSet synch after shifting back into D from high speeds from my understanding Honda has it right w/ AS below 20 mph in the HCH and Insight but they forgot to let AS happen from much higher speeds. GM has the opportunity to fix these oversights with a far simpler and far less expensive setup but like anything else, the powers that be have to really want a huge increase in FE or everyone involved is just wasting their time. The Silverado’s increase was a joke as we all know and if that is all the BAS will allow a VUE (23/29 to 26/31 or a 10 - 15% increase w/ the I4), it will not be purchased and GM will continue down their profitless path or even bankruptcy! Design BAS right and they have a winner. Design it wrong and they have an albatross.

___Just like those receiving low 40’s in their Prius II, mid 30’s in a Malibu/Impala/G6 w/ a properly designed BAS is far better then the 20 mpg or thereabouts most are receiving in them today.

___AshenGray, I hear you loud and clear and I can bet GM has not taken a simple BAS anywhere near its maximum potential. 25% in the city is easy. Out on the highway, that is a tough one. Remember the Prius II has a 32 mpg ICE but with ICE off and minor EV, she gets 60. BAS can perform those tricks as well. All but EV up to maybe a max of 5 - 10 mph or so if GM decided to take it there?

___Fernando_g, I have the feeling GM will do exactly as you described by hiding under a rock … BAS will probably be nothing of significance and it will flop

___Where is a Mary Ann Wright or a Bill Ford at GM when you really need them?

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net