Hybrids, electric cars, plug in points, what is the future of motoring?
HENRY Ford was famously once noted for offering his pioneering, massproduced model T as being available in “any colour you want, as long as it’s black.”
Today, most major manufacturers are developing alternative power sources for their vehicles as the world attempts to turn greener.
A decade ago the great hope was the hydrogen cell, harnessing the most abundant element in the world with an exhaust emission of water vapour, but refuelling issues have limited its wider usage.
The most viable option now is the hybrid – think Toyota Prius. Perhaps less well known is that there are two versions available.
The ‘parallel hybrid’ of the Honda Civic uses a smaller petrol engine as the primary source of power working alongside a support electric motor. The petrol engine is under less stress and so it consumes less petrol while the batteries are
recharged during braking. However, as both are needed to drive, zero emissions are not possible.
The more successful Toyota Prius uses the ‘series hybrid’ method. Here, the electric motor provides the primary source of power, with the petrol engine topping up where necessary. As it is isolated from the wheels it can maximise its economy at all times.
Meanwhile the diesel engine is at least a third more efficient than the petrol engine, and key models from VW and Fiat are more economical than hybrids.
In 2012 Peugeot is set to launch the 3008, which will be a combination of hybrid and diesel technologies and is claimed to be a world first.
The all-electric car is of course becoming more prominent. A step on from the basic G-Wiz, Peugeot have recently launched the elegant iOn which boasts aircon and electric windows.
Meanwhile the Nissan Leaf won World Car of the Year award.
The issue is where to charge up your car.
Since 2008, the Spanish government has been promoting electric vehicles through its Movele plan, and there are now 2,000 electric vehicles and 546 charging points in Spain, including 75 in Sevilla.
Meanwhile Malaga is also set to become a ‘Smartcity’, thanks to its development of a new energy management mode aimed at significantly reducing emissions as the electric car becomes more integrated into mainstream motoring.
Even Spain’s Queen Sofia has been spotted driving the iOn around Mallorca after Peugeot sent it to her for a trial at the Marivent palace.
By 2020, Peugeot reckon 4.5 per cent of car sales will be purely electric and, JP Morgan say, twenty percent of American sales will be hybrids.
Perpetual change is clearly fuelling a desire to reach a state of perpetual motion, and that has to be a positive thing.
Jonathan Durden
May I politely suggest you revise your description of the Prius drivetrain?
Finally, tho hope we get some cool designs, most of them seem to be for tiny old ladies so far.
Also what about hemp fuel? Apparently one of the most environmentally friendly crops in the world and only the oil companies prevent it being mainstream. Very interesting when you delve into it