Design Article
PSA unveils air-powered car
Anne-Francoise Pele
1/24/2013 1:01 PM EST
PARIS – French car maker PSA Peugeot Citroen introduced a full-hybrid powertrain that uses petrol and compressed air.
The hybrid system, dubbed Hybrid Air, combines a petrol engine, a unit to store energy in the form of compressed air, a hydraulic motor-pump assembly and an automatic transmission working with an epicyclic gear train, PSA said.
In response to the need for energy-efficient vehicles, PSA claimed that the engine offers fuel economy of 2.9 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (81 miles per gallon) and emits just 69 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer. It also generates 45-percent savings in city driving, offering a 90 percent increase in comparison with conventional engines.
This full-hybrid gasoline solution represents an important step towards the two liter per hundred kilometer car by 2010, said Philippe Varin, PSA's CEO, in a statement.
PSA said the smart control system adapts the operating mode to the driver's commands and optimizes energy efficiency in three different modes: ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle), petrol internal combustion and combined.
The system is said to automatically select the most efficient mode to each situation.
PSA said its Hybrid Air technology, for which 80 patents have been filed, can fit into small to midsize cars without any loss to storage space.
The project, cofinanced by the French state, also gathers auto parts specialist Bosch and Faurecia.
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selinz
1/25/2013 12:57 PM EST
Interesting. You don't have to worry about the replacing the air after 3-5 years as you do with battery designs! IT would be nice to know what energy equivalents and what efficiencies they are claiming.
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Sparky_Watt
1/25/2013 1:49 PM EST
I didn't see anything about the efficiency of converting various forms of energy into compressed air and back. I like the MPG, but I would like to know about other methods of charging the air. For example, how about a comparison with batteries on a miles per watt (at the outlet) basis for electric charging.
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Kevin Jackson
1/30/2013 2:46 PM EST
Clearly this hybrid isn't powered by air.
Please leave the misleading headlines to Yahoo.
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TUBEDUDE
2/1/2013 2:06 PM EST
How do the components, seals etc, endure high pressure over the years. It's possible the maintenance issues make it no better over time than the battery replacement issues of electric hybrids.
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William Miller
3/11/2013 8:56 AM EDT
Using air is even more interesting and efficient than using other gas or simple electricity. Someday we all will have green vehicles for our kids and grand kids to have safe and healthy future..
I hate smog and I want clear air so bad!!
____________________
William - http://www.carid.com/
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Baziinga
4/2/2013 10:16 AM EDT
I like this idea very much! When it will be fully realized, our country will start breathing fresh air for our kids and grand kids..
http://www.sctnomination.com/
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