General Motors Developing New Ecotec Engines to Combate Rising Fuel Prices

Rising gas prices are hurting the consumer. This is a statement that many of you should agree with. Gas prices are spiraling out of control. It is becoming drastically harder to fill up our gas tanks without emptying our bank accounts in the process. Automotive companies have made some consumers happy with the introduction of fuel efficient automobiles over the past decade. General Motors feels that this is not enough and have decided to invest $494 million to build the next generation of engines, simply known as Ecotec engines.

A recent press release by Denise Johnson, vice president of labor relations for General Motors, had the company announce this massive investment into transforming automobile engines. The Ecotec engine is a four cylinder engine that promises to reduce both emissions and fuel consumption. Both would be dramatically decreased thanks to the engine. The Ecotec engine will provide enhanced performance through a complex compact design, advance four cylinder technologies, and the capability to optimize fuel savings and performance in the process.

General Motors has already begun the process even though they just officially made the announcement to the rest of the automotive market. The company plans to develop the Ecotec engine at their Tonawanda, NY engine plant. Their investment will lead to 470 more jobs being created, something that will make a pretty significant impact in our struggling economy. They also plan to do extra work at plants in Ohio and Mississippi.

The only question we are left with is what new textural form will the Ecotec engines take. Some industry insiders believe that the company will play around with the liter sizes that the company currently offers with many of their automobiles. Whatever decision they make, consumers are going to be satisfied with General Motors effort to reduce fuel costs while bettering the environment in the process. The next couple of years will be huge for the company as they further develop this technology to fight the increasing fuel prices.

Sources:

(1) My Own Experience

(2) General Motors, http://www.gm.com/experience/technology/gmpowertrain/engines/ecotec/ecotec_engine.jsp, 2010.