Not giving up: GM and University of Michigan training alternative powertrain engineers
It is true, as we wrote earlier today, that GM is cutting back on production launches and bringing new technologies to market, but not all is dead and gone at the Ren Cen or, for that matter, over in Ann Arbor, the home of the University of Michigan. 50 GM engineers will start taking U of M classes in January to learn more about electric drive technology.
According to the Ann Arbor Business Review, the 50 engineers will work on alternative powertrain technology that is designed to get more plug-in, standard hybrid, and BEV knowledge into GM's brain bank. Currently, about 25 students are getting masters degrees in energy systems at U of M, a program that was started a year ago. The GM engineers will take courses online and Robert Kruse, GM's executive director of global vehicle engineering for hybrids, electric vehicles and batteries, told the AABR that the program shows GM is "committed to the electrification of the vehicle." Better late than never.
[Source: MLive]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
summazooma 7:11AM (12/15/2008)
"Better late than never" is a flawed statement. I don't work for GM but, gotta say, they've been investing an incredible amount of money into future drivetrains.
The problem is that, while companies like Honda (the most obvious example) follow a baby-step approach to bringing technologies to the fore, with public demonstrator & limited private user fleets, GM has been doing most of it in the backroom. It's hard to fault Honda's philosophy because, in addition to learning about & developing technologies in the glare of the real world, they're also (especially because they haven't experienced any P.R. nightmares due to the public nature of these fleets) pulling alot of attention their way.
That does not, however, mean that GM's route is the wrong one. Put another way, I still believe that GM is one of the top 2 or 3 leaders in the study of future alternative energy & drivetrain technologies, financial crisis or not.
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