A research alliance consisting of General Motors, BMW and DaimlerChrysler plans to invest over $1 billion in the development of a new hybrid transmission and related systems that backers say will leapfrog the market-leading technology now offered by Toyota.
The three car makers have about 500 engineers who have been working for the past 18 months on the joint development of the next-generation hybrid engine technology, which combines a battery-powered electric motor with a conventional petrol combustion engine, company representatives said today on the sidelines of an industry trade meeting.
The so-called dual-mode hybrid technology that has been under development by the consortium includes an onboard fuel-optimisation computer that determines when and at what speeds the two motors will be used for power and how the on-board battery will be recharged.
Development of the transmission - the core of the project - is expected to cost about $300m for the partners. The remainder of the investment represents the cost of integrating the new hybrid system with other vehicle components.
DaimlerChrysler plans to use the new hybrid system in its 2008 Dodge Durango sport utility vehicle. GM will use the hybrid in versions of the Tahoe and Yukon SUVs it plans to make available at the end of 2007.
BMW has not committed to a timetable for using the new engine system, but has said that it will make vehicles available with the upcoming hybrid engine system over the next three to five years.
GM is currently considering an alliance with Renault-Nissan that could include shared development efforts and other collaboration that has been urged by the car maker's largest individual investor, billionaire Kirk Kerkorian.
