Hummer H3 Plugin Hybrid Gets 100 MPG, Kicks Prius Butt
The V-8 combustion engine has been replaced by a small stand-alone 4 cylinder 2.0L engine which is only connected to the 100 kW Symetron PM Synchronous generator, and not the drive system. The engine is used only generate electricity and recharge the batteries when the vehicle drives beyond its 40 mile battery range and the lithium ion batteries are spent.
Three liquid cooled lithium ion battery packs are mounted between the frame rails and can be charged with a standard 110-volt household outlet. For a quicker charging 220-volt outlets are also supported. A full charge will take between 3 and 10 hours.
This plugin hybrid drive-system was designed by Raser Technologies, but developed by FEV, Inc. But is a 100 mpg Hummer enough to change the minds of the 30,000 industry specialists, engineers and business leaders who will be attending SAE?
No gas is used up to 40 miles. At 50 miles a day, the vehicle would still get 185 miles to the gallon. For 60 it’s 100 miles per gallon and over 200 miles the miles per gallon goes down to 33.
“Our goal in exhibiting this particular vehicle is to demonstrate that electric vehicle technology is a viable solution for a variety of vehicle platforms,” said Gary Rogers, FEV, Inc. president and CEO. “Needs of consumers will continue to vary, and the Hummer range-extended electric vehicle shows that fuel economy does not necessarily mean sacrificing power and utility.”
As of yet, there has been no talk of funding but I suspect that will come up during SAE. Raser hopes to have 2,000 of these things on the road by the end of 2010. Wired.com reports that Pacific Gas & Electric has already requested two of them.
Hey, only 1,998 more to go!
Don’t forget to see this throwback, the post that put Gas 2.0 on the map: Car Hacker’s Hummer Gets 60 MPG
Source [Wired.com]
[...] 2.0 has me all WTF and GTFO today, as they announced Hummer’s plans to release a plugin hybrid H3 that gets up to 100 MPG. While I want to see vehicles get smaller, and use highway space more efficiently, no one can deny [...]
A truck that big that uses that much material to create ‘outgreens’ a much smaller car? Interesting idea, but I don’t buy it if anyone did an apple to apple comparison. Comparing these two is like apples to oranges; like comparing my bike to a school bus.
Amazing.
“We’ve taken the worst environmental offender on the road and made it greener than a Prius,” West told Wired.com.
40 miles of all electric range is fantastic. It’s impressive and makes a big statement, though I do hope to see this technology in smaller cars as quickly as possible- I’m sure there are many who would be into driving all electric who either don’t want a Hummer or can’t afford one.
Create EV1
Destroy EV1 in favor or gas sucking hummer brand
Make hummer smaller
make hummer smaller again
make hummer EV….
is it any wonder why GM is tanking?
“Create EV1
Destroy EV1 in favor or gas sucking hummer brand
Make hummer smaller
make hummer smaller again
make hummer EV….
is it any wonder why GM is tanking?”
I’ll add to the list:
Create Geo brand when gas is ~$1/gal
Kill Geo brand right before gas begins climb to $4/gal
Create Caprice/Roadmaster wagons that get 26 mpg highway
and has more cargo space than all but the largest SUVs.
Kill Caprice/Roadmaster wagons to make more SUVs.
They’re lying. Notice that the mileage drops as the distance driven is increased. That means they’re using the mileage of the electric side to prop up the mileage of the gas driven side. It’ll probably get better mileage (ie the 33mpg at 200miles/day) but the 100mpg is hype. I like the concept of the vehicle but it would go over better without the sales BS.
Bill, according to GM, 78% of American drivers commute less than 40 miles a day. At that range, and if the car was charged everyday, you would get UNLIMITTED MPG. I agree the 100 MPG is an attention getter, and it got just that.. attention. This Hummer would change the face of the SUV industry. However, for those long road trips, it’s still going to get 33 MPG. Much better than the 10-14 MPG the Hummer gets now wouldn’t you say?
This has all the earmarks of a great April fools joke. I hope the enviro-nuts target these things too.
GM should make more hybrid trucks, suv’s and plug in usv’s. there has been any good hybrids suv expect the escape.
This is a great application for the series hybrid; big vehicle, high torque requirements, and lots of space for battery/power-train storage.
I’d rather drive this than a Prius anyday.