GM Shuns Hybrids for EVs, Plug-Ins

General Motors Co. says its alternate powertrain development will focus on electric and plug-in technologies rather than standard hybrid systems.

GM will "center on the plug," declares global product development chief Mary Barra. She tells reporters the company made the decision over the past few months.

Like other major carmakers, GM has been pursuing virtually all "green" technologies as it assesses regulatory shifts and consumer interest in the options. Now, she says, "We need to make educated bets" on long-term alternatives.

Berra acknowledges that conventional hybrid technology is "important." She also says GM will continue to expand applications of its eAssist mild hybrid system, in which a small electric motor and relatively small battery boost power briefly but cannot propel the vehicle alone.

GM believes that plug-in systems like the Chevrolet Volt will continue to gain popularity over the next several years, mainly because they offer much of the efficiency of an EV while eliminating range anxiety, according to Barra. GM sold 19,300 Volts in the first 10 months of 2012, nearly three times the volume of the same period last year.

Barra says GM expects its sales of vehicles with drivetrains that include some form of electrification to reach 500,000 per year by 2017.