Shanghai General Motors introduces Sail SPRINGO EV at Auto Guangzhou 2012; green technology strategy to 2020

The Sail SPRINGO EV. Click to enlarge.

At the opening of Auto Guangzhou 2012, Shanghai General Motorslaunched its first localized new energy vehicle, the Sail SPRINGO EV. The vehicle was developed by Shanghai GM and the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC), making it the first production electric vehicle created by a Chinese joint venture.

A limited number of the Sail SPRINGO EVs will initially be sold starting in Shanghai as part of a trial program to enable Shanghai GM to better understand Chinese consumers’ preferences and user habits for electric vehicles. The SPRINGO EV will be sold for RMB 258,000 (US$41,460). Buyers in Shanghai will enjoy incentives of up to RMB 60,000 (US$9,642) from the central government and RMB 40,000 (US$6,428) from the Shanghai government. In addition, the car will qualify for a free local Shanghai license plate exclusively for electric vehicles.

Based off a new electric vehicle architecture developed by Shanghai GM in conjunction with PATAC, the Sail SPRINGO EV features a permanent magnet electric motor capable of producing 85 kW of power and up to 510 N·m (376 lb-ft) of torque, allowing acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just over 10 seconds. (As a comparison, the new Chevrolet Spark EV uses a 100 kW motor with 542 N·m of torque. Earlier post.)

Pushing the Sport button provides a 20% boost in acceleration at the beginning and middle of the torque curve compared to pressing the accelerator in a gasoline-powered vehicle. The top speed is 130 km/h (81 mph). Its stability during high-speed cruising and cornering is optimized by a new tailored full-frame chassis with an enhanced stabilizer bar and tuned suspension.

Electric range is 130 km (81 miles) under a variety of road conditions and 200 km (124 iles) at a constant speed of 60 km/h (37 mph). The Sail SPRINGO EV consumes less than 15 kWh for every 100 km—less than most electric vehicles currently on the market. The Sail SPRINGO EV costs RMB 4.6 (US$0.74) per 100 km to drive when charged during lower-cost off-peak hours (between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.).

The powertrain system features an advanced battery liquid cooling system, an innovative motor efficiency optimizer, a rechargeable energy storage system mated to a low gear design, and low-rolling resistance tires. More balanced power output with regenerative braking helps keep energy consumption at the lowest level.

The Sail SPRINGO EV can be charged using a 3.3-kW charging station or a standard household outlet. It takes approximately seven hours for the battery to be fully charged using a dedicated 220V connection. There are three charging modes available: immediate charging, time delay charging, and time delay and rate charging.

Vehicle charging can also be managed and monitored remotely using a smart phone mobile app provided by Shanghai OnStar. Owners can use the app to perform a range of functions remotely, such as starting the vehicle’s heater or air conditioner. OnStar’s service system also carries out remote vehicle monitoring and analysis of other vehicle systems, and provides drivers with additional vehicle information such as tire pressure. If abnormal data is detected, the OnStar system will immediately contact the owner to provide safety information and instructions.

Another feature allows owners to check energy usage and remaining charge level with the Energy Leaf button.

Developed to meet global electric vehicle safety standards, the Sail SPRINGO EV fully complies with safety requirements for pure electric vehicles in China. Its newly designed front and rear anti-collision beams made from ultra-high strength steel and its body structure protect the battery pack in the event of a collision.

All of Shanghai GM’s new energy vehicles, including the Sail SPRINGO EV, will be sold through an exclusive “Drive to Green” sales network. The first showroom is expected to open in the first half of 2013 in Shanghai. The exclusive sales and aftersales service network will be expanded to key new energy vehicle demo cities based on local market conditions and the development of the new energy vehicle industry and charging infrastructure.

The Sail SPRINGO EV will come with a vehicle warranty of three years or 80,000 km, as well as a battery warranty of five years or 100,000 km.

Green drive strategy. Also at the auto show, Shanghai GM Shanghai described its future “Green Drive Technology Strategy”. Ye Yongming, general manager of Shanghai General Motors, said that the new strategy serves as the planning blueprint for new energy products for 2020—notably battery-electric and extended range electric vehicle technologies. The Sail SPRINGO EV is the first example.

As part of the plan, Shanghai General Motors is setting up a new energy products exclusive sales and customer experience in showroom; a new energy exhibition hall will be opened in Shanghai in the first half of 2013.

Shanghai GM is also planning development of hybrids; the use of SIDI direct injection technology and small displacement turbocharged engines; further development and application of advanced gearbox technology and brake energy recovery technology. In 2013, Shanghai GM will introduce Start / Stop technology.

In addition, Shanghai GM will promote the application of lightweight vehicle and other fuel-saving technologies, including the use of aluminum-magnesium alloys, lightweight acoustic materials, engineering plastics and carbon fiber composite materials.

Source: Green Car Congress

Chevy Sail EV renamed Springo for China debut

Sail, we can translate: Springo.

That's the renamed version of the Chevrolet compact electric vehicle that will debut in China later this year after its production version is unveiled at the Guangzhou Auto Show later this month.

Shanghai GM, which is a 50/50 partnership between General Motors and China-based SAIC, is calling the model the oddly happy name Springo, according to Indian Autos Blog.

GM debuted a concept version of the model, then known as the Sail (pictured), at the 2010 Guangzhou Auto Show. That model had, and the Springo will have, an 87-horsepower motor that delivers a top speed of 80 miles per hour as well as a 93-mile single-charge range.

GM hopes to further boost Asia Pacific sales by broadening its inventory of EV models. The automaker will start selling an all-electric version of the Chevrolet Spark in South Korea next year.



Source: Autoblog Green

Introducing the All-Electric Chevrolet Cruze

For U.S. car buyers, GM is convinced that a range-extended electric vehicle--its 2011 Chevrolet Volt, to be specific--is the best solution to meeting the needs of drivers who may need to go further than the 40 miles a Volt will do on battery power.

But elsewhere in the world, GM is quietly pursuing all-electric vehicles of various types. The latest one, announced today, is a prototype all-electric Chevrolet Cruze, with a 31-kilowatt-hour battery pack (almost exactly twice the size of the Volt's 16-kWh pack), which will offer a projected range of up to 100 miles.

Cells from LG Chem ... again

The electric Cruze is a joint effort among GM's South Korean subsidiary, GM Daewoo, along with lithium-ion cell maker LG Chem and LG Electronics, a sister company, which is providing the electric drive motor and inverter. (Some of the cars will also be labeled Daewoo Lacetti, the previous name of the same model sold only in Korea.)

In addition to the range of 100 miles--which GM qualifies as data that was achieved "on specific test schedules"--the electric Cruze is said to do 0 to 62 mph in 8.2 seconds, and achieve a maximum speed of just over 100 mph.

Recharging time on a 220-Volt outlet is 8 to 10 hours, and GM plans to test a high-voltage quick-charging application as well.

Real-world EV usage data

The project's goal is to "explore market needs and customer acceptance of battery electric vehicles in South Korea," though the size of the fleet to operate in the capital city of Seoul hasn't been announced. Like many other test fleets, the maker will acquire real-world data on driving patterns and recharging behavior.

The project begins next month, indicating that the electric Cruze has been in development for some time now. LG Chem also manufactures the cells used in the Volt's battery pack, so it's reasonable to assume the two vehicles share some battery-pack technology.

2011 Chevrolet Volt

Enlarge Photo

No loss of trunk space

Moreover, "While battery packs often occupy trunk space, the Cruze EV’s battery pack is mounted on the underbody," notes GM's announcement. "This gives the Cruze EV the same trunk space as conventional vehicles with gasoline engines."

In other words, it's just possible that the 100-mile 31-kilowatt-hour battery pack occupies no more volume than the Volt's smaller capacity T-shape pack, which sits in the tunnel and under the rear seat.

Why? Because both the gasoline 2011 Cruze and the electric 2011 Volt are built on the same basic understructure, heavily adapted for the change from gasoline to electric drive. A Cruze body on a Volt platform, minus the gasoline range extender, would be a logical adaptation.

Precursor to all-electric Volt?

So is this electric Chevrolet Cruze a precursor to an all-electric Chevy Volt with a 100-mile range? Or perhaps a Chevrolet Cruze Electric that would face off head-to-head with the 2012 Ford Focus Electric that Ford has already announced will be built alongside the gasoline Focus in its Wayne plant?

If so, GM may be able to compete directly with the all-electric Nissan Leaf and Ford Focus, plus offer an electric-drive vehicle with a range extender that eliminates any worries about range anxiety (the Volt). Which would be a very neat comeback for the company vilified for terminating its EV1 program in a noted documentary.

Testing EVs in China and, now, Korea

This isn't the only all-electric GM vehicle being tested, by the way. Just a few weeks ago, GM China confirmed development of an electric Chevrolet Sail. So China and Korea are the first two regions in which GM's plans to build a small number of all-electric cars will play out. No doubt the company will announce the third one in due course.

The company has also shown more futuristic electric personal transportation units, most recently in China this March, where it showed an autonomous, electric, electric two-wheeler city car.

Those cars are far less likely to hit the U.S. market though. A nice all-electric, 100-mile Chevrolet Cruze in, say, 2013 or 2014? We think that might hit the spot quite nicely.



Source: All Cars Electric