General Motors is of the opinion that it will be able to reduce costs and improve performance, quality, reliability and manufacturability of electric motors by doing it themselves. So they’ve set out to try to design and build their own and have set 2013 as a targeted debut year. The GM-designed and built motors will see first use in a two-mode hybrid system for rear wheel drive vehicles. This sounds like trucks, trucks and more trucks – the Volt and Cruze are front wheel drive.
“In the future, electric motors might become as important to GM as engines are now. By designing and manufacturing electric motors in-house, we can more efficiently use energy from batteries as they evolve, potentially reducing cost and weight – two significant challenges facing batteries today,” says Tom Stephens, GM vice chairman, Global Product Operations.
The GM two-mode hybrid system runs like its namesake in two modes. It is capable to run the car in an EV-only zero emissions mode. The two two modes are the ‘input mode’ and the ‘compound split’ mode. The ‘input mode’ is used for moving from a stop, driving at low speeds, and towing, basically any vehicle situation where you need more torque. This mode runs in gear 1 and 2 and can run either with electric power only, engine power only, or both. The compound split mode is used for cruising. In this mode, the electric motors only help the combustion engine when they are needed.
GM claims that they’ve been working at preparing for this for years now, and that the electric motors would be built in the US at a GM facility. They probably couldn’t do it any other way, since they received US$105 million from the US government sometime in the second half of last year with the intention that the money be used for the R&D and manufacturing of electric motors and related drive components in the US. If they decide to go with more cost effective countries, they would probably have to return the money.
But while they dump money into motor R&D, they are also planning to continue to work with suppliers to co-design electric motors and buy them. “This is a strategy we use today with batteries. We are partnering with suppliers to create innovations faster than ever before. Our goal is simply to establish GM as a leader in automotive electric motors. We see that leadership as a key enabler – both to our long-term success and to our nation’s move away from oil dependence,” added Stephens.
After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
When is Proton's own electric car coming ??
"By designing and manufacturing electric motors in-house, we can more efficiently use energy from batteries (…)"
There are companies in the world, which are building electric motors and electric drives since decades.
GM, which is a newcomer is this field, can design something better? Why this?
watever GM….sell of saab first
In the long run, fuel cells should be the way to go.
better catch up fast, Nissan already gonna roll out EV this year.
GM is a laughing stock of the world.. first they killed the EV1's in the 90's and decided to persue building petrol guzzling machine. If GM wants plp to forgive them.. they should bring the EV1's back on the road.
i believe, hybrid engine will be common in the future. and this is the sign..
Seriously, GM can save cost by outsourcing. Their engineers' wages is damn high, that is not even include company benefit.
it should be the right direction to develope the electric motor and apply on the car!
is it the Cadillac Converj & Volt already the electric car?
White Jack said,
January 26, 2010 @ 6:33 pm
When is Proton’s own electric car coming ??
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Not in the near future as the infrastructure to support the cars is not ready yet. However, hybrid is on the way.