In the course of developing hybrid vehicles, automakers typically try to minimize parasitic losses wherever possible to maximize the fuel efficiency numbers. For Chrysler's first production hybrids, the Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen, the struggling automaker has incorporated a new sensor that measures temperature and humidity. Like GM's two-mode hybrids, the air conditioning system in the Chryslers is electrically driven off the hybrid battery. As those of us who live in areas with hot humid conditions are aware, the moisture level in the air has as much to do with perceived heat as the ambient temperature.

The new integrated temperature humidity sensor factors this in to the climate control to use only as much A/C as needed. If the temperature outside is 80F and the humidity is 80 percent, the system will control the temperature to a lower level than if the humidity was only 30 percent. While this has absolutely no impact on the EPA (because the air conditioning is turned off during testing) numbers, it will benefit drivers in the real world. The ITHS has been patented by Chrysler and Daimler and will only appear in vehicles from those companies for the time being.

[Source: CarList.com]

Now that Chrysler is getting ready to launch the Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen hybrids into the world in a few months, the question of what's next arises. We already know about the Dodge Ram getting the Two-Mode hybrid system in 2010. About this time last year at Chrysler's 2008 model year preview EVP-product development Frank Klegon indicated that there would be additional hybrid applications coming in the next few years. Mike Accavitti, Dodge Brand director told the Detroit Free Press that the Dodge Journey crossover is one of the possible candidates that is being looked at. The Journey seems an obvious candidate and could see the Two-Mode hybrid soon. GM is actually supplying the two-mode transmissions for the Durango and Ram and has a front wheel drive version that will debut this fall in the Saturn Vue. It's possible that GM could supply that same unit to development partner Chrysler for applications like the Journey. Since the Journey shares a platform with Chrysler's mid-size Sebring and Avenger they could also see hybrid versions. The minivans would also seem like a good application since many drivers of such vehicles use them around town to shuttle munchkins and businesses use them as delivery vehicles.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

When Nissan introduced the Titan pickup truck earlier this decade, they became the first Japanese Automaker to directly challenge the U.S. manufacturers in the full-size truck segment. Unfortunately for Nissan, the gamble didn't pay off, but the company knows when to stop throwing good money after bad. With sales of only 65,000 a year and no sales outside of North America, it didn't make sense for Nissan to spend money developing a new generation vehicle. The capper on the deal were new fuel economy regulations. Nissan has been trying unsuccessfully for months to line up a supplier of diesel engines for the Titan. The announcement yesterday of the deal between Nissan and Chrysler to swap cars and trucks means the next-generation Nissan pickup will be built off the Ram platform.

It's not known yet if the Nissans will get the hybrid or light duty diesel engines that will debut in the Ram in 2010. Chrysler spokesman Nick Cappa told ABG that GM, Daimler and BMW would have to agree before Nissan could be included in the hybrid program. Since Daimler and BMW don't compete in the segment, and GM and Chrysler could certainly use the extra volume to bring costs down, it seems likely that the Nissan truck will eventually be found with a hybrid system. For the new light duty Cummins diesel, Dodge will probably get a period of exclusivity, but it seems likely that Nissan wouldn't even bother with a truck if they couldn't get a diesel, since everyone else in the segment will have one by 2010.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd]

As Chrysler gets ready to launch their first hybrids this fall in the shape of the Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen two-modes, Hybrid manager Abdullah Bazzi has posted answers to some reader questions over on the Dodge blog. While none of the questions are particularly deep or earth shattering, Bazzi does reiterate that a hybrid version of the Ram pickup is coming in 2010. Although at least one reader would like to see a hybrid version of the new Dodge Challenger, Bazzi says that would depend on making a business case for it.

The likelihood of that happening is pretty slim. Sales projections for the Challenger are only about 40,000 units a year and it remains to be seen how sales will hold up after the demand for the first year's run is satisfied. At the moment all of Chrysler's future product plans are in flux as the new bosses revamp the lineup. Beyond the Durango/Aspen/Ram hybrids and the diesel Grand Cherokee, nothing is certain. Head over to the Dodge blog to read the rest of Bazzi's responses.

[Source: Red Letter Dodge]

At the international media launch for BMW's new X6 "Sport Activity Coupe" in Spartanburg, South Carolina, company officials confirmed that the hybrid version is indeed coming next year. When it launches in 2009 it will be available only with the the 4.4L turbocharged V-8 that is debuting right now in the 2008 X6. The X6 will be BMW's first application of the two mode hybrid system that is being developed along with GM, Daimler and Chrysler. Like GM and Chrysler, BMW will be using a nickel metal hydride battery for the initial applications. Unlike the two American brands, the BMW engine won't be using cylinder deactivation. According to BMW engineers, they didn't see a significant improvement in efficiency with cylinder deactivation compared to the direct injection and variable valve timing and lift system their V-8 uses.

Like the American hybrid SUVs, BMW chose to apply hybrid technology to a heavy, powerful vehicle because the absolute fuel savings (the number of gallons reduced) are much larger compared to the same percentage increase on a smaller vehicle like the 1-series. In Europe BMW, has started to add systems like automatic start-stop and brake energy regeneration to their smaller vehicles. They are implementing each of these technologies on one platform or powertrain combination at time. The start-stop system is currently available on manual transmission four cylinder cars, none of which BMW sells in the U.S. right now. Over the coming years they plan to expand availability to virtually all of their platforms. In the meantime, the X6 Hybrid will save some gas compared to the regular model, but at 5,000lbs and up, it won't be winning any fuel economy competitions anytime soon.

[Source: BMW]

Click the Tahoe hybrid for a high-res gallery

General Motors has had a checkered relationship with hybrids in the last few years. Through the 1990s they did a lot of development work in the area, particularly through the federally funded Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV). Ultimately, Toyota and Honda were the first to actually bring hybrid electric drivetrains to market. GM eventually brought their first light duty hybrid system to market with the mild parallel hybrid that was offered on the Silverado and Sierra pickups for a couple of years. That was followed by the belt-alternator-starter system that debuted in late 2006 on the Saturn Vue. Neither of these systems could in any way be considered a commercial success although GM claims to have learned some real world lessons from them.

Late in 2007, GM finally launched production of the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon hybrids, the company's first "strong" or full hybrid systems offered on light duty vehicles. The hybrid full-size SUVs have been controversial among hybrid fans who are of course dubious about why GM is bothering to apply this technology to these big, heavy vehicles. Even with the hybrid system, the rear wheel drive Tahoe still only manages an EPA combined rating of 21 mpg, less than half of the 46 mpg that a Prius gets. There is, however, a method to the apparent madness which we'll come back to. Previously we've had a couple of opportunities for short drives of the Tahoe hybrid at GM's Milford Proving Ground. Now that we've had a chance to live with it for a week you can read all about it after the jump.


Photos Copyright ©2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Click the X6 for a high-res gallery

At the Frankfurt Motor Show today, BMW finally took the camo off their latest crossover and in the process showed off their first application of the Two-Mode hybrid system they have been co-developing with General Motors, Daimler and Chrysler. The X6 is a different look for BMW cross-overs, eschewing the traditional four door wagon SUV look for a more coupe-like hatch back profile.

As expected, the X6 will be the first BMW with the Two-Mode hybrid. Back in January at the Detroit show, a BMW spokesman told us the hybrid would go into a new model and although BMW is officially calling this a concept, it's known that the X6 will be built in their Spartanburg South Carolina plant alongside the X5 and X3. The hybrid setup is expected to improve fuel efficiency by twenty percent.

Update: The press release has been updated with the official English language version from BMW

[Source: BMW]

Click the photo for a high-res gallery of the Durango and Aspen hybrid prototypes

Yesterday morning, AutoblogGreen had the privilege of being the very first media outlet to drive Chrysler's upcoming hybrid SUVs. We already knew that DaimlerChrysler was partnering with General Motors and BMW to develop the Two-Mode hybrid system that we drove last month on the Chevy Tahoe. Chrysler's first hybrid application will be on the Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen.

The Chrysler SUVs are still about a year away from start of production and aren't yet to the same stage of development as the GM vehicles. In fact, by the time the Chryslers hit the market, GM will have the Tahoe/Yukon/Escalade, the Sierra/Silverado pickups and the Vue crossover all available for sale with the Two-Mode system.

Read ABG's initial driving impressions of the Two-Mode Durango after the jump

At the Chrysler's What's New preview of their 2008 lineup at their Chelsea, MI Proving Ground, executive VP of product development, Frank Klegon spoke about some of the companies powertrain plans for the next few years. While he didn't really get into too many specifics he did have some interesting things to say. Chrysler is definitely more bullish on diesels than their Detroit counterparts.

Over the next five to ten years Chrysler is predicting that diesels will reach a 10-15 percent share of the US market and hybrids will reach a similar penetration rate. Klegon also gave the assembled group a preview of what's coming as part of Chrysler's powertrain offensive in the next few years - now that the ownership question is settled they are moving full speed ahead.

The new aluminum block Phoenix V-6 engine family will get a six to eight percent improvement in fuel economy thanks to cylinder deactivation and dual variable valve timing. Further efficiency improvements will come thanks the new dual clutch gearboxes that will be mated to the new engines.

You can read about Chrysler's diesel and hybrid plans after the jump.

The King County Washington transit system was one of the first in the United States to start widely using hybrid buses and they just announced a major expansion of the effort. Since King County got their first hybrid buses over three years ago they have put 214 of them on the road. In the fall of 2006, voters approved a twenty percent expansion of the transit system services and today King County executive Ron Sims announced that they have decided to purchase up to five hundred more articulated buses from New Flyer Industries with the GM-Allison two-mode hybrid system.

Since putting their first hybrid buses into service King County has measured a thirty percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the hybrids compared to their conventional buses and forty percent better reliability. The first twenty-two buses for the service expansion are expected to arrive next spring with another one hundred in 2009. Over the next five years the additional buses will be purchased to replace older conventional buses in the fleet.

In King County's experience so far the hybrids have gotten over 4mpg compared to about 3mpg for conventional diesel buses and they are expected to last 14-16 years compared to twelve for the non-hybrids. The powertrains could potentially last up to twenty years but the bus itself begins to wear out in the shorter time-frame. So far their are over seven hundred GM hybrid buses on the road in fifty-six cities and they've accumulated over 35 million miles. The press release is after the jump.

[Source: General Motors and King County]

Click the image for a high res gallery of the GMT900 hybrids

When General Motors gave us our brief (and I mean brief, it was only about ten minutes behind the wheel) first exposure to the new Tahoe and Yukon hybrids the other day they weren't there alone. Along with the GM chief engineers and vehicle line executives, were representatives from DaimlerChrysler and BMW. The Two-Mode hybrid system was originally created by GM's Allison transmission division for buses and other heavy duty vehicles but GM decided to partner with DCX and BMW to migrate the technology to light duty vehicles.

While the decision to apply the hybrid system to the big SUVs may seem a highly dubious one from the perspective of green car fans, GM does have some rationale for their choice. The new Tahoe and Yukon are only the first of many vehicles that will be getting this technology in the next few years including significantly smaller vehicles than the ones we drove. Although declining in popularity in an era of higher gas prices, the fact remains that Americans still buy a lot more big trucks every year than they do small cars.

Continue reading after the jump

As part of the recent battery technology briefing at the General Motors Technical Center, the attendees were taken on a tour of the hybrid battery test lab. Our group was taken through by lab manager Doug Drauch, who gave us an overview of the activities that take place in the lab. GM has four phases of battery testing with the first phase focusing on individual cells and their performance. In phase two testing, they evaluate the performance and behavior of strings of cells tied together but not fully assembled into a pack.

In phase three, they test fully assembled battery packs, and phase four is system integration testing. The lab we went through focuses on phase two and three with some limited phase four testing. The lab that does the phase one testing is in another building on the Tech Center campus. Continue on after the jump for more on the lab tour and what goes on there.

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If you're curious how the much-heralded two-mode hybrid system being developed by GM, DaimlerChrysler and BMW works, check out this explanation at AutoSpeed. Co-written by engineers from all three automakers, the tech feature not only goes into the mechanics of the hybrid systems but also the economic factors that drove its development. I saw this system for the first time about 18 months ago at a GM Powertrain preview and was very impressed with the product's versatility. At that time only the large version, which will be used in SUVs, was shown. But now I can see a smaller model that will used in luxury cars. Some may wonder why a version for compact cars doesn't have early priority. GM has long professed addressing vehicles with the worst fuel economy. That's why the two-mode strategy was first tried out in bus fleets. I don't know the exact numbers, but a single hybrid bus probably saves more fuel each year than a few dozen Prius models. Also, premium and higher-priced vehicles can help offset early development costs. Cynics will scoff at a 25 percent increase in fuel economy for a vehicle that only gets 15mpg to start with, but in the long run the two-mode can make a difference.

Related:

• GM, BMW, DCX Hybird joint-venture officially kicks off

[Source: AutoSpeed]