AFSCME 3357-HOF'S BLOG

Could 4 Wheel Drive be universal in 10 years?


TheCarConnection.com reports that GM has developed light-weight electric motors to power the rear hubs in cars that would ordinarily be frontwheel drive. The motors weigh 30 lbs each. Coupled with a hybrid drive system with a modest-sized battery, the whole secondary powertrain could weigh less than the 300 lbs or so that a part-time 4WD system adds, but the hybrid system would deliver the additional benefits of recovering lost braking energy and delivering additional power during peak accelleration.

Although most current hybrids don't do this, the system could be programmed to deliver power get the car out of the way when the primary powertrain fails. Considering that a significant portion of urban congestion is caused by cars that don't run, this redundancy would be a significant safety advantage and could contribute to the efficient running of congested motorways. It therefore wouldn't surprise me if it were to be made mandatory once it proves itself.

GM isn't necessarily ahead of the curve on this. Don't be surprised if the next generation of the Honda Odyssey includes an electric hybrid 4WD feature as early as 2005. Based on my educated guess, Honda has the technology to deliver a hybrid minivan with 240 hp gas and 60 hp electric (300 hp total) on a 4600-4800 platform. You're looking at the potential of a minivan with 0-60 times under 8 seconds and 30 city/30 highway gas mileage.


And yet, Ford has the nerve to put an old 4.2 liter van engine in the Windstar, change it's name to Freestar, and think it's really going to be competitive.