New eAssist model added to Oshawa-built Buick Regal line-up
• New eAssist fuel-saving technology improves fuel efficiency up to 24 percent
• Regal eAssist to deliver an estimated 8.0 L/100km city and 5.4L/100km highway*
• Offers hybrid-like efficiency without the compromises or costs of typical hybrids
As the Oshawa Assembly Plant prepares to begin production of Buick Regal models for the North American market next month, its mission just became a lot greener, thanks to Buick’s announcement of the new 2012 Regal eAssist™ available beginning this Fall.
The eAssist™ system improves fuel efficiency by up to 24 percent over the Regal’s four-cylinder/six-speed powertrain, delivering estimated fuel consumption of just 8.0 L/100km city and 5.4 L/100km on the highway*. Its fuel consumption beats out competitors such as the Acura TSX, rated at 9.3 L/100km city and 6.2 L/100km highway. The Regal eAssist’s estimated 5.4 L/100km on the highway is 13 percent better than the TSX, which doesn’t offer a six-speed automatic transmission, all standard on the Buick.
“The award-winning Buick Regal is proof of this company’s capabilities on the car side of the business, and the addition of the Regal with eAssist shows just how serious we are about offering consumers a range of sophisticated powertrain options from green to mean,” said Kevin Williams, president and managing director of General Motors of Canada. “Integrating such advanced fuel-saving technology into our Oshawa Assembly Plant is a natural fit given the plant’s flexible manufacturing system and its longstanding quality leadership, and we’re proud to lead the way in terms of green technology production in Canada.”
Regal joins the 2012 LaCrosse as the second Buick to feature the fuel-saving technology. The eAssist system is comprised of a state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery and electric motor-generator that provide electrification to deliver regenerative braking, engine stop/start and electric boost capability. eAssist delivers hybrid-like fuel efficiency, but also excellent ride quality, handling performance and interior quietness, while costing thousands less than competitors with similar technologies.
“With the eAssist system, customers don’t have to trade a premium driving experience for efficiency,” added Williams. “We believe Regal and LaCrosse with eAssist provide more logical and affordable choices, compared to other hybrid midsize and full-size luxury sedans.”
Regal with eAssist goes on sale this fall. It joins an expanding lineup that also includes 2.4L and 2.0L Turbo (with manual transmission) models, as well as the upcoming Regal GS. Regal with eAssist offers the range of luxury and convenience packages offered in the other models, along with unique features that include:
• Lightweight 17-inch alloy wheels and tires with lower rolling resistance
• A driver-selectable, fuel economy-optimizing mode for the air conditioning system, which enables more frequent and longer-duration engine stop periods
• An ECO gauge on the instrument panel that continuously responds to driving behavior, enabling the driver to drive with greater efficiency
• A powerflow readout in the 7-inch infotainment screen, which shows the flow of energy through the electric assist system, such as battery charging from regeneration and electric power directed to the engine.
eAssist details
Mated to Regal’s 2.4L Ecotec direct injection four-cylinder engine and next-generation six-speed automatic transmission, the eAssist system uses power stored in the battery to provide needed electrical boost in various driving scenarios, optimizing engine and transmission operation. An advanced 115V lithium-ion battery and latest-generation 15-kW induction motor-generator unit help increase fuel economy through:
• Regenerative braking, which provides up to 15 kW of electricity to charge the battery
• Providing up to 11 kW (15 hp) of electric power assistance during acceleration
• Automatic engine shut-off when the vehicle is stopped
• Aggressive fuel cut-off during deceleration down to zero vehicle speed, enabled by the torque smoothing provided by the induction motor-generator unit
• Intelligent charge/discharge of the high-voltage battery.
“The capability to deliver electric boost to the powertrain system during heavy acceleration and grade driving enables the engine and transmission to operate more efficiently,” said Steve Poulos, global chief engineer of the eAssist system. “Full fuel shutoff at stops and during deceleration complements electric boost and regenerative braking with additional fuel savings.”
Regal with eAssist technology also features improved underbody aerodynamics and tires optimized for performance and fuel economy. It also features a hill-assist system that captures brake pressure to help the driver more comfortably accelerate from a stop on a moderate or steep grade. It does this by greatly reducing the tendency of the vehicle to roll backward with the engine in shut-down mode.
The eAssist system’s 115V air-cooled lithium-ion battery bolsters the 2.4L Ecotec four-cylinder engine with approximately 11 kW (15 hp) of electric power assist during heavy acceleration and 15 kW of regenerative braking power. The system also enables the Ecotec engine to shut down fuel delivery in certain deceleration conditions, which saves additional fuel. While in fuel shut-off mode, the induction motor-generator unit continues spinning along with the engine to provide immediate and smooth take-off power when the driver presses on the accelerator. Then, as the vehicle comes to a stop, the induction motor-generator unit spins the engine, bringing it to a smooth stop – properly positioned for a smooth restart.
“The battery system is designed to provide power assistance to the internal combustion engine, rather than store energy for all-electric propulsion,” said Poulos. “It’s really an extension of the conventional internal combustion engine, not a replacement for it.”
The eAssist power pack contains the lithium-ion battery pack, the integrated power inverter and 12V power supply. It is located in a compartment between the rear seat and trunk; and it is surprisingly compact and lightweight, weighing only about 29 kilograms (65 pounds). Trunk space is slightly reduced when compared with 2011 models with the four-cylinder/six-speed powertrain, but still offers 314 liters (11.1 cubic feet) of storage. A quiet electric fan cools the power pack, drawing air from a vent located in the package tray, behind the rear seat.
The eAssist system’s electric induction motor-generator is mounted to the engine in place of the alternator to provide both motor assist and electric-generating functions through a unique engine belt-drive system. The induction motor-generator is a high-performance, compact induction motor that is liquid-cooled for increased performance and efficiency.
Next-generation six-speed
The eAssist system works with Regal’s direct injected 2.4L Ecotec four-cylinder and next-generation six-speed automatic powertrain combination. In the Regal with eAssist, the engine is rated at 182 horsepower (136 kW) and the next-generation Hydra-Matic 6T40 takes transmission technology to the next level with features designed to enhance powertrain efficiency.
Significant internal transmission changes to clutch controls and hardware provide reduced spin losses while improving shift response and time. The added electric power provided by the eAssist system allows for higher gearing to improve steady state efficiency without impacting acceleration performance or driveability. The system’s ability to provide some electric assistance at cruising speeds allows the driver to accelerate lightly or ascend mild grades without the transmission downshifting.
An auxiliary, electric-driven transmission oil pump is added to the 6T40, which keeps the transmission primed and the fluid flowing when the engine shuts down at a stop. That keeps the transmission ready to perform when the driver accelerates, for a seamless, uncompromised driving experience.
