GM Unveils European Environmental Plan

GM Unveils European Environmental Plan

GM announced today it will introduce a dramatic Opel concept at September’s Frankfurt show featuring its E-Flex propulsion system, first shown on the Chevrolet Volt at the Detroit auto show in January.

E-Flex is an electric-drive system that extends the vehicle’s range by using a secondary supplemental fuel system. In the case of the Opel concept to be unveiled this fall, it will be a diesel engine. The Volt had a small gas engine. GM unveiled at the Shanghai show this spring an E-Flex system supplemented by hydrogen-powered fuel cells.

GM’s announcement came as part of a larger presentation of General Motors Europe’s environmental strategy, that the automaker says focuses short-term on reducing CO2 emissions and long-term on introducing new propulsion technologies.

Among GM Europe’s other announcements made today:

It will unveil at the Frankfurt show ecoFLEX vehicles; that is, vehicles outfitted with small-displacement engines paired with a turbo for comparable performance as larger displacement, non-turbo models but with significantly reduced CO2 levels and improved fuel economy. Opel/Vauxhall will introduce a specially marked ecoFLEX variant emitting lower CO2 levels in each model line.

GM will unveil at the Frankfurt show HydroGen4, its next-generation hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle.

Cadillac in Europe will launch the Saab-based BLS sedan with a bioethanol (E85) variant in fall 2007.

Opel/Vauxhall and Chevrolet will offer E85 vehicles in Europe in 2010.

GM Europe will introduce 16 new engine families and 10 transmission families by 2012, aimed at reducing CO2 levels and increasing fuel-efficiency.

Michelle Krebs:  is Editor-in-Chief of AutoObserver.com. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.