Brief interview w/the person leading GM's hybrid powertrain team http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...1024/LATESTNEWS
That's an interesting interview. I would be interested to hear more about the "two-mode" system that they are developing with BMW and some other manufacturers, and how it compares with Toyota and Ford's planetary system. So far, i've not heard much about the GM full-hybrid system.
Interesting, if not light, reading. Was it just me or did the first question seem to be a soft-pitch? Do all interviewers start questions with "Many people don't know this, but GM has been building hybrids since the 1930s . . ." I had to do a double-take to make sure that it wasn't Nitz himself saying that.
It adds a second PSD and 3 clutches to the mix! The design is so complicated it makes the simplicity of HSD rather obvious. THIS WEBPAGE has an illustration of it.
Prediction for possible followup article title: "GM Hybrids Sent to the Crusher; New GM Exec. Cites Troubled Powertrain Design" Actually, I hope they do manage to get something good working by '07.
