Global Alliance for Hybrid Drive Development: Cooperation Between BMW, DaimlerChrysler and General Motors
07 September 2005 - 3:01PM
PR Newswire (US)
MUNICH, STUTTGART and DETROIT, Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The BMW
Group, DaimlerChrysler AG and General Motors Corporation today
signed a "memorandum of understanding" governing the formation of
an alliance of equals for the joint development of hybrid drive
systems. The three global automakers are cooperating in order to
pool their expertise for the accelerated and efficient development
of hybrid drive systems. Objective: Development of a two-mode
hybrid drive system The objective is to jointly develop a two-mode
hybrid drive system that reduces fuel consumption while not
compromising vehicle capability. While the base two-mode hybrid
design will be common, each company will individually integrate the
hybrid system into the design and manufacturing of vehicles in
accordance with their brand specific requirements. "The
participation of the BMW Group has allowed us to gain another
expert partner for the development of this advanced two-mode hybrid
system," says Tom Stephens, Group Vice President at GM Powertrain.
"This cooperation paves the way for extensive hybrid collaboration
among the three companies. We also continue to discuss additional
partners for this alliance." "By pooling the development expertise
of the three automakers -- BMW Group, DaimlerChrysler and General
Motors -- we are making it possible for all companies to bring to
market appealing vehicles with convincing performance, comfort and
environmental features for the benefit of our customers," says Dr.
Thomas Weber, DaimlerChrysler Board of Management member
responsible for Research and Technology as well as for Development
at the Mercedes Car Group. "The creation of a shared technology
platform for hybrid drives will allow us to more quickly integrate
the best technologies on the market and will therefore exploit and
strengthen the innovative potential of all participating
companies," explains Prof. Burkhard Goschel, Board of Management
member for Development and Procurement at BMW AG. "Because the
technologies will be adapted to the individual vehicle models, the
participating brands will retain their distinctive characters."
Joint development center In Troy, Michigan, the new "GM,
DaimlerChrysler and BMW Hybrid Development Center" will develop the
overall modular system and the individual components: electric
motors, high-performance electronics, wiring, safety systems,
energy management, and hybrid system control units. In addition,
the Hybrid Development Center will be responsible for system
integration and project management. A key factor in ensuring
optimum development is the focus on a high bandwidth architecture
system that can be adapted to the needs of the various vehicle
concepts and brands. The extensive sharing of components and
production facilities, and the collaborative relationship with
suppliers, will enable the alliance partners to achieve significant
economies of scale and associated cost advantages, which will also
benefit customers, thanks to an outstanding cost-to-performance
ratio. The two-mode concept Two-mode hybrid technology further
enhances the performance, fuel efficiency and range of conventional
hybrid drive vehicles. In city driving and in stop-and-go traffic,
the vehicles can be powered either by two electric motors or by the
combustion engine, or the two drive systems can be used
simultaneously. Regardless of which type of operation is chosen,
the drive system's fuel saving potential is exploited to maximum
effect. When traveling at high speeds, for example on rural roads
and highways, the two-mode system switches to a different driving
mode. The two-mode system provides a number of benefits even when
driving at such constant speeds. Because the hybrid drive's full
power is available when climbing steep inclines, passing other cars
or hauling a trailer, fuel consumption can be reduced and
performance increased even when operating in the second driving
mode. GM and DaimlerChrysler signed binding, definitive agreements
on August 22, 2005. BMW Group today signed a "memorandum of
understanding" with the intent to enter into a definitive agreement
with GM and DaimlerChrysler later this year. DATASOURCE: General
Motors Corporation CONTACT: Richard Gaul, Senior Vice President
Corporate Affairs, BMW AG, +49-(0)89-382-24556; Cole Quinnell,
Manager Engineering, Technology and Design Communications,
DaimlerChrysler, +1-248-512-0315; Kyle Johnson, Director of
Communications, General Motors Powertrain, +1-248-857-0239 Web
site: http://media.gm.com/ http://www.gm.com/
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