Saturn Vue Hybrid

With the Saturn Vue Hybrid, General Motors started a green line that aimed first and foremost at being accessible.

According to the manufacturer, the model is actually the best economical hybrid car in its category. One of the specificities of this motor is the way it receives gasoline: the fuel is sent directly to the engine by means of a motor-generator that makes a great substitute to the traditional alternator. The difference between the Saturn Vue Hybrid and other full hybrids is that the vehicle can't get autonomous by using electricity only. The power device in the hybrid dual-mode is not available just yet, and will be present with the car dealers in 2009.

One further automotive success that General Motors envisage on the basis of their Saturn Vue Hybrid is the plug-in hybrid, but the design of such a model is closely connected with the availability of the lithium-ion batteries. At present, a car running on this type of batteries is undergoing tests, while the Saturn Vue Hybrid remains to take full advantage of its market success. Ill speakers say that the hybrid model remains a trick used by those from General Motors as a masque for the lack of environmental concern.

Saturn Vue Hybrid uses a “belt alternator starter” according to General Motors, in a system that relies on a large electric motor that is linked to the crankshaft by means of a special drive belt, all being possible thanks to an improved automatic transmission. Without using the “start-stop”system Saturn Vue Hybrid has an engine that starts and stops automatically thus influencing the acceleration force significantly. Like with all the other hybrid models, Saturn Vue Hybrid recharges the electrical battery by recovering the braking energy and storing it.

If compared to the regular gas-fueled vehicles, the Saturn Vue Hybrid saves you around 20% of the regular fuel consume. Several types of the Saturn Vue Hybrid have been launched with a growing improvement in terms of acceleration times and standard speed per hour from one model to another. If we study the technical characteristics of the designs in direct relation with the fuel consume, the savings will be convincing enough to make one purchase such a car. If you can wait a little further, and you are not pressed to buy a car right away, you could stay until the new Saturn Vue Hybrid with plug in features is launched in 2009.