New Hybrid Cars at the Detroit Car Show

Editor's Note: This column appears in conjunction with Dave Long's presentation at EMS Expo 2007, "New Car Anatomy from the 2007 Detroit Auto Show." For more information visit www.emsexpo2007.com.

Automakers have sold several different hybrid electric vehicle models across America's car dealerships over the last 6 years, (or about 2% of total motor vehicle sales,) but many car manufacturers are introducing more hybrid electric vehicles (HEV's) for the consumer. For all EMS responders, the challenge will be to educate ourselves about the new smorgasbord of components in hybrid vehicles and how to work around these vehicles safely before we respond to a crash or incident.

The vehicle manufacturers publish Emergency Response Guides (ERG's) on several web site locations and you should get to know them before a crash or vehicle incident. I have them assembled in a three ring binder and you should too. At the 2007 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit at the Cobo Arena, more HEV's are coming and even more are being tested and driven as "concept" hybrid vehicles before they arrive on our roadways.

The Ford Motor Company, the first with a "full hybrid" SUV, gets a new look on the exterior for 2008. The Mercury Mariner Hybrid and the Mazda Tribute Hybrid SUV share the same "full" hybrid electric vehicle technology components as the current Ford Escape Hybrid and they too get a new styling for 2008. Mazda planned their full availability and production release for this spring of 2007. The identification branding on the front of the vehicle has changed from the word "Hybrid" with the green leaf logo to just the "green leaf" and "globe logo" on the 2008 models. Under the hood and in the trunk, they appear to be similar HEV technology as the previous Ford hybrid model.

Some taxicab fleets in major U.S. cities have switched to the Escape Hybrid's "full hybrid" technology as a result of some metropolitan clean air initiatives.

"The Escape Hybrid has been driven over 150,000 miles with virtually no problems," according to Mark Kaufman, Ford Motor Company. Ford also announced that the Ford Fusion and the Mercury Milan will also be hybrid vehicles as well. Also planned to be hybrid vehicles in the future in 2008 are the Ford Edge, Mazda CX-7, and Lincoln MKX crossover vehicles.

For the current Emergency Response Guide to the Ford and Mercury Hybrids, see www.motorcraftservice.com.

Ford stepped ahead with a plug-in hydrogen fuel cell and hybrid electric vehicle, the futuristic crossover called the Ford Airstream Concept vehicle, and spotlighted an attractive display. Nancy Gioya, Ford Motor Company's Sustainability Director, was flooded with interviews on this new concept Hy Series and Airstream.

It's a plug-in electric fuel cell power train with a 336 Volt lithium ion battery and a 130 Kwh electric system reaching speeds of 85mph, and it operates on electric at all times. The hydrogen fuel tank is center mounted running the mid length of the concept vehicle. Lithium ion batteries are currently more expensive than the traditional NIMH hybrid vehicle batteries, but are more efficient and more cost effective in the long run of the life of the vehicle. The advanced fuel system is half the weight and cost of today's fuel cells and can operate in the dead of winter for the colder climates.

Nissan unveiled the Altima Hybrid as a 4-door hybrid sedan with "similar hybrid technology as the Toyota," according to Robert Yakushi of Nissan. The HV components under the hood and in the trunk looked very similar to the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive to me. The HV cables are orange under the hood and the vehicle says "Hybrid" on the tailgate and the front doors. The 12V battery is in the right side of the trunk and the HV battery is behind the rear seat. The HV cables were hidden underneath the vehicle under body panels and were not visible to me.

The Altima Hybrid ERG is available at www.nissanusa.com.

Saturn has already released the intermediate voltage Saturn VUE Hybrid, a 36 volt, 32 mpg hwy, lowest cost hybrid electric SUV for around $23,000. Bright blue cables identify the intermediate's high voltage wires, rather the traditional orange cables in other HEV's. The battery pack is a 36-42 volt Nickel Metal Hydride under the cargo floor directly behind the rear seat.

See www.gmstc.com for the Saturn VUE ERG.

The Saturn Aura hybrid sedan shares the similar hybrid electric vehicle components as the Saturn VUE hybrid, According to Lisa Hutchinson, of the Saturn hybrid program. Look for the identification branding on the tailgate and on the front sides of the vehicle, "Hybrid." The high voltage cables are similarly bright blue colored and the HV battery is behind the rear seat, accessible from the trunk or by folding the split rear seat forward. The vehicle HEV system also has bright blue colored cables.

The Saturn Aura ERG for responders is available at www.gmstc.com.

The Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon also go "green line" with GM's "Two-mode Hybrid" system for sale in 2008 model year. Identification branding includes the word "Hybrid" on the tailgate and on the rear side of the vehicle at eye level at the C-pillar. Note the orange HV cables in the front and the HV battery pack to the rear on the display model. The Vortec V-8 powered engine combined with the hybrid system is expected to deliver a 25% improvement in composite fuel economy paired with Active Fuel Management cylinder deactivation. The vehicle was planned to go on sale in 2007 along with the GMC Yukon Two-mode Hybrid. GM plans to unveil more Two-mode vehicles in the next few years and add it to the Saturn VUE as well.

The largest hybrid electric vehicle luxury sedan, the Lexus GS 600hL is even larger and more luxurious than the current Lexus hybrid GS 450h. The Lexus has added the word "HYBRID" in the lower side of the front doors at the rocker panel.

If you have not picked up the other ERG's from Toyota or Lexus hybrid cars and SUV's, check out www.techinfo.toyota.com.

The Camry Hybrid comes with a 2.4L 4-cylinder gasoline engine with Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive, a 192 Hp, equivalent to a 3.0 V6 engine combined. Its fuel economy rating is 43 City/37 Hwy and it has a 600-650 mile range on a tank of gas. Notice the "Hybrid Synergy Drive" brand on the tailgate and the front sides identifying that it's a "HYBRID." In the trunk, I located the high voltage battery pack and the 12 Volt battery inside the left rear trunk. The HV battery location was behind the rear seat, and the 12V battery is in the right trunk area, similar in location to the newer Pruis.

The Camry Hybrid ERG is at www.techinfo.toyota.com.

Sparking a totally new look for a hybrid electric car, the "Supra-like" appearance of this hybrid sports car was spotlighted in Detroit. Calty Design Research, Inc.'s Tom Matsumoto, Creative Designer, says "We were looking for different hybrid, a true sports car look." This rear-wheel drive hybrid car has a cockpit-like interior with all the controls surrounding the driver's seat. The steering column and driver's dashboard included a new monitor display and a wheel that mimicked a jet-fighter airplane. The HV battery air intake vents are built into the side panels of the vehicle and venting exits the car underneath the taillights. Toyota representatives indicate that the next hybrid vehicle to arrive in the USA may be the hybrid version of the Toyota Sienna minivan. I admired the looks of this sportscar-like hybrid.

The Hydrogen FCX fuel cell vehicle is expected to be available to the consumer car buyer in 2 years, according to a Honda Representive. The Honda FCX Concept is expected to be one of the first hydrogen fuel cell and hybrid electric vehicles in the southern California area first, say Chief Engineer Shiro Matsuo and representative Juan Avila. The vehicle has 2 hydrogen tanks in the rear area of the vehicle. Note the high voltage electric cables running from the front engine the rear of the vehicle. The current limited availability of hydrogen fuel stations may be one of the bigger challenges for this cleaner burning alternative fuel vehicle. Honda plans to unveil a new hybrid car smaller than the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid in 2009.

Perhaps the most interesting hybrid car at the show during press week was, "not technically a true hybrid car at all," said GM hybrid engineer, Mark Smith. The GM Volt is an "E-Flex Propulsion System" with a new family of flexible fuel offerings," says Tony Posawatz at GM, from gasoline to ethanol, bio-diesel or hydrogen. The GM Volt concept vehicle can attain 150 mpg with a 1.0 liter turbo gas engine, 110V plug-in electric motor and a 320 volt Lithium ion high voltage battery pack (blue in color) in the center of the concept vehicle.

"The goal of the vehicle design was to save weight, improve styling and have a clean air roof," says Rob Butterfield, Global Marketing Director of Design and Innovation of GE Plastics. Butterfield says the roof is all Lexan with Exotec scratch resistant coating. The vehicle is electrically driven all the time, but offers a variety of additional flex fuel propulsion systems. The car is due to unveil in 2010, pending the stimulation of lithium ion battery production and battery availability for the vehicle.

At Detroit, NAIAS press events are held hourly, with over 6,500 media and press representatives from 49 states and 62 countries traveling around the show with cameras, stages and mini-theatres, visiting the high impact stage show releases and North American releases and worldwide production and concept vehicles. It truly is an event to see with over 700 production and concept cars. Hybrid vehicles, new fuel systems and crossover vehicles dominated the new vehicle releases by far at this year's 2007 NAIAS. If there is an auto show in your area, I suggest you catch it. The NAIAS vehicle manufacturers in Detroit are extremely helpful, considerate and supportive of all responder vehicle safety issues and discussions.

Dave Long, Medic, RN, "The Airbag Detective"
Dave visits the press week of the NAIAS Detroit Car show in January each year to learn from car manufacturers, auto engineers, and airbag companies about new restraint and hybrid vehicle systems. Dave has attended hybrid technician courses by Ford, Toyota, Lexus and the I-CAR Industry. He also writes and speaks for the National Glass Association, which has nominated him as a consultant to CASPA, the Coalition for Auto Glass Safety and Public Awareness. Dave is also a NHTSA CPS technician and has met twice with the NHTSA Special Crash Investigation Team in Washington, DC. Dave teaches 17 classes different classes for responders. He spoke at EMS Expo 2006 in Las Vegas, and is scheduled to speak at EMS Expo 2007 in Orlando, Florida. He can be reached at dave.long@northmemorial.com.