Carmaker Adds Full-Size SUVs And Pick-up Trucks To Advanced Technology Portfolio

DETROIT November 6, 2003; Dow Jones reports that General Motors Corp. confirmed that it will add a strong hybrid powertrain to the next-generation of its full-size sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks, which will debut in 2007.

,the automaker also confirmed earlier reports which said it will scrap its plan to develop an advanced hybrid system for the Saturn Vue, and instead focus on developing a system for all full sized SUVs and pick ups.

The Saturn Vue, an SUV expected to be introduced in 2006, will get a simpler hybrid system, which GM said will result in about 12% to 15% in better fuel- economy.

The trucks and SUVs fitted with the strong hybrid system and GM's cylinder deactivation technology are expected to see fuel economy improvements of about 30%, GM said.

A spokeswoman for GM wasn't immediately available to say which models will be fitted with the system, but an earlier report in the Wall Street Journal identified the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon as two candidates.

The strong hybrid system is based on the GM Allison parallel hybrid electric system for buses.

Those buses, which are currently in pilot programs around the country, achieve fuel savings of up to 60%, GM said.

GM also said it is producing a parallel hybrid truck which will go on sale to fleet customers this year, and retail customers next year.

The automaker said, however, that its ultimate goal is to advance its hydrogen fuel cell technology. To that end, the company has partnerships through which Fedex Corp. is currently using GM's fuel cell vehicles for delivery services in Tokyo, and Dow Chemical Co. is planning on using fuel cell technology to generate electricity from hydrogen byproducts at one of its facilities in Texas.

The company is also planning a demonstration, with Royal Dutch/Shell Group's Shell Hydrogen, of fuel cell vehicles which will include a hydrogen pump at a Shell gas station in Washington D.C.

Later, a spokeswoman for GM said the new system will be fitted on the Chevrolet Tahoe and Silverado, and the GMC Yukon and Sierra.

While noting that the company is a long way from pricing the new vehicles, she said having two propulsion systems does add to the cost of the SUV or truck.

The company is focused on maintaining the expected level of performance and utility of the hybrid vehicles, she said.