Buick - LaCrosse - Brochure - 2012 - 2012

Buick Regal and LaCrosse eAssist 2012 LaCrosse is a long wheelbase Regal Buick has a hybrid (not a lot unlike the GM BAS from 2007) that they call eAssist. Fuel economy is 26 mpg city and 36 mpg on the highway. It is a high voltage BAS with a water cooled belt driven brushless motor. In 2012 the Regal eAssist sold for about $30,000.00 US. One interesting part of the story is that there is no external badging that says anything about this being a hybrid. You see the average Buick owner is a senior with little to no interest in hybrids. At the San Francisco auto show in 2011 I asked the Buick saleswoman at their booth if the Regal with the orange cables under the hood was a hybrid? Her answer “No but it has some hybrid parts in it”. Politics is everywhere. What Makes the Regal Different from the LaCrosse The wheelbase is the main technical difference between the two cars. The Regal is 107.8” vs. 111.7” for the LaCrosse, so you might call the LaCrosse a stretched Regal. The hybrid system is the same. The cars start out at about the same price point but the LaCrosse has almost 20K in added features one can buy getting the total to almost 50K. The Dash Board Video Game What GM Had to Say Regal with eAssist joins the 2012 LaCrosse as the second Buick to feature the efficiency-enhancing technology. The system uses a state-of-the-art lithiumion battery system, electric induction motor-generator and regenerative braking capability to improve fuel economy. “Buick’s eAssist technology means customers don’t have to trade a premium driving experience for efficiency,” said Tony DiSalle, vice president of Buick marketing. “We believe Regal and LaCrosse with www.fixhybrid.com • 800-939-7909 79 Buick Regal with eAssist eAssist provide more logical and affordable choices, compared to other hybrid midsize and full-size luxury sedans.” The eAssist went on sale in the fall of 2011. Drivetrain Mated to Regal’s 2.4L Ecotec direct injection fourcylinder 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 115 volt lithiumion battery and latest-generation 15-kW induction motor-generator unit help increase fuel economy with the usual regenerative braking, which provides up to 15 kW of electricity to charge the battery and provides up to 11 kW (15 hp) of electric power assistance during acceleration. The automatic engine shut-off when the vehicle is stopped and fuel cut-off during deceleration down to zero vehicle speed, enabled by the torque smoothing provided by the induction motor-generator unit, makes the car green and Intelligent. The charge and discharge of the high-voltage battery is typical hybrid fare and helps deliver electric boost to the 80 powertrain system during heavy acceleration and grade driving enabling the engine and transmission to operate more efficiently. Regal with eAssist technology also features improved underbody aerodynamics and tires optimized for performance and fuel economy. It also features a hillassist 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. While in fuel shut-off mode, the induction motorgenerator 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 eAssist power pack contains the lithium-ion battery pack, the integrated power inverter and 12 volt power supply. It is located in a compartment between the rear seat and trunk; and it is surprisingly compact and lightweight, weighing only about 65 pounds (29 www.fixhybrid.com • 800-939-7909 15-kW induction motor-generator unit The driveline of eAssist by Buick, a division of GM. kg). Trunk space is slightly reduced when compared with 2011 models with the four-cylinder/six-speed powertrain, but still offers 11.1 cubic feet (314 liters) 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 motorgenerator is mounted to the engine in place of the alternator to provide both motor assist and electricgenerating 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 sixspeed automatic powertrain combination. In the Regal with eAssist, the engine is rated at 182 horsepower (136 kW) and the next-generation Hydra-Matic 6T40 features make the powertrain more efficient. 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 115 volt air cooled Li-ion Battery Pack 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. www.fixhybrid.com • 800-939-7909 81 eAssist High Voltage Drive System The 115 volt Lithium Battery is air cooled Summary Unlike the BAS system this one will bite. The voltage levels are lethal and a special tool will be required to remove and replace the drive belt. Other than a proper scan tool, this hybrid should be one of the easier ones to service. Time will tell. The Buick system is very compact 82 www.fixhybrid.com • 800-939-7909