Sharing is caring – according to GM, revealing their interest to supply the petrol-electric powertrain used by the new Chevrolet Volt to other car companies.
This could lead into huge savings in development costs for smaller car companies as well accelerate the time needed to bring a hybrid model to market.
The news came from Dan Nicholson, GM’s global powertrain chief who spoke to AutoNews: “We want to be the partner of choice in propulsion system development in this complex and turbulent era we are approaching”, he said during on the sidelines of the opening of GM’s Powertrain Performance and Racing Center in Michigan.
Car makers in danger of being left behind in electrified powertrain technology like FCA, Mazda, Mitsubishi and Subaru can benefit greatly from a deal of this magnitude.
The 2016 Chevrolet Volt is powered by a new 149hp electric two-motor drive unit combined with a 101hp 1.5-litre petrol engine in order to offer a total driving range of more than 400 miles and an all-electric range of 50 miles, thanks to its 18.4kWh battery pack.
The packaging of the entire hybrid powertrain (sans the battery pack) is clever enough to fit under the bonnet of a compact model. This allows other car companies to focus on packaging their battery packs and calibrate the whole system to their needs.
Of course, this could also help GM in slashing their own development costs as well.
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