Trends in Transportation - Hydrogen and Fuel Cells: Advances in Transportation and Power - page 155

DaimlerChrysler has been working on hybrid cars while Opel General
Motors has built a hydrogen-powered car, HydroGen 1. Ford plans to
make its SUVs lighter and more aerodynamic and had plans to introduce
an electric version of its Escape SUV. Pininfarina's Metrocubo of 1999 is a
hybrid car.
The hybrid car combines a gasoline engine with an electric motor.
Honda launched its hybrid Insight model in 2000. A gasoline engine in the
front is combined with an electric engine in the rear. The batteries add to
the weight of the vehicle so weight reduction was accomplished with a
body made of aluminium and nylon. The Insight was the first car to offer a
hybrid solution to the general public. It advantages were the 30 km/liter (83
mpg) fuel economy and the generation of about half of the carbon dioxide
of comparable small cars. Toyota also produced a hybrid car, the Prius.
The GM Saturn Vue Green Line Aura sedans are available as a mild
hybrid. The Vue uses GM's 170 hp 2.4 liter Ecotec four cylinder engine with
a large belt driven alternator. It serves as a motor-generator that recharges
a 36 volt nickel metal hydride pack and a lead acid 12 volt battery for the
accessories. The belt has 7 ribs and 2 tensioners. It is used for starting as
well as helping acceleration.
THE PNGV PROGRAM
During the Clinton administration, the PNGV (Partnership for a
New Generation of Vehicles) program was started at the end of 1993. The
long term goal was an environmentally friendly car with up to triple the
fuel efficiency of current mid-size cars without sacrificing affordability,
performance or safety.
This was a national research program with research support for
over 350 automotive suppliers, universities and small businesses. There
were seven government agencies along with the United States Council for
Automotive Research (USCAR) that joined with representatives from GM,
Ford, and DaimlerChrysler.
The ten-year plan was to produce low-emission, 80-per-gallon family
cars. The first designs appeared as working models in 2000. There was a
timetable calling for production-ready prototypes, but the program was
not binding.
PNGV was promoted as a program to get government and industry
together for cleaner air program and for cutting dependence on foreign oil