The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop This is from GL Perry

This is from GL Perry... He wanted you guys to see this ....GL says... "This is for new Hybrid gas/electric truck, full size. Has a 5.3 V-8
engine, electric steering pump, Water cooled electric box for controls, will
run in electric when power/speed demand is low or stopped at signs or
parking. Engine responds to start-up when touching gas pedal. 42 volt system
with two 120 volt outlets that can be used when stopped and idling." Electric truck system ....... Electric truck tranny

I'd seen some promos from GMC about this. Does the starter actuate to restart the engine? I had had an idea when I was a kid that having solar panels on the roof of a car could energize an electric motor for stop and go conditions on an LA freeway, and then the gas motor would take over when speeds got steady and higher-save on fuel, take advantage of that bright Cal sun, oh yeah, what sun. That's why I didn't patent it and why I'm not a multimillionaire.

There is no "actual" starter. It's just part of the trans unit, a starter, charging unit, and generator for big voltage all together. I like the electric/hydraulic steering pump myself. It doesn't have belt for engine to run pump is electric. Still mounted near front of engine and regular lines down to the steering box/rack in this case. Supposed to be "flawless" on changing from electric to gas modes! I'ld have to see that!
Just found out the whole system is on hold/delay as the composite (plastic) box company went out of business/broke. No longer an option on trucks. They are redesigning the metal box to work with this truck. Not sure what has to be changed for electric vehicle, but stock box won't work.

For those with any interest, the motor is a 3 phase brushless design using field oriented control (FOC) . . . some of the original designs were induction motors (no magnets) with a basic design just like any 3phase motor that you would use on an air compressor or conveyor. At 42 volts, the currents are going to be extremely high to generate any power. Once they nail fuel cell technology . . . bye bye internal cumbustion engine AND bye bye rich Saudi oil princes!!! :p

I always remember GM's great ideas of the past,many of them were dismal failures, "great ideas poorly executed, failure snatched from the jaws of success". Hopefully GM has its act together this time.

Yeah Tony - GM rolled out their first really hot electric vehicle prototypes over 10 years ago. I worked on a dynomometer for Delco/Hughes about 9 years ago to conduct endurance testing of electric vehicle motors. They had a GEO Storm gutted and outfitted with a bunch of lead acid batteries - 360 VDC bus. Each front wheel had a 130HP (peak) 20,000 rpm electric motor through a planetary gear reducer - the motor has a flat torque curve from stall to 10000 RPM and constant HP from 12,000 - 20,000 rpm - the gear reducer was one speed. Motor ran forward and reverse and was used for braking as well - software limited the reverse speed and power. Still needed a radiator to keep the motors and inverter modules cool. It could smoke the front tires and ran the wheels off an Acura legend on a Pikes Peak climb - beat it by over a minute.

You can be certain they have engineered the crap outta this thing in 8 years and what they have now looks a lot different than back then. One huge advantage to the design they have now is that it shares the same drive train as the V8.

The electric motor can be used for braking which will reclaim all the energy of the moving vehicle + charge the entire time the V8 is running. When the batteries have a full charge, then the regular brakes do all the work. The big hurdle is in the batteries / fuel cell technology.

The whole thing will be computer monitored and controlled. I am sure they will have an infrared port so you can simply pull into a service bay equiped with an infrared tranceiver and PC with the right diagnostic software so that when something pukes, just get an electrical slob to change out the box indicated on the print out.

You need to get a jump on getting a union started for sparkies that can run a computer and change 42V rated electrical parts in cars. The time to corner the market is NOW! LOL

The 864 caddy concept will be back as well. but this time in these trucks. Rome wasn't burnt in a day! :p

Hey, if you read the current issue of Vintage Truck, you'll see that GMC had electric trucks out over 90 years ago! This is nuttin new.

I agree with Ken on the fuel cell technology. Seems to me that its only a matter of time.

Everything runs its lifespan and then is replace with better technology. Imagine the guy's face who was a lumberjack for a living the first time he ever saw a chainsaw? Now that's relief.

Yeah, but the first chainsaw weighed 500lbs...

I agree with the concept on fuel cells driving electric cars winning eventually, but only with "crackers" that can extract the hydrogen from an already widely available fuel source.

Say, 87 octane pump gas? Or methanol?

Seriously, I don't see a massive effort to build hydrogen pumping stations, nor millions of drivers with mini-Hindenburgs on the roads...

And for the record, Ferdinand Porsche was building electric cars 103 years ago...

Everyone's just been waiting for batteries to catch up with the motors. Some folks blame the oil companies for the lack of progress... I blame the Energizer bunny.

-Boyo

That "Variable Displacement" engine someone mentioned will be a standard engine about 05 and in some vehicles in 04. It's not mechanical like old Caddies were. It has "puter" to shut off/on all the parts. Just like now, one coil to each plug can be shut off, fuel injectors to each cylinder can be shut off, BUT, does have a selenoid Valve lifter that is shut off electrcally too. That may be the worst part. "Puter" times all this and you're going smoothly. Not supposed to feel the shift to diff cyls or anything. Oh, Yeah! all models have "fly-by-wire" throttles too. Only some have that now, diesels for sure, some gas models. AND, it's gonna be an all aluminum engine in 05 too! Just like the Vette now has. I'm still hoping for the straight six from Trailblazer to be in big trucks. Powertrain fellas say the thing won't fit in frame, cause of x-over clearance problems. Will 5cyl get in? Hope not!

One other thing, Truck Trend magazine has both of these projects talked about in last issue. That is one of the best truck mags I've ever gotten. They have new and future stuff far faster than any other mag. Buy it! They have an article on the new SSR too, not much in it though.

We're building Pilots tommorrow thru Wed now. Not much diff than regular truck, should go good. Then they will use those to adjust "Procedure" during build and test the units. I'ld sure like to try to drive one.