PSA Peugeot Citroen is a leading French automaker sharing common technology for development and production of vehicles between Peugeot and Citroen brands with separate sales and marketing structures. The manufacturer is now ready with a new hybrid air technology that replaces the conventional electric components of hybrid cars with compressed air components. PSA Peugeot Citroen recently showcased their Hybrid Air concept car at Innovation Day held in Velizy, France.
The Hybrid Air concept car features a combination of a regular internal combustion engine with a special epicyclic automatic transmission and hydraulic motor powered by compressed air. The Hybrid Air concept comes with three modes of driving zero emissions, thermal gasoline and mixed. The concept uses the petrol engine for running on highway speeds, the hydraulic motor to ferry around town capable of speeds up to 70 km/hr and a combination of both the power sources during hard acceleration or climbing a steep hill.
Peugeot Citroen aims to provide a well equipped hybrid vehicle at an affordable price point. To re-fill the compressed air, the hydraulic motor works in reverse to suck in air and compress it by using regenerative forces. According to the company, the new technology can generate fuel efficiency figures of around 50 km/l. The new Hybrid Air system weighs significantly less than any electric battery based hybrid. The new technology will be introduced on their B-segment vehicles starting from 2016.
