By this time electric-gas hybrids are rather common place. Just about every automobile manufacturer has at least one model hybrid like this. Then there are electric cars that are still a novelty for most people because of the still high purchase price. Now Peugeot has decided to produce a different type of hybrid that uses compressed air with a gasoline engine to improve mileage and reduce emissions. According to Peugeot, this type of hybrid could have a lower purchase price and maintenance cost than either electric-gas hybrids and electric cars while producing greatly reduced pollution.
Gizmag reports that one reason why Peugeot’s new hybrid could cost less on both the original purchase price and maintenance is because compressed air tanks cost less than the massive battery packs that cars like Toyota’s Prius require. Those battery packs are not only expensive but they are also heavy. When they have to be replaced they cost around $4,500. Unlike most auto parts, the hybrid system and battery pack can only be purchased from the dealer keeping the price high.
The new hybrid, the PSA Peugeot Citroën, will be able to run in three different modes like most other hybrids. It can run in gas only mode, compressed air only mode or combined mode. Even when the car runs only on gas, Peugeot claims that there is a five percent fuel savings over comparable gas only cars. The gas engine is used almost exclusively for speeds over 43 mph unless there is a need for rapid acceleration or you are driving up hill then the combined mode kicks in.
The company claims that in Urban driving the car will show a 45 percent savings in fuel and a 90 percent increase in range because the compressed air system is expected to run 80 percent of the time. Total combined city, highway fuel savings is expected to be 35 percent.
The compressed air cylinder runs underneath the center of the car and doesn’t reduce storage space in the trunk nor does it add all the weight of a battery pack. Regenerative braking helps recharge the tank similar to regenerative braking in electric and electric hybrid systems. Should the tank need to be replaced, the cost is much lower than replacing the hybrid systems in gas-electric cars.
Peugeot is expected to produce compressed air-gas hybrids in both two wheel and four wheel vehicles by 2016. Let’s see if it actually happens.
Here is Peugeot’s video of how the system works.
All pictures and videos courtesy of Peugeot.
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