Hybrid

Hybrid yacht combines diesel, solar and wind power

By Emily Clark

23:12 November 2, 2008 PST

Island Pilot has used this year’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show to debut its new hybrid motoryacht - the DSe Hybrid12m. Combining diesel, solar and electric power (hence "DSe") and with wind-power to be added to the production model, the 40ft vessel can take advantage of a sunny day by cruising at speeds of up to six knots indefinitely using only solar power. Not only does this save fuel, it eliminates the rumble of diesel engines to bring one of pure-sailing's greatest attractions to the motoryacht format - silence. Read More

2008 Paris Motor Show round-up

By Noel McKeegan

19:37 October 19, 2008 PDT

As the curtain falls on the Paris Motor Show for 2008 we take a look back at some of the biggest surprises and brightest innovations to emerge from this massive global automotive extravaganza. As a starting point it's hard to go past Lamborghini, which emulated its 2007 most-talked-about crown by showing its Estoque concept. As a mid-engined four-door coupé with a V10 motor and permanent four-wheel drive, it's not really eco-inspired but a weapon to behold for the family man. Mazda definitely made our short-list for the most striking design with the aerodynamic Kiyora Urban compact and Citroen also floated some compelling concepts including the colorful Hypnos luxury hybrid crossover and the virtual-meets-real-world GTbyCITROEN which will appear on-screen in the next installment of Gran Turismo. Read More

Navistar unveils new hybrid truck

By Darren Quick

02:45 October 15, 2008 PDT

With the spiraling cost of fuel and the average cost of diesel in 2008 climbing around 39 percent versus last year, it’s no surprise that truck manufacturers are looking to lighten the burden on trucking operators. To this end Navistar, makers of the LoneStar, has expanded its line of diesel electric hybrid trucks with the unveiling of their International DuraStar Hybrid tractor at this week’s Hybrid Truck Users Forum in South Bend, Indiana. Navistar claims that the new diesel electric hybrid Class 7 tractor has the proven capability to provide fuel savings of 20-25 percent on standard in-city pickup and delivery applications. Read More

Peugeot's 3-wheel hybrid scooter concept puts a roof over your head

By Noel McKeegan

00:41 October 15, 2008 PDT

October 15, 2008 It's not a car and it's not quite a scooter. Peugeot's HYmotion3 compressor concept vehicle is an original mix of previously seen design elements - a semi-enclosed shell akin to BMW's C1 or the Benelli Adiva and the carving 3-wheel layout of Piaggio's MP3 - with hybrid drivetrain technology added to produce a 2-person vehicle that promises low CO2 emissions as well as greater safety and weather protection than conventional scooters. Read More

The Audi A1 hybrid drive Sportback concept

By Noel McKeegan

20:31 October 14, 2008 PDT

Audi has used the Paris Motor Show to unveil a compact 5-door variation of the 3-door A1 project quattro car first shown in Tokyo last year. The concept, which the company says "shows another possible direction for forthcoming production A1", features updated hybrid technology which combines a 1.4 TFSI petrol engine with a 20 kW (27 hp) electric motor that adds up to 150 Nm of torque during acceleration and can also run purely on electric power for more than 60 miles on a single charge. Read More

Citroen takes wraps off Hypnos Concept Car

By Noel McKeegan

00:18 October 9, 2008 PDT

Teaser pics of the Citroën Hypnos first surfaced last month and more details have now been revealed to coincide with the unveiling of the outlandish crossover concept at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. Pitched as a hybrid in terms of both technology and styling, the dynamically proportioned Hypnos attempts to marry the elegance of an executive saloon with the volumes of a cross-over while at the same time showcasing the company's HYmotion4 technology - a diesel hybrid drivetrain featuring a rear axle-mounted electric motor which optimizes dynamic performance and traction while keeping fuel consumption down to 4.5 l/100 km (60+mpg) and emissions at 120 g/km of CO2). What really sets the car apart however is the candy-shop "color therapy" interior - sunglasses may be required. Read More

Paris Motor Show highlights: Honda's new Insight hybrid

By Noel McKeegan

01:02 October 8, 2008 PDT

Few would argue with the environmental and economic benefits of hybrid vehicles, but despite an avalanche of concept cars that utilize either hybrid or fully-electric drivetrains in recent times, the cost of actually buying one of the few models that have thus far made it to market remains prohibitively high. This situation is set to change rapidly over the next five years and Honda has fired one of the first shots in the expected hybrid price war with the unveiling of its new gasoline-electric Insight at the Paris Motor Show. The 'affordable family hybrid concept' is expected to be very close to the production version slated to hit the U.S. market next year at a price of under $20K, nudging out the Toyota Prius (around USD$23K) as the cheapest hybrid on the market. Read More

Proterra's hybrid-electric zero-emission bus

By Kyle Sherer

18:48 October 6, 2008 PDT

Proterra is presenting a prototype of its HFC35 composite body, hybrid-electric bus at the American Public Transportation Association expo in San Diego. Scheduled to start service in early 2009 in a nationwide trial, the 37-seat HFC35 contains a fuel cell hybrid-electric powertrain that emits only water, qualifying the bus as a zero-emission vehicle. However, it can also incorporate diesel, gasoline, and compressed natural gas engines. Read More

Volvo to introduce 7700 Hybrid bus in 2009

By Kyle Sherer

22:11 October 2, 2008 PDT

In addition to reducing the discharge of particles and nitrous oxides by 40-50% compared with a diesel-only bus, the Volvo 7700 Hybrid has 30% lower fuel consumption which the company estimates will allow bus operators to recoup the extra cost of the vehicle within seven years. Read More

Paris debut for Kia Soul Hybrid concept

By Noel McKeegan

19:27 September 25, 2008 PDT

The Soul Hybrid concept will be one of four world premiers from Kia at the Paris Motor show next week. Powered by Kia’s Gamma 1.6-liter petrol engine combined with a 15 kW, 105 Nm AC synchronized electric motor and the company's CVT (continuously variable transmission), the concept promises fuel efficiency of 57.6 mpg and CO2 emissions of 117 g/km. Read More

Saab reinvents the convertible with the 9-X AIR CONCEPT

By Mike Hanlon

06:19 September 18, 2008 PDT

Just over a quarter century ago, Saab showed the first four-seater convertible to the world, creating a new class of luxury automobile. Now it’s set to do it all over again with the 9-X Air concept car and a visually-distinctive newly-designed Canopy Top designed to aerodynamically cocoon the passenger cell. The design incorporates prominent raked rear pillars that curve upwards to mount a flat folding roof – essentially a development of the Targo roof principle – with a separate rear screen located between them. Instead of having a manually detachable roof section, the Saab Canopy top is fully powered in operation and folds away in the storage trunk. With the top down motorists can enjoy open-top motoring free from buffeting, and with the top up the 9-X Air assumes the appearance of a true coupe. Saab has filed a patent on the convertible roof design and hence the 9-X Air provides a glimpse of what a future convertible from Saab could look like. Read More

GE Hybrid locomotive protoype in Chicago

By Emily Clark

21:24 September 15, 2008 PDT

GE Transportation will parade its Evolution Hybrid locomotive prototype at the RSI Railway Technology Exhibition in Chicago later this month. Promising significant fuel and emissions savings, the diesel-electric hybrid technology captures and stores the energy generated by braking a 207 ton train and delivers it back to the propulsion system in the form of an on-demand, 2000 horsepower boost. Read More

Renault to reveal high-end Ondelios concept (UPDATED - NEW IMAGES)

By Noel McKeegan

20:53 September 10, 2008 PDT

Renault has placed the emphasis on style, interior space and long-haul comfort in its new luxury crossover concept offering which is set to debut at the Paris Motor Show next month. The 15.7 feet (4.8 m) long, 5.2 feet (1.6 m) high Ondelios - the name being an amalgam of the French 'onde' (wave) and 'helios' (the Greek god of the sun) - is powered by a by a hybrid system combining a 205hp (150kW) version of the 2.0 dCi engine with two 20kW electric motors at the front and rear which give it the capability of a 4WD vehicle. The initial pics reveal the standout elements of the design - a striking inset aluminum-finish grille, inwardly curved tail lights, seven-spoke, 23-inch aluminum alloy wheels and butterfly-style side doors hinged to the roof to enable easy access to the three rows of seats. There's also plenty of technological goodies on show including a collaboration with Samsung that lets the driver use a cell phone to unlock the door and engage personal settings like seat-adjustment and music. Read More

Fraunhofer develops technology for the bonded aircraft

By Jack Martin

05:44 September 9, 2008 PDT

An aircraft is held together by hundreds of thousands of rivets. Fully automatic machines install rivet holes and rivets with precision in numerous materials. A new hybrid technology combines this mechanical joining technique with adhesive bonding. The lighter an aircraft is, the less fuel it consumes. Given the need to cut carbon dioxide emissions, this is a key aspect of materials research. Aircraft manufacturers are therefore pinning their hopes on particularly lightweight construction materials. These include not only lightweight metals, but also fiber composite plastics, particularly carbon-fiber reinforced plastics (CFRPs). Whenever two CFRP components have to be joined together, this has so far been accomplished primarily by riveting. Read More

Electric Nissan to debut in 2010

By Loz Blain

03:27 August 14, 2008 PDT

August 12, 2008 What will the electric car ownership experience be like? Nissan has given us a glimpse of what early adopters are letting themselves in for - rather than bundling expensive, consumable battery packs into the price of the car, Nissan plans to sell its 2010 mass-market battery-electric car for around the same price as a standard petrol car, and lease the battery pack to the buyer on a monthly fee. And the battery lease plus electricity charges should still end up cheaper than a petrol bill. Don't worry, it won't look anything like the test vehicle pictured! Read More

Elektrobay: EV recharging infrastructure expanding in the UK

By Emily Clark

17:51 July 29, 2008 PDT

The number of electric and hybrid vehicles on the road is growing rapidly in response to rising petrol prices and climate change awareness. As with any alternative to petroleum based transport, the key issue is infrastructure, or lack of it. Already rolling-put in the UK, Elektromotive's solution for drivers of electric cars and motorcycles is an on-street recharging network called “Elektrobay” that allows you to re-charge while away from home. Read More

Toyota employs noise-canceling tech on hybrid

By Darren Quick

16:01 July 15, 2008 PDT

Toyota has taken the principle behind noise-canceling headphones and applied it to its Toyota Crown Hybrid. The company’s ‘Active Noise Control’ system uses three microphones located on the roof of the interior of the car to detect the muffled noise of the engine and then generates antiphase signals from three speakers – two located on the right and left front doors and one rear woofer on the rear shelf – to counter the noise. The system, which was implemented after the car’s engine was found to be noisier than expected, reduces the interior engine noise by about 5 to 8dB, the company said. Read More

Hyundai LPG hybrid production car

By Mike Hanlon

05:28 July 8, 2008 PDT

July 8, 2008 Hyundai’s world first Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) hybrid will go on sale in Korea twelve months from now with operating costs poised to be lowest of any hybrid currently available, despite being largely based on the existing Elantra model. It will also be the first to use Lithium-Polymer batteries to power its electric motor. The novel internal combustion powerplant is a Liquefied Petroleum Injected (LPI) 1.6 litre four cylinder assisted by a 15kW electric motor driving through a continuously variable transmission. Read More

Falx Air unveils multi-purpose hybrid aircraft design

By Noel McKeegan

16:21 June 25, 2008 PDT

It's safe to say that there is a transport revolution underway. Driven by the need for cleaner, more efficient and more versatile vehicles, it's delivering an unprecedented number of radical and innovative designs for the road, sea, and for the air. The latest airborne example to come to our attention is this Hybrid Transport Aircraft design from Falx Air. In addition to being used as a standard light cargo platform, mid-air light re-fueling or surveillance aircraft, the Very Light Hybrid Transport (VLHT) can be adapted to carry six passengers, or four stretchers and two medical staff. Like the company's hybrid-electric tilt-rotor aircraft platform unveiled earlier this year, the design combines automotive hybrid electric technology with a fast charge battery system and solar cells to deliver exceptional fuel economy. Read More

GE and the C-MAR Group unite to design hybrid tugboat

By Kyle Sherer

22:29 May 22, 2008 PDT

Hybrid technology is slowly beginning to make its mark on the roadways as manufacturers of cars, buses and trucks embrace it as a cleaner, more efficient alternative. Efforts are also underway to expand this type of technology on the water - Foss Maritime announced plans to build the world's first true hybrid tug boat in early 2007 and now GE and the C-MAR Group hope to demonstrate the feasibility of a hybrid tugboat technology that will both conserve fuel and reduce emissions. Read More

Falx to debut hybrid-electric tilt-rotor aircraft with inbuilt solar charging

By Loz Blain

04:21 April 28, 2008 PDT

Tilt-rotor aircraft have been around since the 1950s, offering the vertical take-off, hovering and landing abilities of a helicopter with the range, high flight ceiling, speed and fuel economy of a turboprop aeroplane. Now a new venture from Falx Air Vehicles is planning to push the fuel economy angle even further by using a hybrid-electric motor and inbuilt solar arrays. The company expects its upcoming compact single and double-seater tiltrotor aircraft to use as little as 10 litres of fuel per hour airborne, and the quiet electric operation should see these small, light and manoeuvrable aircraft make solid stealth vehicles for military uses. Though not yet confirmed, we may see a full-size prototype as early as the Farnsworth air show this year, and Falx is aiming to have the craft fully certified by the end of 2009. Read More

World's first hybrid refuse truck launched in Sweden

By Noel McKeegan

01:08 April 8, 2008 PDT

April 8, 2008 Volvo has announced that Swedish refuse collection firms Renova and Ragn-Sells will begin regular daily testing of two of the company's hybrid refuse trucks ahead of a market launch in 2009. Using a 7 liter diesel engine and an electric motor that utilizes regenerative braking, the trucks are capable of delivery fuel (and therefore emissions) savings of 20 percent. Read More

Coca-Cola Enterprises orders 120 hybrid trucks from Eaton

By Kyle Sherer

23:29 February 28, 2008 PST

February 29, 2008 Coca-Cola Enterprises will purchase 120 Eaton diesel-electric hybrid trucks this year – the largest single order placed to the Cleveland-based firm. CCE bought 20 trucks last year, when the program was in a test phase, and found they reduced emissions by 32%, and reduced fuel consumption by 37%.

The Eaton Hybrid trucks use both a diesel engine and an electric motor to power the vehicle. According to the Eaton website, this configuration can slash emissions by up to 70%, and reduce fuel consumption by up to 60%. Read More

New York’s hybrid buses prove their worth

By Emily Clark

21:23 February 6, 2008 PST

February 7, 2008 A government report has shown that the new Orion buses in New York City cost 40% less to maintain and 24% less to operate than earlier-generation hybrids. Read More

Radio-controlled hybrid GOAT grass-muncher

By Loz Blain

18:06 January 29, 2008 PST

January 30, 2008 Humans love grass - an obsession that sees us spending an inordinate amount of time and effort tending to its needs. If you don't mind the time part, the Evatech GOAT radio-control mower can certainly help reduce the effort inherent in keeping your lawn manicured – and its hybrid petrol/electric motor gives it the power to pull a fertilizer spreader, climb 45 degree inclines, or even operate as a snowplow in winter. Read More