There was yet another debut at this year’s Auto Shanghai 2011, as General Motors (GM) introduced the Buick Envision plug-in hybrid SUV concept.
Equipped with a 2.0litre SIDI intelligent direct injection turbocharged engine with a pair of electric motor generators, the Envision includes a lithium-ion battery and automatic/manual eight-speed transmission.
When the vehicle is started, parked and running at low speeds it runs solely on electric power and when it needs more power the engine kicks in to provide a Smart charge. The vehicle also includes a solar energy roof with optical equipment that offers an alternative energy source.
If greater power is needed then the engine serves as the main power source while the generator provides additional power. The vehicle can be plugged into a standard outlet and additional electricity for the battery is produced by the solar roof.
Among the other green features of the vehicle is a compact, lightweight chassis made from carbon fibre, magnesium and aluminium; it offers one of the fastest magnetic ride control systems in the world. The torque output of each wheel can be adjusted at any time.
The vehicle was jointly developed by the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Centre and Shanghai GM.
