General Motors Fuel Economy
"Only GM has the most cars that get 30 miles per gallon or better on the highway". You have heard the commercial, well here is a list of the cars: Buick Lacrosse, Chevy Cobalt, Chevy Aveo 5, Chevy Malibu, Chevy Malibu Maxx, Chevy Monte Carlo, Chevy Impala, Chevy HHR, Pontiac G6, Pontiac Vibe, Pontiac Grand Prix, Saab 9-3 Sport sedan, Saab 9-3 SportCombi, Saturn Ion.
*Based on 2006 EPA highway estimates.
GM is also looking to the future with advanced engine technology to save us money on fuel costs. Have you heard of Active Fuel Management? This is a technology that allows the vehicle to operate on 1/2 of the cylinders when driving with light loads. When full power is needed, the other cylinders kick in. For instance, at cruising speeds on the highway, your V8 engine will operate on 4 cylinders. When you are accelerating from a traffic light, your vehicle will operate on 8 cylinders. The vehicles that offer this technology in the 2006 model year are: Buick Rainier, Chevy Trailblazer, Chevy Monte Carlo SS, Chevy Impala SS, Chevy Tahoe, GMC Envoy XL, GMC Yukon, Pontiac Grand Prix GXP, and Saab 9-7X.
Still looking at GM Engines, there is (VVT) Variable Valve Timing. This helps to lower emissions and optimize combustion for greater performance and fuel economy. This is done by keeping the timing of the intake and exhaust valves in sync. The 2006 GM vehicles offering VVT are Chevy Colorado, Chevy Malibu Maxx SS, Cadillac CTS, Buick Rainier, Chevy Monte Carlo, GMC Envoy, and Pontiac G6 GTP.
Now for Flexfuel engines using E85 Ethanol. E85 vehicles can run on gasoline or a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. Did you know that for every 37 gallons of E85 ethanol used you are saving a barrel of oil! GM is projected to have nearly 2 million Flexfuel vehicles on the road by the end of 2006. Available Flexfuel vehicles are these 2006 models: Chevy Avalanche, Chevy Impala, Chevy Monte Carlo, Chevy Silverado, Chevy Suburban, Chevy Tahoe, GMC Sierra, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL; and these 2007 models: Chevy Avalanche, Chevy Suburban, Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon.
GM has numerous Hybrid transit buses on the road in US and Canada which reduce emissions by up to 90%. Also, BMW and DaimlerChrysler have joined GM to develop a two-mode full hybrid for rear, front, and all wheel drive vehicles.
Maybe if more manufacturers would join together for the good of all we could drastically reduce our dependance on foreign countries for oil. I have heard of an engine that is in the prototype stage that converts H2O Liquid to an H2 Gas. Wouldnt it be nice to run our cars off water! I believe the technology is there, but it will take money out of too many pockets to push forward.
