With the difficulty and extreme cost of building fully electronic vehicles for mass markets, the majority of the world's auto manufacturers appear to be focussing their attention back on hybrid-electric (HEV) power.
HEV technology is the merging of the traditional internal combustion engine with an electronic propulsion system - geek speak for a battery-powered electric motor. The technology has already been around for some time in cars like the Toyota Prius, and now it's beginning to feature under a lot more eco-friendly bonnets.
Unlike their costly all-electric brethren, these green machines offer greater range, are not negatively affected by adverse weather conditions and are significantly cheaper to produce due to their smaller battery packs.
Factor in an even further list of benefits - regenerative braking, reduced drivetrain noise, reduced carbon dioxide emissions, better fuel economy - and it's clear that the HEV is the obvious short-term solution for a future dependent on sustainable motoring.
But despite all their political correctness, cars like the Prius or Honda Insight are hardly vehicles to get excited about.
However, after spending time at this year's North American International Motor Show held in Detroit, Michigan, I can tell you that style is finally set to become very much a part of the hybrid-electric equation, a move that's vital for enticing an up-and-coming demographic of trend-conscious buyers.
Honda is the first car maker to have hit the funk button with the unveiling of its all-new CR-Z sport hybrid coupé. A fun, two-passenger hatchback with sporting credentials, this could very well be the car that turns HEVs into a desirable commodity.
Source: http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article264334.ece
HEV technology is the merging of the traditional internal combustion engine with an electronic propulsion system - geek speak for a battery-powered electric motor. The technology has already been around for some time in cars like the Toyota Prius, and now it's beginning to feature under a lot more eco-friendly bonnets.
Unlike their costly all-electric brethren, these green machines offer greater range, are not negatively affected by adverse weather conditions and are significantly cheaper to produce due to their smaller battery packs.
Factor in an even further list of benefits - regenerative braking, reduced drivetrain noise, reduced carbon dioxide emissions, better fuel economy - and it's clear that the HEV is the obvious short-term solution for a future dependent on sustainable motoring.
But despite all their political correctness, cars like the Prius or Honda Insight are hardly vehicles to get excited about.
However, after spending time at this year's North American International Motor Show held in Detroit, Michigan, I can tell you that style is finally set to become very much a part of the hybrid-electric equation, a move that's vital for enticing an up-and-coming demographic of trend-conscious buyers.
Honda is the first car maker to have hit the funk button with the unveiling of its all-new CR-Z sport hybrid coupé. A fun, two-passenger hatchback with sporting credentials, this could very well be the car that turns HEVs into a desirable commodity.
Source: http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article264334.ece
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