Saturn first out of the gate with plug-in car - GreenHybrid

Jason · #1 (**permalink**) 01-27-2008, 09:03 PM

Quote:

While Volvo and Toyota showcased their prototype plug-in cars, Saturn announced at the North American International Auto Show last week that production may begin as soon as 2010 on a plug-in hybrid electric version of the Saturn Vue Green Line, expected to be the first regular production plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.

Depending on a consumer’s drive cycle, the Vue plug-in hybrid will be the most fuel-efficient vehicle offered by a major automaker.

http://www.southasianpost.com/portal...in_car.do.html

AshenGrey · #2 (**permalink**) 01-28-2008, 03:34 AM

GM will only be first out of the gate when you can actually go down to your Saturn dealer and buy a PHEV-configured VUE. Otherwise, it's just more GM fluff on taxpayer grants

stevejust · #3 (**permalink**) 01-28-2008, 09:25 AM

And first out of the gate only if Fisker runs into Tesla-like delays and doesn't actually start shipping the Karma plug-in hybrid in 4Q 2009.

pBen · #4 (**permalink**) 01-28-2008, 04:41 PM

After reading the article made me wonder why Saturn is heading down their own path when the research company trinity power already has a working Saturn Vue (badges removed) that uses ultra capacitors for acceleration and allegedly will run for 40 miles between charges...hmmm

http://www.afstrinity.com/press-release-1-13-08.html

gumby · #5 (**permalink**) 01-28-2008, 09:39 PM

Maybe reliability? GM has to warranty this thing. I wonder what AFS Trinity does as far as warranty.

pBen · #6 (**permalink**) 01-28-2008, 09:43 PM

AFS Trinity - from what I've read on their website - developed the technology and are trying to peddle it to the automakers. If they fail to find a buyer, they will develop their own car. Seems we've got lots of that going on right now with the likelihood that the big automakers will survive yet again, dragging us on at their pace.

MyPart · #7 (**permalink**) 02-03-2008, 10:02 PM

I'm really getting tired of hearing about all these new hybrid models from GMC. Let me know when they are at the dealerships in numbers where people can actually buy them.

According to the IRS, as of September 30, 2007, GMC had sold a little under 10,000 hybrids (with 6 models over 3 years) and I'm betting most of these were Vue Greenlines with the BAS. That's poor when you consider Nissan (1 hybrid model over 1 year) has sold over 7,800.

Hurry up GMC, quit fluffing your feathers, you're missing out on the party.

WaltPA · #8 (**permalink**) 02-06-2008, 11:09 AM

Quote:

that production may begin as soon as 2010

I wonder what the "may begin as late as" year is ?