Electric Car Blogging

Chevy’s fuel efficient Cobalt is sipping gas a little more sparingly these days, thanks to some clever engineering and continued dedication to saving drivers cash at the pump.

As a result of this dedicated engineering crew, all newly produced Cobalt LS and 1LT Coupes and Sedans with manual transmissions will wear a special XFE (Extended Fuel Economy) badge — and for good reason.

Cobalt XFE Coupe has unsurpassed highway fuel economy in its class,(1) and Cobalt XFE Sedan has better highway fuel economy than the comparably equipped 2009 Toyota Corolla(2) — with an EPA estimated MPG 36 highway. Both models come equipped with a standard five-speed manual transmission, 2.2L engine and all-season tires.

How did Chevy do it?

GM engineers worked to recalibrate the already efficient 2.2L ECOTEC engine. We improved the tires to give them lower resistance on the road and made a few other tweaks we’ll keep as our little secret.

One thing we aren’t afraid to shout about is how proud we are of our engineers’ dedication to making Cobalt XFE more fuel efficient without sacrificing the 2.2L ECOTEC engine’s horsepower.

Every Cobalt XFE comes equipped with the same 2.2L engine found in the original version, which produces 148 hp @ 5600 rpm, better than comparable powerplants in the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic.(3)

It’s nice to know that being fuel efficient doesn’t have to mean leaner in terms of horsepower.

To boot, Cobalt has other features — like its standard Driver Information Center (DIC) — that can provide you with helpful information that may help you increase your vehicle’s overall fuel efficiency.

Like all of Chevy’s 2008 cars, every Cobalt model comes equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System as part of the DIC. The system uses sensors at all four tires to alert you to low tire pressure. By having properly inflated tires at all times, you can improve gas mileage by up to 3%.(4)

Smart engineering allows the Cobalt XFE to pack all the fun, sporty style and driver-friendly features of the original Cobalt into a more efficient package. It’s just one more example of Chevy’s dedication to maximizing fuel efficiency across its lineup to reduce America’s dependence on petroleum.

Want to learn more about Cobalt XFE? Click here.

- Daniel Eizans

1 Based on GM Compact Car 3-Door/Coupe segment.

2 2009 Toyota Corolla with a manual transmission has an EPA estimated 35 MPG highway.

3 Based on latest available competitive information.

4 Source: fueleconomy.gov

Diesel engines are a very important part of the GM global product portfolio. In fact, GM offers 16 engine variants for 2008, available in 41 vehicle lines around the world, and sells over 1 million diesel engines annually.

We’ll introduce a new, state-of-the-art 4.5L V8 Duramax clean Turbo-Diesel in the 2010 model year in the U.S. for light-duty trucks. Fuel economy estimates for these trucks will be available in the future; however, diesel engines provide approximately 25 percent better fuel efficiency when compared to traditional gasoline engines of similar performance. The efficiency advantage is extended under towing and hauling situations, particularly when operating at higher altitudes. Modern diesel engines provide the customer with high torque characteristics over wide operating speeds, further enhancing the powertrain’s utility advantages. The new 4.5L V8 will blend the fuel efficiency and utility advantages of a diesel with refinement characteristics that are typically associated with gasoline powertrains.

Currently in the U.S., Chevy offers the Duramax 6.6L V8 clean diesel engine in the Chevy Silverado heavy-duty pickup, the Chevy Kodiak medium-duty truck, and the Chevy Express full-size van. GM first introduced the Duramax Diesel in the U.S. in the 2001 model year. Since then, customer enthusiasm for this heavy-duty diesel has been outstanding.

- Charlie Freese
Executive Director, Diesel Engineering
General Motors Corporation

Chevrolet, along with the rest of General Motors, is striving to make its vehicles more environmentally responsible in numerous ways, including increasing the recycled and renewable content in our parts.

A few examples of our renewable material choices can be found on our current products. Corvette utilizes balsa wood, a quick-growing, sustainable, and lightweight material, in the floor pan. The Chevy TrailBlazer headliner uses renewable natural fibers in place of fiberglass and has recycled nylon shifter modules. Several of our Chevy models have recycled nylon in their engine fans, shrouds, brackets, and exterior mirror case frames. Recycled polycarbonate is found in several instrument panels. Recycled polypropylene is in some splash shields, and recycled cotton and jeans are used in many dash insulators. Additionally, Chevrolet and GM are actively pursuing soy and renewable foam options for cushioning material.

We have been using recycled and sustainable materials for years as part of everyday business, provided that these materials meet or exceed our performance requirements. That being said, a lot of the technology in the “Bio” arena is just emerging. Once a stable infrastructure is established, we expect the use of sustainable, renewable materials will become much more prevalent.

- Lora Herron
Bio & Recycled Materials Engineer
Design for the Environment
General Motors Corporation

Today, what was once viewed as the “tyranny of OR” has given way to the “genius of AND,” which means Silverado HD owners get performance AND efficiency.

“We’ve engineered technologies that optimize the HD truck’s efficiency without compromising its power, payload and pulling,” says Brian Maki, Silverado Marketing Manager for Chevrolet. “HD owners want power AND efficiency. And that was our engineers’ approach from the beginning.”

“HD fuel solutions are broad in scope and include features such as streamlined aerodynamics, flat windshield wiper blades, engine and transmission enhancements, plus additional mass savings,” Maki explains.

Sweating the details

It all begins with HD’s aerodynamics, the result of an exhaustive design process and extensive wind tunnel testing. Engineers sweated even the slightest details, like optimizing exterior mirror placement.

“Having a streamlined exterior with things as seemingly insignificant as tightened up body panel gaps, flat wipers or even hydroformed Dooley fenders make a difference,” he says. “They also improve quality of ride and lower noise inside the cabin.”

Vortec power

Across the lineup, Silverado Vortec engines feature the right combination of power, torque and efficiency improvements over the previous generation. It’s the highest-powered V8 gas engine(1) of any standard HD.

Plus, Variable Valve Timing optimizes combustion, enhances low-end torque and high-end power, promotes efficiency and helps lower emissions. On top of that, both HD transmissions boost power and efficiency too.

Working smarter, not harder

“Both of the six-speeds have two overdrive gears,” Maki says. “The more you stay in overdrive, like when you’re cruising along a flat stretch, the more efficiently your engine operates. In theory, if you’re pulling a fifth wheeler and you’re on a flat grade, you can stay in overdrive longer. And that’s true even if you’re not pulling anything.”

Adding a second overdrive gear translates to shift points that are managed more smoothly and efficiently. When the truck is doing the same work at a lower rpm, it’s working smarter, not harder.

Unrivaled strength

HD drivers can use Silverado’s extra torque for towing and hauling and will appreciate the efficient Duramax® Diesel 6.6L V8 Turbo engine, now stronger, quieter and cleaner than the previous generation Duramax Diesel.

The diesel provides unrivaled heavy-duty strength with 365 hp and 660 lb.-ft. of torque. Its cast-aluminum cylinder heads feature sintered-steel valve-seat inserts and a four-valve design to help reduce emissions and maximize power. Duramax drivers can use 5 percent biodiesel blends in their HDs, too.

It’s nice to know that when it comes to power and efficiency, it’s no longer feast or famine.

1 Based on 2008 GM Large Pickup segment. Excludes other GM vehicles.

Tune in as Silverado delivers an impressive level of power and efficiency. Hosted by Pro Football Hall of Famer Howie Long and Gary White, Silverado’s lead engineer.

View Silverado Power & Efficiency video

It’s simple. Underinflated tires can reduce your vehicle’s fuel economy.

For every 1 pound per square inch (psi) drop in pressure in all four tires, your fuel economy will go down .4%. - fueleconomy.gov

Check your tire pressure once a month or more. Tires can lose 1 psi each month. Be sure to follow your vehicle or tire manufacturer’s guidelines on proper tire pressure. (See your owner’s manual for tips on checking tire inflation.)

Let your car check its own pressure

The big news? Every 2008 Chevy car, half-ton truck and SUV has technology to do the work for you. They feature a Tire Pressure Monitoring System that alerts drivers when a tire loses air pressure.

This monitoring system measures the air pressure in each of the vehicle’s four tires. If any tire drops below a specified number, the system will display a warning symbol on the instrument panel or a message on the available Driver Information Center.

When it comes to tire pressure, keep it up!

Amazingly, nearly a quarter of all passenger cars and a third of all light trucks on the road have one or more underinflated tires.(1)

Besides wasting fuel, underinflated (or overinflated) tires are downright dangerous.

Underinflated tires can cause:

• Too much flexing
• Too much heat
• Tire overloading
• Premature or irregular wear
• Poor handling
• And — as we’ve said — reduced fuel economy

1 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics.

Significant strides have been made in ethanol research and development. First-generation ethanol from grain-based sources has experienced huge leaps in biotechnology. These smart and sustainable crops require little irrigation and incorporate advancements that have increased yields per acre, significantly reducing the acreage necessary when compared to the acreage required per bushel of corn. For every unit of energy that goes into growing corn and turning it into ethanol, we get back about one-third more energy as automotive fuel. The energy return continues to improve with application of advanced sciences and new agricultural practices.

More importantly, second-generation sustainable biomass-to-biofuel processing is starting today as well. GM and Coskata of Warrenville, Illinois, are working together to bring to market ethanol produced from biomass and municipal waste as soon as late 2010. Imagine a day when your lawn clippings and old tires will be processed into ethanol. Not only will landfill practices be redefined, many different carbon products will be able to be reused to help offset growing energy demand.

- Mary Beth Stanek
Director, Energy & Environment Policy & Conservation General Motors Corp.

What fuel on the market today comes from the ground, but isn’t drilled? A fuel that — instead of taking a few million years to develop, like petroleum — takes only a few months to grow? That supports the U.S. agricultural industry? And helps reduce greenhouse gas and smog-forming emissions?

It’s an alternative fuel known as E85 ethanol, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.

For the last eight years, Chevy has produced vehicles capable of running on E85 ethanol, a fuel that grows mostly from the good earth and remembers its roots.

Today, millions of Americans can operate their vehicles in a way that’s less detrimental to the environment without spending thousands on additional equipment.

FlexFuel Means Flexible

Chevy E85 FlexFuel vehicles run on:

• Regular gasoline
• E85 fuel — a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline
• A combination of gasoline and E85 ethanol

Healthier Choices for a Healthier Planet

E85 ethanol:

• Is cleaner-burning
• Helps reduce greenhouse gases and smog-forming emissions
• Is mostly a renewable fuel
• Is made mostly from U.S.-grown biomaterial, such as corn and other grain products
• Helps decrease our dependence on petroleum, since it uses less gasoline (it’s 85% ethanol)
• Supports the domestic agriculture industry and our nation’s economy
• Generally has a higher octane rating than regular unleaded gasoline, which can result in slightly higher horsepower and torque levels

In the future, ethanol may be economically produced from other biomass resources like agricultural and forestry wastes or specially grown energy crops.

Chevy offers more choices of E85 FlexFuel vehicles than any other brand.(1)

Plus, FlexFuel vehicles operate:

• Without expensive modifications, aftermarket conversions or cumbersome switches
• With no added costs passed along to you
• With a wide variety of E85 ethanol-capable vehicle choices on the market today

“At GM, we believe that the biofuel with the greatest potential to displace petroleum-based fuels in the U.S. is ethanol,” says Elizabeth Lowery, GM Vice President of Environment, Energy and Safety Policy. “We have made a major commitment to vehicles that can run on E85 ethanol — with more than 2.5 million of our (GM) FlexFuel vehicles on the road today.” Chevy offers more choices of E85 FlexFuel vehicles on the road today. And we have more choices of E85-ethanol capable vehicles than anyone.

The 2008 Chevy Impala equipped with an E85-capable powertrain running exclusively on E85 ethanol uses approximately 185 fewer gallons of gasoline driving 15,000 miles a year than a 2008 Toyota Prius Hybrid.(2)

In fact, if all of Chevy’s E85-capable vehicles on the road today were to run exclusively on E85, we could save over 1.2 billion gallons of gas a year.

One of many answers

Ethanol is already in more than 15% of the gasoline sold in the U.S. Today, more than 1,500 fuel stations in the U.S. carry E85 ethanol.

To see if there’s a station near you visit e85refueling.com.

1 Based on 2008 EPA Fuel Economy Guide.

2 Based on 2008 Chevy Impala 3.5L V6, EPA estimated 16 MPG combined with E85 combination of 85% ethanol (797 gallons), 15% gasoline (141 gallons); 2008 Toyota Prius Hybrid with 1.5L 4-cylinder EPA estimated MPG 46 combined using 326 gallons of gasoline.