SAIC Group: a breakthrough was made in industrializing the new energy vehicles based on the strong industrial chain

Shanghai November 3, 2009 --- Today the China International Industry Fair was held ceremoniously in Shanghai. With “Green SAIC, Innovation for Better Future” as the theme, SAIC Group displayed 6 models of new energy vehicles, which would serve the Expo 2010. Of those models, two made their premiere for the first time. They were inter-pavilion vehicles within the Expo Zone, i.e. the Shenchi Brand 4 seat pure electric car, and sight-seeing vehicles within the Expo Zone, i.e. the Shenchi Brand 11 seat fuel cell vehicle. They will serve the public in the Expo Zone together with the VIP service cars, i.e. Shanghai Brand fuel cell cars. As for the daily service outside the Expo Zone, the Expo extramural taxies -- Buick hybrid sedans, and the Expo extramural VIP service cars -- Shanghai Brand hybrid sedans, will be responsible. As is planned, SAIC Group will provide the Expo 2010 with nearly 1,000 units of new energy vehicles, including pure electric vehicles, super-capacitor vehicles, fuel cell vehicles and hybrid vehicles, so as to help the World Expo realize the green objective of “zero emission inside the Expo Zone and Low emission outside it” for the visitor transit during the Expo 2010.

SAIC takes the lead in industrializing the new energy vehicles based on the strong industrial chain

As a pioneer in China’s new energy vehicle industry, SAIC has set clear targets for industrializing the new energy vehicles in combination with the 2010 World Expo Shanghai, that is, Roewe 750, a mild hybrid car with a comprehensive fuel saving rate of 20%, will be put into the market in quantities in 2010. Roewe 550, a plug-in strong hybrid car with a comprehensive fuel saving rate of 50%, will be put into the market in quantities in 2012. In the same year, SAIC-made pure electric sedans of self-owned brand will also be launched into the market to realize zero emission in the real sense. As a result, SAIC will be the first in China to realize the industrialization of new energy vehicles.

The new energy vehicle industrial chain, which is the most complete one in the country, is the competitive edge of SAIC in industrializing the new energy vehicles. After constant exploration and accumulation, SAIC Group has set up a relatively complete auto parts supply system, and thus laid a solid foundation for integrated vehicle development. As a leading auto maker in China, SAIC adheres to the principle of “making independent innovations, integrating resources both at home and abroad and utilizing overseas and domestic strengths at the same time”. While seeking international cooperation, SAIC has actively fostered domestic parts suppliers and eventually put in place an industrial chain that is strategically safe and independently controlled by SAIC. Now the plug-in hybrid electrocmechanical coupling driving technology innovatively developed by SAIC has entered the prototype-making stage. This technology effectively helps to circumvent the technical barriers erected by Toyota, General Motors and other overseas and domestic hybrid product makers, so that people can expect SAIC-made new energy vehicles to be equipped with electric transmissions in 2012.

A strong team of technical talents that has been built up over the years is the guarantee of SAIC’s new energy vehicle industrialization. SAIC has introduced talents who have returned from overseas, organized experts of doctorial degree, integrated talent superiorities in the auto industry, and formed the domestically strongest team of new energy vehicle development team. SAIC’s new energy vehicle department boasts a team of nearly a hundred people for new energy vehicle development. Shanghai Jieneng Automotive Technology Co., Ltd. which was set up at the beginning of the year, has set up a team of almost 200 people responsible for developing key functions like pure electric and hybrid components. A team of almost 100 people in the new energy technical department of the Commercial Vehicle Technical Center are engaged in the development of new energy commercial vehicles. So far SAIC has successfully developed and manufactured such new energy vehicles as DME buses, hybrid buses, pure electric passenger vehicles, super capacitor buses, hybrid sedans, plug-in fuel cell cars, etc.

INTRODUCTION OF SAIC-MADE NEW ENERGY VEHICLES ON DISPLAY    Shenchi Brand 4-seat electric inter-pavilion car (for service within the Expo Zone): With an all-new styling, the novel and unique bodywork is made of high-strength glass fibber reinforced plastic. The chassis is made of parts for mini vehicles based on a mature Chinese technology. The powertrain adopts advanced overseas and domestic products. Offering excellent performance and riding comfort, the car is suitable for drive between exhibition pavilions, bus stops, docks, etc. excepting highways. The maximum speed is 35 km/h and the continued driving mileage is up to 80 km.    Shenchi Brand 11-seat fuel cell sight-seeing car (for service within the Expo Zone): Of high efficiency and producing low noises, this is a new energy car of “zero emission” in the real sense for sight-seeing purposes. Using front and rear independent suspension, four-wheel disc brake, electric power steering and vacuum brake booster, the car offers excellent driveability and riding comfort. The maximum speed is 40 km/h and the continued driving mileage is up to 80 km.    LaCrosse hybrid car (for service outside the Expo Zone): LaCrosse electricity & fuel hybrid car is the first of the kind in the mainstream B-plus models made in China. Equipped with 2.4L ECO intelligent engine plus an all-new hybrid powertrain, the car offers the users with much lower fuel consumption and emission while providing a strong driving power. For urban driving, LaCrosse ECO-Hybrid can save fuels up to a much greater extent of 16% and more, and its emission satisfies the EU IV standard.    Shanghai Brand fuel cell car (for VIP service inside the Expo Zone): Shanghai Brand fuel cell car is the first electric-electric fuel cell hybrid with SAIC’s self-owned brand, and is also a new generation fuel cell hybrid vehicle independently developed by SAIC. Using the plug-in technology, with battery as the main power source (rechargeable with 220 V direct current of civil purpose) and with a small pressurized fuel cell system as auxiliary power (using hydrogen as fuel), the car can run on multi-source power. On the basis of the first generation “Shanghai Brand” plug-in fuel cell technology, the vehicle adopts modular assembly and its front cabin is a “powertrain” in the real sense. For short distance driving, the car can run on pure electricity. For long distance driving or when the battery runs out, the cart can shift to the hybrid driving mode, when the fuel cell generates electricity and produces enough electricity to drive the car while supplementing the power battery with electricity in the meantime.    Shanghai Brand hybrid car (for VIP service outside the Expo Zone): Using BSG system (belt driven starter generator), the car features “intelligent shutdown with zero emission” as well as “both environmental friendliness and strong driving power.” Its top speed is 205 km/h. As the first hybrid model of self-owned brand that SAIC is going to industrialize, Shanghai Brand hybrid car has a comprehensive fuel-saving rate of 20% and can be expected to go to the market at the end of 2010.    UNDP fuel cell bus (for service on the Expo Avenue inside the Expo Zone): This vehicle is specially developed for implementing the phase II project of GEF/UNDP, i.e. Demonstration Project of China’s Fuel Cell City Bus Commercialization. It adopts the advanced dual fuel cell system independently developed by China. Using the advanced ultra-low-floor structure, this model is a high-end mainstream city bus used in developed countries embodying good economy, strong power, zero emission and environmental friendliness, and indicating the trend for the development of future city bus transit.

Representative products of SAIC-made new energy vehicles over the years 1. Hybrid vehicles    SGM-made “LaCrosse” hybrid sedan: LaCrosse ECO-Hybrid is a forerunner model under SGM’s strategy of “Driving to Green”, and is also among the first hybrid cars that have been launched into the market, fulfilling the program for making cars that are of “better performance, lower energy consumption and less emission”. “Intelligent shutdown with zero fuel consumption as well as zero emission” and “both environmental friendliness and strong driving power” are the two highlights of its technology. Use of new technologies, such as intelligent shutdown, intelligent energy recycling, motor boosting, new generation Good Year green tire, etc. enables LaCrosse ECO-Hybrid to achieve a fuel saving rate of more than 15% without compromising the driveability.    Roewe 750 1.8T hybrid car: This hybrid car is developed by SAIC on the basis of Roewe 750 platform using the technology of BSG system (belt driven Starter Generator), and it is also the first hybrid sedan with SAIC’s self-owned brand to be industrialized and put to market in 2010. The control system of the car is actuated via the integrated 120V high pressure “Power Box” and the car features two highlights of “intelligent shutdown with zero emission” and “both environmental friendliness and strong driving power”. The car is also capable of automatic engine start and shutdown, motor boosting, regenerative braking (including regenerative skidding), intelligent recharging, electrically uphill driving, slowdown fuel cut, etc. with a comprehensive fuel saving around 20%.    EH hybrid bus: ISG generator recharges the battery in the electricity-generating mode at any time, thus solving the problem of battery loss. The bus can run on all kinds of urban roads with a fuel saving rate of 25%, yielding a high value for money. 2．Pure electric vehicles    Expo pure electric bus: Expo pure electric bus, a green vehicle of “zero emission”, is specially developed by SAIC for Expo 2010. Its maximum speed is 80 km/h and its continued driving mileage reaches 200 km. The bus is equipped with a lithium iron phosphate battery system.    Expo super capacitor bus: The bus’s full low-floor chassis technology, the novel monocoque bodywork technology and the vehicular integrated electric system, etc. are technologically leading in China. Equipped with air suspension, the 12-meter-long bus is a high-grade vehicle. With good low-temperature properties and zero emission, and causing no pollution to the environment, the bus has a promising market prospect and social efficiency.    IVECO pure electric engineering service vehicle: The technologically leading Nanjing IVECO Bronte electric vehicle is a light-duty “zero emission” commercial vehicle, which has already been put to actual operation. Its top speed is 100 km / h and the maximum continued driving mileage reaches 200 km. 3．Fuel cell vehicles    Lingyu fuel cell car: This is an independently developed new generation fuel cell car according to the National 863 Project of “Energy Saving and New Energy Vehicles” undertaken by SAIC and Shanghai Volkswagen. Lingyu fuel cell car is developed on the Passat Lingyu platform adopting the tandem hybrid power driving structure. Using the 350 bar high pressure hydrogen storage system as the fuel source of driving power, the car is equipped with the domestically most advanced fuel cell stack and relatively high power density lithium battery. Its interior comfort and driving performance come close to the conventional Passat and its hydrogen safety meets the comparable international level.    “Shanghai Brand” fuel cell sedan: Equipped with a new generation power system, this sedan is a fuel cell vehicle jointly developed by SAIC and Tongji University. Its top speed reaches 150 km/h, the acceleration from 0 -- 100 km takes only 15 seconds and its continued driving mileage comes up to 300 km. This fuel cell sedan is technologically leading in China.    “Shanghai Brand” plug-in fuel cell sedan: This is domestically the first vehicle with a new generation fuel cell system independently developed by SAIC jointly with its subsidiary Xinyuan energy company on the basis of the first generation “Shanghai Brand” fuel cell car. Equipped with the plug-in technology and the pressurized fuel cell stack, the “Shanghai Brand” plug-in fuel cell sedan takes the power battery as the main power source and the fuel cell systems as its auxiliary energy source. The mileage of the car running purely on electricity is 20 km, and for long distance driving or when the battery runs out, the fuel cell generates electricity to produce more electric energy and enable the car to run further. 4．Substitute fuels    DME bus: Based on the platform of the 11-meter-long city bus of self-owned brand made by Sunwin Bus Corporation under SAIC, the DME bus uses the DME engine manufactured by Shanghai Diesel Engine Co., Ltd. The bus is equipped with a special system for fuel storage, transmission and vehicle control and is characteristic of a strong driving power and free of black smoke at starting and acceleration. Substituting diesel fuel with DME helps to take full advantage of the country’s comparatively rich coal resources and reduce the reliance on petrol for vehicle fuels. The unique DME burning properties enable the vehicle to meet strict emission standards by relatively simple means. SWB6116DME city bus has been listed in the Batch No. 166 vehicle announcement of Automotive Products and Their Manufacturers, and it is the first DME bus made in China that has ever been listed in the above-mentioned vehicle announcement.