GM to launch plug-in hybrid SUV in 2011

General Motors will launch a plug-in hybrid sport utility vehicle under the Buick brand in 2011
General Motors will launch a plug-in hybrid sport utility vehicle under the Buick brand in 2011, the automaker said Thursday.

General Motors will launch a plug-in hybrid sport utility vehicle under the Buick brand in 2011, the automaker said Thursday.

The five-passenger midsized crossover is expected to be the first plug-in hybrid SUV to hit the commercial market, GM said.

It will replace the previously planned Saturn Vue plug-in, which was shelved after GM shed the Saturn brand as it restructured under .

GM said it has the potential to achieve double the fuel economy of comparable crossovers on short trips.

"The lithium-ion battery can be fully recharged in four to five hours by simply connecting the vehicle to any standard 110V household electrical outlet," GM said in a statement.

"By recharging rather than refueling, the Buick plug-in hybrid significantly improves fuel economy and reduces petroleum use."

Unlike GM's upcoming extended-range Volt plug-in hybrid, the yet-to-be named Buick will be able to use any combination of electric or gasoline power while the charge lasts.

The Volt will run exclusively on electricity before switching over to a backup engine after about 40 miles (64 kilometers).

(c) 2009 AFP

Citation: GM to launch plug-in hybrid SUV in 2011 (2009, August 7) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2009-08-gm-plug-in-hybrid-suv.html
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