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GM Building Electric Motors In-House For New Rear-Wheel Drive Hybrids

 
3 2,374 views Jan 26, 2010
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GM electric motor production

GM electric motor production

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GM will expand its in-house electric vehicle development capabilities by becoming the first major automaker in the U.S. to design and manufacture its own electric motors for future hybrid and plug-in hybrid models.

While the news is nothing to rave about, GM has revealed that its first electric motors will debut in its next-generation rear-wheel drive Two-mode hybrid system. The new system will use two unique motor designs and an internal combustion engine to provide improved fuel efficiency compared with the current Two-mode hybrid technology in GM’s full-size pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles.

Whether or not GM will use its next-generation Two-mode hybrid system solely for its pickup trucks and SUVs remains to be seen but the idea of a sporty rear-wheel drive Cadillac hybrid is palatable.

The electric motors will be manufactured in the U.S. for which GM is investing more than $246 million.

GM is not alone among U.S. manufacturers in bringing batteries in-house. Ford announced that it will bring the design and manufacture of battery packs back to the U.S., starting in 2012, for future electric vehicles and its next generation of hybrids. Additionally, GM won't produce all of its own motors, at least at first. Different uses--mild hybrids, full hybrids, and electric vehicles--require different types of motors.

For more details check out John Voelcker's extensive report over at GreenCarReports.com.

[GM]





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Comments (3)

  1. By dan aka 64chevyman Posted: 1/26/2010 6:00am PST

    Can you say made in the USA! Manufacturing in the US not beats it's rivals largely because we have the idle workers and space and retooled labor contracts but mostly because of the low dollar! May the rust belt turn greener! Sell you foreign heap here comes the USA!!!
     
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  2. By R2Dad Posted: 1/26/2010 8:35am PST

    I've gotta believe that even the auto manufacturers now understand that you have to protect your IP and R&D functions and that is simply not possible if critical subsystems are manufactured in China. Yeah, labor rates, the exchange rate and tax holidays are helping now. Hopefully they won't change their mind in 5 years time, yahoo isolationist/protectionists notwithstanding.
     
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  3. By  buy wii accessories Posted: 1/26/2010 9:04pm PST

    Apparently GM plans to build electric power trains and repay debt again. Sometimes it seems like executives become privy to corporate secrets and are then paid $millions not to leave.Per Wiki, "..Whitacre's compensation for 2006 totaled $61 million.. Upon retirement, Whitacre was eligible for a $158 million payout from AT&T.Most large corporations are owned by many thousands of small stockholders, but try finding their signatures on weekly million dollar executive paychecks.Quick, for the record, specifically list here what an executive could do worth honestly charging stockholders over $30,000 per hour - besides taking many $millions to leave the firm.
     
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