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The MathWorks today announced that General Motors Company (GM) has developed its Two-Mode Hybrid powertrain control system using Model-Based Design. By using math and simulation-based tools from The MathWorks, GM designed the powertrain prototype within 9 months, shaving 24 months off the expected development time. The complex control system is currently in production in the GMC Sierra Hybrid, GMC Yukon Hybrid, Chevy Tahoe Hybrid, Chevy Silverado Hybrid, and Cadillac Escalade Hybrid vehicles.

The Two-Mode Hybrid powertrain is part of GM’s diverse hybrid and electric vehicle program, with multiple propulsion technologies designed to meet global driving patterns and needs. Created to optimize fuel efficiency in both city and highway driving, the Two-Mode Hybrid powertrain combines a conventional engine with two 60-kW electric motors integrated into an automatic transmission, and it integrates with new components such as battery and power electronics.

By adopting Model-Based Design, where the development process centers around a system model, GM engineers increase time savings. Also, by verifying the control system before hardware prototyping and by using production code generated from the controller models, GM has rolled out production vehicles featuring the hybrid powertrain within four years of starting the control system design process. The ability to reuse design information has helped the global development teams foster more efficient communication and reduced response time, eliminating integration issues.

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The hybrid-electric and electric vehicle markets have been growing slowly for the last few years, but the price premium for the additional hardware required has always been a significant barrier to mass-market appeal. Hydraulic and flywheel energy storage systems remain very much in the evaluation phase, but they have started to get some serious consideration in garbage truck and Formula One Racing applications respectively.

Among the forecasts the study provides is NextGen Research’s outlook for the market for vehicle battery modules; the company expects to see growth from about $1.3 billion in 2008 to $3.7 billion by 2014.

Says the study’s author, Dave Alexander, “The most significant change over the last year or so has been the shift in attitude towards Lithium-Ion batteries for vehicle energy storage; from being a future vision of 5+ years away to the next production rollout within 12 months. Even Toyota has agreed that its NiMH battery packs are in the process of being phased out in future models. OEMs are now competing to be the first to market with a Li-ion energy storage system.”

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Newell Coach Corporation, the world’s leading manufacturer of ultra-luxury custom motorhomes, announced that they have begun production of their new, 2011 models, with retail deliveries scheduled for the first of the year. The new models feature updated styling by top automotive designer, Jason Hill, founder of the cutting-edge design firm, Eleven.

“The 2011 models include enhanced styling and increased power, as well as the state-of-the-art look, ride, and handling for which Newell is known,” said Newell Director of Engineering, Boyd Vanover.

“The coach front and rear feature fresh new details,” Vanover continued. “For example, the high-performance, xenon gas-discharge headlights are placed behind clear acrylic lenses, bordered by distinctive, ‘string-of-pearls’ LED daytime running lights. And the front fascia trim now runs the full width of the coach, integrating with the outboard headlight assemblies. The finish of the fascia has been upgraded to an attractive, automotive-quality, hard chrome.”

“Customer response to the new models has been outstanding,” Vanover added. “We are already producing to sold orders.”

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A federal judge in Texas issued a sweeping Temporary Restraining Order today to prevent the Toyota Motor Corporation, its subsidiaries, and members of its in-house legal team from destroying any documents about the crashworthiness of all vehicles manufactured by the company.

The order comes in the wake of allegations that Toyota spent years conspiring to conceal evidence from the victims of rollover accidents according to a lawsuit filed by Dimitrios Biller, the former National Managing Counsel in charge of Toyota’s National Rollover Program. Biller worked as a lawyer for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., from 2003 to 2007.

Dallas attorney Todd Tracy obtained the restraining order in connection with the filing of a 17th fraud case that seeks to reopen lawsuits in which key evidence might have been withheld. “Toyota should heed this judge’s warning from the board room to the assembly line that every single email, every document, every bit of research, and all information about vehicle safety is now put on hold. I filed the motion out of concern that Dimitrios Biller’s allegations describe that a Watergate style cover-up was underway at Toyota to undermine the American legal system.”

The litigation hold ordered by federal District Judge T. John Ward must be distributed throughout the entire company, to outside counsel, and to outside experts and contractors according to Tracy. The judge ordered Toyota not to destroy any documents pertaining to product liability cases, research, testing or documents subject to destruction under document retention policies. The judge will rule on issuing a permanent injunction in a hearing scheduled for October 7th.

The order is also directed at four top member’s of Toyota’s California based in-house legal team: Christopher Reynolds, VP and General Counsel of Toyota Motor Sales; Jane Howard Martin, Asst General Counsel in the Legal Services Group; Eric Taira, Asst General Counsel for TMS and Biller’s immediate supervisor; and Dian Ogilvie, Senior VP and General Counsel during Biller’s employment.

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