GM FYI Blog

A Facebook member gets to experience GM’s views on fueling the future

By Mike Zagorsky
Guest Blogger

For the past few years I’ve been following energy topics, oil in particular. I’ve tried to figure out oil - understand where it’s going, where it’s going to come from, and how it will shape the future of our economy. Since then, as I’ve gained knowledge, the only thing that I’ve managed to become is more uncertain about the future.

One thing I will admit to is being a self-abashed Facebook addict, (and getting a Blackberry does not help the situation). I ended up taking part in the group Americans For Alternative Energy,” where I discussed my thoughts on the future of energy. And as it turns out, GM was listening. I was then extended an invitation by GM to attend their “Fuel Solutions Drive” in San Diego, where I would have the opportunity to see the different technology GM is working on and talk to engineers actually involved in reducing our dependence on the liquefied remains of phytoplankton.

Touching down in San Diego, I was greeted by the driver and taken to a Chevy Suburban to transport me to the event. I guess someone did not get the memo on what the event was about. Oh the irony. To be fair, it’s possible that the Suburban was filled with E85. (In case you’re wondering I went for a job interview with ExxonMobil a year ago and they used a Cadillac Escalade to transport me to the airport).

The event was definitely interesting, given that the rest of the attendees were automotive journalists. I was the odd man out in a group where the common introduction among guests involved the question, “So, who do you write for?” When a GM engineer found out I was just a member of the public and not a journalist, he exclaimed, “Oh, so you’re a civilian!”

For dinner, I had the pleasure of sitting next to Larry Nitz, GM’s executive director of hybrid powertrains, and to be honest I can’t even begin to recall everything we talked about. But overall, he struck me as someone who seemed very optimistic about the future of hybrid drive systems at GM and the Volt (REEV) in particular, which I too am hopeful, but tempered by the tremendous risks GM is taking on the project as indicated by Nitz. In that regard, I actually look forward more to the VUE plug-in hybrid because to me it seems a project subject to less technical risk. Either way, I can’t wait for a five-door REEV or plug-in hybrid (Hint, hint…)

I also had a chance to test drive some of GM’s newest offerings, the GMC Yukon Hybrid and Chevy Malibu hybrid. The Yukon was truly an amazing product; the hybrid drive integration was superb, and considering that it averages only a handful less mpg then what I drive (a MAZDA3), a great work of engineering. I look forward to seeing the mileage numbers that the two-mode hybrid gets in smaller cars, like the Saturn Vue.

I was also intrigued by the Malibu hybrid, not so much by the mileage improvement, which is disappointing, but the potential in the BAS hybrid system towards allowing GM to integrate mild hybrid drive systems quickly into their product line in response to CAFE.

On the hydrogen front, I drove GM’s hydrogen Chevy Equinox, and let me say that car can go! I never really understood the meaning of torque until I floored the Equinox. The acceleration was very impressive and slightly strange in its quietness. The amazing thing is that it only has a 120 hp motor. The GM team made it clear that they were making progress towards reducing the costs of hydrogen, but overall I had a hard time seeing the advantage of developing the needed hydrogen technology and infrastructure over a car like the Volt or plug-in hybrid, which could decrease our liquid fuel requirement to the point where biofuels could account for a large amount of our demand, and do so far quicker and with less technical risk. But considering I can buy neither today, I think its too soon to pick sides just yet.

So overall, what did I think about GM’s efforts? I’m very impressed with the overall cohesion of vision for removing their business from its current leveraged position to petroleum. And judging by the number of times I heard, “I really can’t talk about that” there are some exciting times ahead for GM’s product development in the coming two or three years.

I do look forward to a time when fuel efficiency gets the same treatment by automakers as it does high performance (with shows like SEMA). I would love to see a concept Diesel Plug-in Escalade, not because it’s practice or possible to bring to market for now, but as a “because we can” statement. Lutz is the man behind the Cadillac Sixteen, after all, and this is a domain that I would love to see get equal treatment.

While I don’t agree with all of the decisions GM has made as far its product mix, it’s fun to try and predict where the future is headed for GM. (as opposed to some other automakers).

I would like to thank everyone at GM for inviting me to the event; it was a great experience (except the layover at O’Hare). And just to clarify, General Motors paid my airfare and accommodations for my attendance at the event, nothing was asked from me in exchange, including this post.