GM shuns "hybrid" label for latest electric-assisted model: Buick Lacrosse 25/37 mpg

[RobertSmalls]

This is great news, but when did GM decide that Buick buyers wanted to spend a little bit more money on getting better fuel economy?

Did they say what the capacity of the battery is?

[cfg83]

rmay635703 -

Originally Posted by rmay635703

There was one company talking of making this into an upgrade for any car, now that would be something neat.

Upgrade any old cludge with an E-assist

Never dimiss the power of belt drive ...

By any chance are you referring to the "Electrocharger"? :

Electrocharger / Retrofit PHEV Hybrid Conversion Kit :: Sigma Automotive

I followed it since 2006, but alas, it never came to be, .

CarloSW2

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by cfg83

rmay635703 -

By any chance are you referring to the "Electrocharger"? :

Electrocharger / Retrofit PHEV Hybrid Conversion Kit :: Sigma Automotive

I followed it since 2006, but alas, it never came to be,

CarloSW2

I remember seeing that one but it seems like one was going to be an alternator replacement.

Ah well maybe my memory is fogging.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by RobertSmalls

This is great news, but when did GM decide that Buick buyers wanted to spend a little bit more money on getting better fuel economy?

I'd guess that GM just wanted to raise their CAFE numbers. and if you're going to add some equipment to do that, it'd seem reasonable to do it on the pricier models.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by RobertSmalls

This is great news, but when did GM decide that Buick buyers wanted to spend a little bit more money on getting better fuel economy?

Interesting tidbit: the e-assist car will be the same price as the V6, at least in the first year of production...

Buick will offer the LaCrosse with eAssist as a no-cost option on the base car for the next model year; meaning buyers can select this setup or the V6 for the same price.

source: 2012 Buick LaCrosse with eAssist, an AW Flash Drive - AutoWeek Magazine

That should let them collect some interesting market research.

[bwilson4web]

I think it is more likely that GM is trying to keep any hybrid, tax rebates around for serious hybrids instead of their BAS-retarded, jokes.

Bob Wilson

[orange4boy]

The whole thing reads like an ecomodder's garage. Can't you just see the engineers, a couple of years ago, sneaking off to ecomodder on their computers then attending a meeting with their "new" ideas.

Alas, as we know, most of these ideas are very old. At least they are finally seeing the light of day.

[gone-ot]

...honest, it's not stealing, it's re-cycling, officer!

[UFO]

Now lets get that system paired with a diesel engine. I want regenerative braking.

[gone-ot]

...maybe GM could rename it "Lend-Lease" technology (to play to WWII patriotism?) with the marketing explanation:

"...it LENDS you the power to go UP the hill, then LEASES it back as you brake going DOWN the hill."

...what'cha think GM?