“Buick has always been at the forefront of new technology, so it is only fitting that the brand should debut our new plug-in hybrid technology in a beautiful new crossover,” said Tom Stephens, vice-chairman of product development. “This will firmly put Buick and GM front and centre in the advanced technology game.”
The new five-passenger crossover will build on the success of the Buick Enclave, and will be powered by a 2.4-litre direct-injection V6. The plug-in hybrid version is expected to be the first commercially-available plug-in hybrid SUV produced by a major automaker, and has the potential to deliver double the fuel economy of comparably-sized SUVs on short trips. It will use GM’s proven 2-Mode Hybrid system with advanced lithium-ion battery cells and charging technology developed for GM’s Voltec system, which will debut in the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle in late 2010.
The Buick plug-in hybrid has the potential to achieve double the fuel economy of comparably-sized SUVs on short trips. This significant boost is achieved by combining a modified version of GM’s proven 2-Mode Hybrid system with advanced lithium-ion battery cells and charging technology developed for GM’s Voltec system, which will debut in the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle in late 2010. It will use the same manganese-spinel based chemistry and polymer battery cells as the Volt, but its 8 kWh battery, containing half the energy of the Volt battery pack, will be packaged in a box under the cargo floor. The lithium-ion battery can be fully recharged in four to five hours by connecting the vehicle to any standard 110-volt household electrical outlet. In early testing, the plug-in hybrid is capable of electric-propulsion for more than 16 kilometres at low speeds. On the road, the 2-Mode plug-in hybrid system can use any combination of electric or gasoline power to move the vehicle, depending on the driving conditions. This differs from the Voltec technology, which will provide the Volt with up to 64 kilometres of emissions- and petroleum-free electric-only propulsion.
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