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General Motors is developing a hybrid electric concept vehicle from its “Precept” high efficiency vehicle architecture, to satisfy requirements of the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) program. This Technology Demonstration Vehicle (TDV) features fundamental architecture that is unconventional compared to contemporary passenger car design, or even to other hybrid vehicles. This paper describes this unique architecture and how the vehicle's most significant features complement each other in harmonious design. It also notes how these features contribute to robustness of efficiency.

The design of a practical battery powered vehicle must feature efficiency in every system, in order to provide maximum range given limited on-board energy storage. As GM's impact electric vehicle was designed exclusively for battery power, priority consideration of efficiency was given to the design of every function in the vehicle. This paper addresses such considerations in one of the major functions of the chassis system: ride, handling, and steering. The ride, handling, and steering function is a major player in the efficiency of Impact. It includes such energy dissipaters as tire rolling resistance, component deformations or accelerations due to road surface irregularities, suspension viscous damping, and energy requirements of power assisted controls. Also factors in design efficiency are limited packaging envelopes associated with a highly aerodynamic body, and last but not least, mass efficiency of the chassis components.