400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001 U.S.A. Tel: (724) 776-4841 Fax: (724) 776-5760 Web: www.sae.org SAE TECHNICAL PAPER SERIES 2006-01-1502 Development of the Hybrid System for the Saturn VUE Hybrid Goro Tamai, Mary Ann Jeffers, Chihsiung Lo, Cindy Thurston, Steven Tarnowsky and Stephen Poulos General Motors Corporation 2006 SAE World Congress Detroit, Michigan April 3-6, 2006 Downloaded from SAE International by University of Birmingham, Tuesday, August 21, 2018The Engineering Meetings Board has approved this paper for publication. It has successfully completed SAE's peer review process under th e supervision of the session organi zer. This process requires a minimum of three (3) reviews by industry experts. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of SAE. For permission and licensing requests contact: SAE Permissions 400 Commonwealth DriveWarrendale, PA 15096-0001-USAEmail: [email protected]: 724-772-4028 Fax: 724-776-3036 For multiple print copies contact: SAE Customer Service Tel: 877-606-7323 (inside USA and Canada)Tel: 724-776-4970 (outside USA)Fax: 724-776-0790Email: [email protected] ISSN 0148-7191 Copyright © 2006 SAE International Positions and opinions advanced in this paper are those of the author(s ) and not necessarily those of SAE. The author is solely responsible for the content of th e paper. A process is available by which discussions will be printed with the pap er if it is publishe d in SAE Transactions. Persons wishing to submit papers to be considered for presentation or publicat ion by SAE should send the manuscript or a 300 word abstract to Secretary, Engineering Meetings Board, SAE. Printed in USADownloaded from SAE International by University of Birmingham, Tuesday, August 21, 20181 ABSTRACT The hybrid system for the 2007 Model Year Saturn VUE Green Line Hybrid SUV was designed to provide the fuel economy of a compact sedan, while delivering improved acceleration performance over the base vehicle, and maintaining full vehicle utility. Key elements of the hybrid powertrain are a 2.4L DOHC engine with dual cam-phasers, a modified 4-speed automatic transmission, an electric motor-generator connected to the crankshaft through a bi-directional belt-drive system, power electronics to control the motor-generator, and a NiMH battery pack. The VUE’s hybrid functionality includes: engine stop- start, regenerative braking, intelligent charge control of the hybrid battery, electric power assist, and electrically motored creep. Methods of improving urban and highway fuel economy via optimal use of the hybrid motor and battery, engine and transmission hardware and controls modifications, and vehicle enhancements, are discussed. Development of the powertrain control system is also reviewed. INTRODUCTION General Motors (GM) is pursuing near-term, mid-term, and long-term advanced propulsion technologies with the ultimate goal of removing the automobile from the environmental debate. Hybrid powertrains represent a core mid-term technology, and are already underway in GM’s advanced propulsion technology plan. The Saturn VUE Green Line hybrid is the next step in GM’s rollout of fuel-saving hybrid powertrains; a roll-out that began with GM Allison EP40/50 hybrid systems for transit buses, followed by the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra hybrid full-size pickup trucks in 2004 [1]. With the 2007 MY Saturn VUE Green Line Hybrid, available to retail customers in 2006, GM sets out to provide SUV customers with a fully capable, yet affordable hybrid powertrain option. Specifically, the goal of the VUE Green Line was to develop a vehicle that delivers the same utility as that of the conventional VUE SUV, while providing improved acceleration performance, w