Media Europe

Driving with the environment in mind - diesel and gas today, electric tomorrow

Low-emission, environmentally friendly engines

2007-09-10

Back to overview

Print   |  Share This   | 

Frankfurt. At the GM Forum in Hall 8, Chevrolet will give visitors a glimpse of what the brand's low-emission future might look like in the medium term by displaying the Chevrolet Volt. This concept vehicle is based on General Motors’ E-Flex vehicle architecture and runs on electric power. It does have a second power generator on board, but the sole purpose of the latter is to generate more electricity where necessary and thus to extend the vehicle’s range.

The E-Flex strategy is based on being able to house various different propulsion systems within the same vehicle architecture, depending on which type of energy is available where the vehicle is used. Three versions of the Chevrolet Volt have already been introduced to the public: at the Detroit Motor Show in January 2007, the Volt made its debut with a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbo petrol engine, configured for use either with petrol or E85 – a mixture of 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent petrol; at the Shanghai Motor Show in April 2007, GM revealed the electric concept vehicle with a hydrogen fuel-cell powerplant; and now, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, GM will show an E-Flex version that uses a 1.3-litre diesel engine as an onboard generator.

However, the current Chevrolet production range already includes environmentally friendly and economical models. Take diesel as an example: in its 2007 models, Chevrolet Europe offers diesels in three out of six model lines. Equipped with economical common rail technology and carbon particle filters as standard, these diesel power units are at the cutting edge of technology. Diesel versions are available in the Lacetti/Nubira series (121 hp), the Epica series (150 hp) and the Captiva series (127 and 150 hp).

“We have only just started our diesel campaign,” says Chevrolet Europe Managing Director, Wayne Brannon. “I expect that, by the end of the decade, a third of all Chevrolets in Europe will be powered by a diesel.” The strategy is already paying as demonstrated by the success of the current diesel range. By way of example, 73 per cent of all Captivas currently being ordered throughout the European market are being ordered in the diesel version. Since spring 2007, Chevrolet also offers diesel engines for Lacetti and Nubira. In the second quarter, already more than 900 customers decided for the diesel variant.

Another environmentally friendly Chevrolet powertrain concept is also in high demand with customers: LPG. Chevrolet operations in quite a few countries (e.g. Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands) offer various models with LPG. And with great success: In Germany, for example, one in ten Chevrolets sold is an LPG vehicle. Of course, the petrol tank is retained, so it’s no problem if drivers can’t find an LPG filling station, while on holiday for example.

When driving in LPG mode, CO2 emissions are up to 18 per cent lower than in petrol mode. Many countries now have a nationwide network of filling stations that offer LPG, allowing drivers to benefit from a fuel which is considerably cheaper than petrol and diesel. And Chevrolet models performed extremely well in the 2006 car costs analysis in which Germany's largest automobile club, the ADAC, together with New Look GmbH, analysed the costs of over 5,600 new models. The Chevrolet Rezzo (1.6-litre SE model with LPG) is the most economic car to drive in the mid-size class. At a cost of 36.5 cents per kilometre, the versatile Chevrolet van comes out 1.4 cents ahead of the vehicle in second place, and as much as 5 cents ahead of the third-ranked competitor. Chevrolet also comes out well-placed in the small-car class. The Chevrolet Kalos (1.2-litre S model with LPG) achieves an excellent second place with 30.9 cents per kilometre, just 0.6 cents behind the top vehicle in its class.