I was impressed with the standard new Malibu I saw at the Chevy dealer. The hybrid should be a real winner.
The Malibu uses the same transmission as the Volt except for replacing the smaller electric motor with another design that works better for hybrid-only operation and they removed the one-way engine clutch which isn't needed for cars with smaller hybrid batteries.
Maybe the most interesting aspect to me, is that it sounds like it didn't take too much adaptation to create a Volt Hybrid System non-plug in vehicle. And it sounds like it's superior to their own previous generation non-plug in Hybrid, so the question is...what took so long?
Well of course I don't know many details here, or any details. But it sounds like all it really took was a smaller Lithium Ion Battery. Nearly everything else is existing "new" Malibu platform or Volt Platform. But I'm willing to accept that it just took time for GM to put together this recipe. From stuff they already had in their kitchen.
GM created the "two-mode" hybrid system for transit busses around 2000-2003 and then adapted and downsized it for their RWD SUVs and pickup trucks. The system used in the new Volt and Malibu is a simplified derivative of that for FWD that was designed and patented around 2001 also. GM should have used this simplified FWD design back then or at least a lot sooner but waited and then felt burned by the market failure of their RWD SUV variant and then insisted on wasting time on micro-hybrid designs for a few years. After first trying all other possible directions, they finally reached back nearly 15 years and implemented their original simplified FWD design and, for the Volt, they added a one-way clutch to enable dual motor mode for faster acceleration with a big battery. Toyota is now exploring similar directions for future plugins and there is now a rumor and theory that Honda wants to license the Volt hybrid design and generally cooperate on PHEV tech with GM based on a new Japanese newspaper report. Lots more details of the GM two-mode hybrid history leading up to today can be found here: Revenge of the Two-Mode Hybrid
All we know is that Toyota is seriously exploring that possibility for a future PHEV and they filed a patent. It could happen in the next Prius PHEV or maybe not until the generation after that. Or maybe in another PHEV with a bigger battery from Lexus. Or maybe never.
Not the gen4, but it isn't inconceivable that the next plug in model would use them to decouple the ICE from the drive train while in EV mode.
Apparently, a new round of first drive reviews are now coming out in preparation for the Malibu hybrid's spring product launch. Here's one I just spotted: 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Quick Spin [w/video] Also, there are renewed rumors that GM is working on a hybrid Chevrolet Cruze. These are supposedly the first spy shots: Chevy Cruze Hybrid spied for the first time
How can they tell that the Cruze is a hybrid from those photos? It might simply be the Eco trim or diesel, which the old one had most of the Eco's aero tweaks. Great if there is a hybrid version coming, but this isn't much to get your hopes up for.
I agree that it is purely speculation at this point but it makes sense and apparently GM used a slide during a 2016 Cruze media presentation last year that could be read to imply that a hybrid Cruze was in the works that would exceed the mpg of the diesel Cruze Eco. Chevy Cruze Hybrid Coming Soon To Join Diesel, Gasoline Models?
Good point, that new hatchback looks great. Having the high mpg options on that would be really nice.
Another interesting thing is the battery assembly: An air-cooled assembly in contrast to the liquid cooled Volt . . . progress? There sure are a lot of 'assemblies' in that controller. That empty space under the controller, weird. It looks like GM is finally headed the right direction in their hybrids and this is serious competition for the Camry hybrid. But the Camry hybrid has needed a technical upgrade for a while. We see it in the softening sales numbers. The curb weight, 3457 lbs, it needs a weight-loss program but otherwise looks to be a grown-up, Gen-1. Compared to the IONIQ 'press release' car, this one looks like a serious contender (hummm, now for some fun.) Personally, I am more interested in the Pacifica hybrid minivan but this is the nicest hybrid I've seen from GM. It is also serious competition to the Ford MKZ hybrid on the low-end. Bob Wilson
I figure hybrids skip on the liquid thermal conditioning because of the battery's smaller size when they can; the Ford Escape hybrid with the cylinderical cells had a cooling system that was branched off the car's A/C. It'll add to the cost and weight, but going without may not save space. You need empty space for airflow to carry the heat away.
Finally, a non-crippled Voltec in a midsize This just need $2,500 incentive and they would fly out of dealerships. Selling 3 of these cars would save more gas (and zero electricity) than one compact Volt, per incentive dollar.
FYI, I think the Malibu has more MPG hidden in their control laws . . . or they did something really bad in the transmission. There may be some clues in the April, SAE papers. Bob Wilson
