This is very natural synergy to improve the overall performance of the propulsion system. I am surprised it did not happen earlier. GM should definitely consider this technology for upcoming Volt.

Even if GM built a 100mpg Suburban, and some people would still bash them.

That's not the point I'm trying to make.

What I'm saying is that even if GM, Ford, or Chrysler somehow came up with a technology that allowed their largest vehicles to get 100mpg, someone would still find something to complain about.

"We're still waiting on a 40mpg vehicle from GM..."

The wait is over:

http://media.gm.com/eur/chevrolet/en/download/td/td_matiz_en.pdf

45mpg combined on the European drive cycle.

Patrick,

Just because the GM firm does not sell any of its 'A and 'B' cars in the USA, does not mean that they do not have and sell such vehicles elsewhere. So much for 40 mpg GM cars.

Strange as it seems most other manufacturers don't sell them in the USA either. Could it be that the market was/is not large for cars too tiny for Americans?

Part of the problem is the expense of teh world's toughest emission standards, and safety equipment requirements, and passing the crash standards in small vehicles. The Smart Fortwo for example, was able to achieve only a three star rating versus the almost universal 4 and mostly 5 star ratings achieved by other vehicles.

NHTSA testing is underlining that savings in fuel may be very shortsighted.

Plus in the litigious US, there are certainly plenty of ambulance chasing legal boodlers, looking enviously at the massive legal fees in reprising the Ford Pinto lawsuits on either GM or Ford, irrespective of the reality or not. The legal crooks, a corrupt portion of the noble Law profession, protected by their massive donations to the Democrats, are free to continue to brigandize Amercan society to fatten their purses.

Last year the foreign based manufacturers past the domestic makers in the mileage achieved by the subsidiaries in the US. They were behind in 2006 model year.

For all the tiny cars the foreign makers bring in, they also bring in plenty of lower mileage vehicles too. Lots of Mercedes S and E classes and SUVs, BMW 5 and 7 series and X5s. Ditto for Toyota's Tundras, Tacomas and and mega Land Cruisers.

The government statistics show the reality.

http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_04_23.html

In 2006 domestic vehicles got a better fleet average mileage, than the imports. In 2007 the foreign makers returned to the top.

Why doesn't GM simply buy EEStor & use their technology in the Volt? I thought you could go 300+ miles on a 5 minute charge with EEStor's technology?

I support the T2B5 standards for diesels. Do You?

And I applaud the resolution of the American politicians of both parties, who had the intestinal fortitude to withstand cries to let in the the propaganda named 'clean diesels' from Europe.

If we had done so, we may as well have said, cars don't need catalytic converters either. It is just about the same thing.

Do You support T2B5? Unlike others, I don't think we should inflict the pollution of more diesel than neccessary and widespead diesels on America, until they are at least as clean as the poorest gasoline cars.

That is what the T2B5 standard is. Merely making the 'cleanest diesel' that so many here detest, as tooexpensive, into the equivalent of the dirtiest gasoline car allowed to be sold.

At least we won't be making the air dirtier than now. We environmentalsits fought too hard to get this far, to go backwards. As for myself, I would prefer that we quickly upgrade the standard to the equivalent of the cleaner, more modern, gasoline cars, so I urge the adoption of tougher T2B2 from T2B5, as soon as possible.

When you travel to Europe, its easy to tell what the consequences of poor emissions standards are. European emissions standards are literally a joke. The EU won't get serious until standards reach EU 7 or EU 8, and those are not even being discussed for implementation until the 2030s at least.

But then good little socialists prove once again, in reality, that despite the voluminous hot air that they emit, they don't give a damn about the people they claim to represent. Look at the East bloc and Chinese sewers and good democratic socialism of the European Union. European cities reek of diesel stink; they didn't used to be that way. Its the consequence of good central planning.

Meanwhile the EU leaders, take the money from their industrial leaders, delay and quibble about how to implement poor EU 5 non "standards", and further delay EU 6 implementation.

Which word in "Please-do-not-respond" didn't you understand. Jeez. You obviously missed the whole point of my comment.
It was humorous to see you refer to yourself as an environmentalist though. Epic lulz.

A bit off the subject but has anyone incorporated GPS with a plug in "medium" hybrid. If your Prius (modified only to add a charger) knew where you lived it might reschedule its battery draw down as you approached home - it would not even need any more battery capacity to then use the grid for at least a sip of power. The GPS would prevent it from using HC fuel to recharge as you approached home. And it could know (or you could add) where the hills are - as you approach a down hill it would draw down the battery etc.
Software is cheap.
Enter that your going to visit your sister and the car would know if she had an extension cord waiting for you.
Week days It could say, "Good morning Dave, it's 7 AM. I hope you are on your way to work. I will schedule my energy usage to arrive with the battery pack at 30%; please don't forget to plug me in like last time.
By the way I'm sorry I honked at you in front of you boss."

@ToppaTom: I believe there was some study performed by the Uni of Toyota or somesuch - but on theoretical grounds, if I'm not mistaken. They predicted a 3-5% savings in conventional cars, and a 10-20% (further) improvement in full HEVs such as a prius, when the engine management did include predicted road conditions in it's calculations....

"Why doesn't GM simply buy EEStor & use their technology in the Volt?"

Because a heavy exec at GE, Jack Doneghy is angling for the outfit. But he has to arm wrestle Lockheed and Lutz in the process.

@drivin98 - There are about FIVE(5) Aptera's in existence. Each hand built. Each without any safety, technology or road certification. Nice design, fun to look at, futuristic, but then, so are "The Jetsons."

@Stas - what have you got against Nikita, Mao and friends? If not good enviros at least they administer great walls - something a few 'Mericans clamor for.

@ToppaTom - topic may be ucaps but efficient power usage in HEVs is the goal. One hopes that smart battery controllers will become standard. Knowing where real-time charge rates are lowest would be another benefit. Less important as ESS technology improves. However your notion of talking automobiles is troublesome. Provided there is a "HAL 2000" solution available - it could be tolerated.

@sulleny - There are several Aptera prototypes now. Serial production is scheduled to begin this Fall to start supplying the 2,400+ people who have placed $500 reservations. How many reservations has GM taken for it's supercapacitor with lithium ion battery-equipped vehicles? Processing...processing...um, carry the 2....ah yes, 0.

Go ahead and play the Aptera doubting Thomas if you like. Poke fun at the ultra-efficient styling, downplay the safety testing being performed. It will supply the owners of this up-and-comer a good chuckle in times ahead.
p.s. Thanks for the EEStor link but it didn't really shed any new light.

I stand corrected - it was a HAL 9000 model that sabotaged the mission and had to be lobotomized.