Price, performance, how smoothly the system changes between modes and deploys regenerative braking, as well as competitive actions are issues that await test drives when the Malibu appears. The Detroit Three have a history of benchmarking the past, maybe GM is looking at the future?
General Motors will add a Chevy Malibu Hybrid during the car’s revision for 2016. It’s claimed that Malibu Hybrid will offer an estimated combined fuel economy rating exceeding 45 mpg, which at this moment is higher than the ratings of the Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry and Hyundai Sonata hybrid variants.
The powertrain is a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine with the two-motor drive from the 2016 model year Chevrolet Volt. The electric motors provide additional power to assist the engine during acceleration. This totals to 182 horsepower (136 kW) of power.
The engine also has Chevrolet’s first application of Exhaust Gas Heat Recovery (EGHR) that uses exhaust heat to warm the engine and cabin. EGHR is said to improve fuel economy in cold weather.
An 80-cell, 1.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides electric power to the Hybrid system. The lithium-ion based chemistry can run the the Malibu hybrid at up to 55 miles per hour on electricity alone. The gasoline-powered engine automatically deploys at higher speeds and high loads to provide additional power.
Malibu Hybrid shares power electronics from the 2016 Volt and a blended regenerative braking system, which allegedly provides maximum kinetic energy recovery during braking to help maintain battery charge.
Price, performance, how smoothly the system changes between modes and deploys regenerative braking, as well as unknown competitive actions are issues that await test drives when the Malibu appears. The Detroit Three have a history of benchmarking the past, maybe GM is looking at the future this time around the block?.
