Big 3 go green at Detroit. (Ford Motor Co.; General Motors; Chrysler Corp.)
The Big 3 automakers composed of Ford Motor Co, General Motors Corp and Chrysler Corp will exhibit the first products emerging from their joint federal government program called Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles at the North American International Auto Show. The program aims to create a mid-sized sedan with an 80 mpg capacity by 2003. The green theme at the automobile show is largely influenced by the global warming conference held in Kyoto, Japan and the exhibition of clean engines by Japanese manufacturers at the Tokyo Motor Show.
Makers unveil visions of future
Following eco-friendly auto shows in Frankfurt and Tokyo, the Big 3 will paint themselves green: at the North American International Auto Show here.
Detroit's automakers will use the auto show to roll out vehicles that use low-emission internal-combustion engines, advanced hybrid powertrains or fuel cells.
Lest anyone think the Big 3 are blowing smoke about their environmental efforts, all the new "green machines" will be driveable cars, not merely static visions of the future. General Motors said it plans to have a production ready hybrid vehicle by 2001, and a fuel-cell vehicle by 2004, if not sooner.
Why the green theme? Certainly, last month's global warming conference in Kyoto, Japan, increased political interest in cleaner vehicles. And a handful of clean engines shown by Japanese automakers at the Tokyo Motor Show in late October raised competitive warning flags.
This week's unveilings also represent fruits of the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles, the joint Big 3-federal government program to develop a mid-sized sedan that gets 80 mpg.
The PNGV time line calls for roadworthy prototypes from the Big 3 in 2003. For an automaker faced with launching new technology, that deadline is a close as tomorrow. The Big 3 are out to show that their efforts are on track.
In PNGV the Big 3 work together to research and develop technology. But how that technology is applied to reach the 80-mpg goal is up to each automaker.
So this week the Big 3 are offering a menu of solutions. Here's the Big 3's green lineup:
GENERAL MOTORS
The EV1, the two-seat electric coupe sold in California and Arizona, was just the beginning. On Sunday, Jan. 4, GM was scheduled to unveil various alternative fuel vehicles packaged in its electric vehicle platform:
The 1998 EV1 powered by nickel-metal hydride batteries, with a range of 160 miles.
A two-door, four-passenger EV
An EV powered by a 1.0-liter engine that runs on compressed natural gas.
A series hybrid. The heart of the powertrain is a 40-kilowatt microturbine engine similar to those developed for military cruise missiles. The turbine engine can run on a variety of fuels, such as gasoline, diesel or concentrated natural gas.
A parallel hybrid that approaches the PNGV goal of 80 mpg and makes the 0 to 60 mph run in nine seconds.
The hybrid has two powerplants, a 1.2-liter, direct-injection turbodiesel and an electric motor.
A fuel-cell powered EV1 that returns 80 mpg and runs from 0-60 mph in nine seconds. The fuel cell comes from GM's Delphi Automotive subsidiary, using proprietary technology, and runs on methanol converted into hydrogen.
FORD MOTOR CO.
Ford will unveil at the show the P2000, a concept that Ford says is an evolutionary step toward the 80-mpg mid-sized car. Sources say it is quite possible that such a vehicle, wrapped in different body work, could be in dealerships by 2000.
Ford is also expected to announce that it will begin selling sport-utilities that meet stricter low-emission vehicle regulations.
The current Ford Contour forms the base of P2000. While the looks are familiar, the concept embodies a host of advanced technologies.
At 2,000 pounds, the P2000 weighs 40 percent less than a Ford Taurus. Ford makes extensive use of aluminum in the body, suspension and componentry to cut pounds. The first running prototype used the Contour's 130-hp, 2.0-liter engine.
The P2000 has Ford's aluminum, four-cylinder, 1.2-liter Direct-Injection Through-Bolt Assembly compression-ignition engine that can run on diesel fuel or methanol. Long bolts that run through the cylinder heads into the engine block enable Ford to use lightweight aluminum in a compression-ignition engine. The direct-injection system delivers the diesel fuel directly into the cylinder, vs. mixing with the air in the intake port.
With this engine, the P2000 gets 63 mpg, Ford Says.
To reach 80 mpg, the Direct-Injection Through-Bolt Assembly engine would likely have to be paired with an electric motor in a hybrid powertrain. The P2000 platform is also being engineered to accept a fuel cell.
CHRYSLER CORP.
Chrysler also has a concept vehicle dedicated to low-emission, high-mileage technologies, scheduled to be unveiled Tuesday, Jan. 6.
Sources say the vehicle is likely to build on the Dodge Intrepid ESX concept introduced at the 1996 Detroit auto show.
The Intrepid ESX showcased a series hybrid powertrain that used an 80-hp, 1.8-liter, three-cylinder diesel engine to generate electricity for motors mounted at the rear wheels. Chrysler's new concept is also said to incorporate a hybrid powertrain.
Automotive News
January 5, 1998
Jewett, Dale