Global Hybrid Cooperation

Global Hybrid Cooperation (formerly called Advanced Hybrid System 2 or AHS2) is a set of hybrid vehicle technologies jointly developed by General Motors and what used to be DaimlerChrysler, with BMW joining in 2005. It uses two sets of gears in an automatic transmission: One for the internal combustion engine and another to multiply the power of a pair of electric motors. General Motors has stopped using the "AHS2" name as of 2006, preferring to call it simply a "two-mode hybrid system".

Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive is similar in that it also combines the power from a single engine and a pair of electric motors, although it uses only one planetary gearset. Honda's Integrated Motor Assist uses a more traditional ICE and transmission where the flywheel is replaced with an electric motor.

Cooperation

When GM and DaimlerChrysler engineers realized how similar their hybrid work was, they decided to join forces and share technology. The GM/DaimlerChrysler partnership was announced on December 13, 2004 with Dieter Zetsche of DaimlerChrysler joining Rick Wagoner of GM on stage with a prototype. The agreement was not signed until the following August, however.

GM is reportedly responsible for development of rear- and four-wheel drive truck and front wheel drive car systems while DaimlerChrysler is focused on a rear wheel drive luxury car application.

It was announced on September 7, 2005 that BMW would also join the alliance, likely using archrival DaimlerChrysler's rear wheel drive system.

The three companies have formed an organization called Global Hybrid Cooperation with engineering and management centered at the GM, DaimlerChrysler and BMW Hybrid Development Center in Troy, Michigan. Recent reports indicate that the three automakers will spend one billion US dollars between them on the development of the front- and rear-wheel drive hybrid transmissions. [cite web|url=http://autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060811/FREE/60811001/1024/LATESTNEWS|title=Spending to Go Green|work=AutoWeek|accessmonthday=August 11 |accessyear=2006]

Technology

The group touts its technology as "two-mode" to differentiate it from the Toyota, Honda, and Ford "single-mode" systems. The two modes of operation are:
# Input-split mode — At low speeds, the vehicle can move with either the electric motor/generators, the internal combustion engine, or both, making it a so-called full hybrid. All accessories will still remain functioning on electric power, and the engine can restart instantly if needed. In this mode, one of the motor/generators (M/G 1) acts as a generator, while the other operates as a motor (M/G 2). This mode is operational using the first and second gear ratios of the transmission.
# Compound-split mode — At higher speeds or heavier loads, the internal combustion engine always runs, and the system uses advanced technologies like Active Fuel Management and late intake valve closing to optimize fuel efficiency. This mode begins at the point where one of the motor/generators reaches zero speed; at this point some clutches within the system engage while others disengage to alter the physical configuration of the transmission, and the velocity is Vshift. Immediately after the shift, both electric machines operate as motors and the first gear ratio is employed. At a given velocity above Vshift, the second gear ratio is employed, and M/G 2 begins to operate as a generator, while also slowing down its angular speed. When the angular speed of M/G 2 is zero, the third gear ratio is employed, and M/G 1 begins to operate again as a generator. As the vehicle velocity increases, the fourth gear ratio is employed, and M/G 1 begin to operate as a generator and M/G 2 as a motor again.

Although the transmission mechanically has only four conventional gear ratios, the electric motors allow it to function as a continuously variable transmission. This variable ratio functions in addition to the torque multiplication of the planetary gears.

Despite the "two-mode" marketing pitch, however, it is the packaging of the first application of the system which is unique. A special automatic transmission incorporates two 100 kW (133 hp) three phase induction motors, two planetary gearsets, and two selectively-engaging friction clutches. This system amplifies the output of the electric motors similarly to the way in which a conventional transmission amplifies the torque of an internal combustion engine. It also transfers more of the engine's torque to the wheels, making the transmission more efficient even without the electric motors in use. Finally, the whole system fits into the space of, and indeed appears as, a conventional 4L60-E automatic transmission.

A 300 volt battery pack is housed elsewhere in the vehicle to store energy. Most applications will also include 120 volt AC power outlets as on the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado PHT hybrid.

The two-mode transmission seems to resemble at least some, if not most, aspects of the [http://www.tu-chemnitz.de/mb/MaschElem/SEL.php SEL Transmission] , researched and documented by TU Chemnitz under a public research grant, in July 2000.

Applications

Buses

The system was first used in the New Flyer transit buses deployed in 2001.
* City bus system by Allison Transmission
** Albuquerque, New Mexico ABQ RIDE (74 New Flyer buses announced December 21, 2004 (12 buses), February 2007 (6 buses), and October 2007 (58 buses))
** Indianapolis, Indiana IndyGo (two buses announced January 24, 2005)
** Yosemite National Park National Park Service (18 Gillig buses announced April 25, 2005)
** Kelowna and Victoria, British Columbia (6 New Flyer buses announced May 5, 2005)
** Shreveport, Louisiana SporTran (one bus announced June 9, 2005)
** Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Area Transit System (2 buses announced June 9, 2005)
** Springfield, Massachusetts Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (one bus announced October 14, 2005)
** Aspen, Colorado Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (seven buses announced December 9, 2005)
** Consortium (led by San Joaquin RTD) of 10 transit agencies in California and Nevada (157 Gillig buses announced March 20, 2006).
***Note: ABQ RIDE of Albuquerque, New Mexico was formerly a member of this consortium, but instead chose to order New Flyer buses on their own instead.
** Madison, Wisconsin Madison Metro (5 Gillig buses announced September 11, 2007, with 10 more planned for purchase in the next few years)

RWD truck

The longitudinal system for light trucks from General Motors will be manufactured at Baltimore Transmission by GM's Allison Transmission division. The nickel-metal hydride batteries will be manufactured by Panasonic EV of Japan.

The system was to be introduced for the 2007 model year in the full-sized GM SUVs, but these were delayed for one year for unspecified reasons. Instead, GM will reportedly [cite web|url=http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=116373|title=GM To Debut Hybrid Full-Sized Trucks in Fall '07|work=Edmunds.com|accessmonthday=August 3 |accessyear=2006] launch the system in the full-size GMT900 pickup trucks in the Fall of 2007.

* Rear wheel drive truck system
** GMC Graphyte Hybrid SUV concept (shown at the 2005 NAIAS)
** 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe
** 2008 GMC Sierra Hybrid
** 2008 GMC Yukon
** 2008 Dodge Durango/Chrysler Aspen — Auto L|5.7 "Hemi" V8 with MDS
** 2009 Cadillac Escalade
** 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid

FWD

* Front wheel drive car system
** Opel Astra Diesel hybrid concept (shown at the 2005 NAIAS)
** 2009 Saturn Vue Green Line SUV, 45% improvement over Mild hybrid version according to GMhttp://www.gm.com/company/gmability/adv_tech/100_news/hybrid-2008-113006.html]

AWD

* All wheel drive car system
** 2010 Saturn Vue Green Line SUV 45% improvement over Mild hybrid version according to GM

Latest developments

On March 1, 2007, BMW and DaimlerChrysler announced that they are expanding their partnership and moving quickly to develop a mild hybrid module for rear wheel drive premium cars. They plan to roll out the new system within the next three years on BMW and Mercedes-Benz vehicles produced.

GM is not part of this expanded partnership, and has not announced plans to develop a hybrid RWD system for cars. [ [http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=119805 BMW and DaimlerChrysler Rev Up Development of Premium Hybrid Cars ] ]

ources

*
*
*

References

ee also

* Hybrid car
* Hybrid Synergy Drive

External links

* [http://www.MixedPower.com Hybrid Cars and Vehicles — MixedPower.com]
* [http://www.engin.umd.umich.edu/vi/w4_workshops/Miller_W04.pdf Comparative Assessment of Hybrid Vehicle Power Split Transmissions]
* [http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1=20060111213&OS=20060111213&RS=20060111213 Electrically variable transmission having two planetary gear sets with one fixed interconnection, US Patent Application 2006/0111213 A1]