Peugeot Hybrid3 Evolution

The Peugeot Hybrid3 Evolution can be describe as a hybrid from many perspective. First it is a scooter with three wheels which gives this Peugeot some Car like characteristics. The other factor would be the power train is made up of a gasoline engine and electric motor.

The Hybrid3 Evolution was made public during the Milan International Cycle and Motorbike Show which ends on the 15th of Nov 09. The HYbrid3 Evolution is equipped with a 41HP 0.3-liter petrol engine driving the rear wheel, and two 3kW electric motors, one in each front wheel, delivering a combined output of 8HP.

The electric motors are powered by lithium-ion batteries which can be recharged by an energy recovery system active during deceleration and braking. There are no mechanical connections between the front and the rear motors, as everything is controlled electronically by-wire.

Similar to many hybrid cars out there, the HYbrid3 Evolution can be driven in a number of different ways, including in all electric mode for a range of up to 10 km (6 miles), petrol only mode and a combination of both petrol and electric motors. According to the Peugeot, the hybrid scooter returns an average fuel consumption of 2.0lt/100 km (117.6 mpg US) with C02 emissions of 48 g/km.

Peugeot did not mention if it has any plans to introduce a production version of the HYbrid Evolution which is a shame as I have already imagine how this scooter can be modified to be the best looking beach buggy.








Source : Carscoop








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Toyota Flower

Toyota seems to know no boundaries when it comes to creativity & innovation though most of their production cars look dull lately. Toyota has created two flower species that absorb nitrogen oxides and take heat out of the atmosphere. This flowers are planted around the the grounds of Toyota’s Prius plant in Toyota City, Japan & its a derivatives of the cherry sage plant and the gardenia.

According to Toyota, they have been criticised by its rivals, who claim the company’s petrol-electric Prius isn’t as green as other conventional vehicles once the car’s manufacturing process is taken into account. So the planting of this genetically modified plant is aimed at reducing the impact of manufacturing a Prius on the enviroment. Now the equation fits together haha.

Gardenia's leaves create water vapour in the air while sage derivative’s leaves absorb harmful gases hence they both function as a pair to reduce the need of cooling & cleaner air around plant. The plant at Tsutsumi also features solar panels on its roof & photocatalytic paint on its exterior walls that also absorb harmful gases.



Source : drive.com.au

Axon Electric Car

Made by British Car Manufacturer Axon Automotive group, this 2 seater is plug-in hybrid utilities electricity in the city & internal combustion engine running on petrol or bioethanol for the long trips. It may not look as stunning as the Toyota prius or Chevy Volt but it serve its intended purposes of a good & cheap (it better be) run about. Axon claims that the car emits less than 50g of CO2 per km for the mix of electric and petrol modes.

Axon's managing director Dr Steve Cousins said "By designing light cars and giving them good aerodynamics you can radically lower vehicle emissions." he further added that " a plug-in hybrid we have no limitation on range but we can maximise the benefits of electrics day to day without the cost and weight of large batteries,"

There are skeptics out there who even lash out at Hybrid Vehicles maker for deceiving the consumers that the car is actually environmentally friendly when harmful pollutants such as heavy metals & carcinogenic compounds results in the process of making them. Though there are truth to those accusations, Hybrid vehicles still paves the way for the cleaner mode of transport. Efforts are being taken to cut down on those harmful material & Axon played their part by using seats that are made from recycled jeans and pinstriped suits while the door panels are made from recycled carbon fiber.

Sales of the car may begin in 2011 with mass production slated to take place the following year.








Source: Carscoop

Toyota Sai Hybrid

Toyota 's new Compact Luxury Hybrid is inspired by the Japanese word sai—which means "talent" when written as "" and "coloration" when written as "". These words may appear as an item together to great artist like Michelangelo & Leonardo Da Vinci but it is an unlikely pair to describe cars. To be honest with you I find the Sai to be another conventional Toyota which fails to excite the eyes. There is not enough distinction to set the Sai apart from the crowd and risk being eclipsed by the Lexus HS250 H. In fact both the Lexus and Toyota share the same 2.4 liter Atkinson cycle combustion engine that produce 110kW (150PS) at 6,000rpm with maximum torque of 187N-m (19.1kgf-m) coming in at 4,400rpm. The engine is paired with a 105kW (143PS) electric motor to give a combined performance figure of 140kW(190ps). Nickle-metal Hydride batteries are used to store energy in the Sai.

For all the technology Toyota put into the Sai, the car returns a fuel efficiency of 23.0km/l which Toyota claims to be on par with 660cc minivehicles. The 10-15 test cycle of Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT); under MLIT's JC08 test cycle, vehicle rates the Sai's fuel efficiency at 19.8km/l.

Fuel efficiency is only one of the many aspects of a green car hence, steps are taken by Toyota to ensure that the impact on the environment is minimized in the process of building the Sai besides using 'green' materials such as plant-based Ecological Plastic. Price of the Sai starts at 3,489,000 yen with sales commencing in the land of the rising sun come December 7 2009










Source : Toyota

Suzuki Swift Plug-in Hybrid Concept

The Swift Plug-in Hybrid will be making its debut at the Tokyo International Motorshow. As the name suggest this idea from Suzuki & is aimed at making the frugal Swift even greener by incorporating a hybrid system very much similar to the Chevrolet Volt. This implies the 660 cc engine, probably sourced from a kei car will be propelling the dynamo that charges the the lithium-ion batteries. The battery which can be seen located between the 2 front seats will be powering the 54 kW motor attached to the front wheels. What caught my attention is the funky seats that won't look out of place in a sports car or even a contemporary office but it will most likely be a pain in the ass ( literally )for those long journeys. 

Source

AutoAlert : JDM Lexus HS250h

The Japanese version of the HS250 h Hybrid car made its debut recently with a 2AZ-FXE 2.4 liter engine found under the hood coupled with an electric motor. The engine puts out 150 PS of power and 187Nm of torque while the electric motor which gets its juices from NiMH batteries makes 143 PS with 270Nm of torque. The two power source is brought together by the e-CVT to give a maximum of 190ps at any time. Interestingly there is an exhaust heat recovery system to shorten engine warming time.

Well other then the usual design cues found on most Toyota today, there is the LED headlapms and tail lamps to differentiate it from other non-hybrid vehicles. Other then this external 'signs' that tells other drivers on the road that you care for mother nature, the rest of the external body panel is very similar to a standard IS250.

But fear not because Lexus has kept the best part of the car exclusively for the interior. (My personal View). To keep both drivers & passengers safe the vehicle is equipped with a Pre-crash Safety System using millimeter-wave radar detects whether driver’s eyes are properly open and also determining direction of driver’s face. In the case the driver loose concentration on the road, the system will alert the driver with a buzzer & apply apply some break force. The Hazard lights will go off if there is a risk of crash & the headrest will be shifted to a proper position to reduce whiplash injury. Click on the thumbnails to view a larger picture.

Next on the list we have Lexus G-link system to grant you access to a concierge that assists you in various ways. If you really crash your car, the system will automatically communicates with the remote Lexus center to contact the police and fire department. The call center will then give you a ring to see if you are OK & if they don't get a feedback from you the ambulance will be dispatch as well. Talking about good service...of course this service will only be complimentary for the first 3 years of your ownership after which a fee will be charge to continue the service.

The area where the gearshift is usually found is occupied by Lexus "Remote Touch" system to operate most of the cars functions. Think BMW's iDrive & Audi's MMI system and you will get the idea.Audiophile will be delighted to know that this car is fitted with a 10 speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system as a standard feature with the option to upgrade to 15 speakers altogether. In conclusion HS250h is a good choice for buyers who find the Prius under equipped or just enjoys the finner things in life. Prices in US are set at $34,200 for the base model and $36,970 for the better equipped Premium version with arrival date around August.Cheers :)