At Detroit, AFS Trinity Power Corporation showed off its plug-in hybrid SUV concept car, the XH-150, claiming 150mpg (1.6L/100km).
The XH-150 uses ultra-capacitors for fast acceleration
The car's power train represents a refinement of the hybrid concept by employing ultra-capacitors for fast acceleration under electric power. Traditional hybrids use batteries to power low speed driving, but kick in a petrol engine when high speeds or heavy acceleration is required.
AFS Trinity builds on this concept by adding ultracapacitors, which, unlike batteries, are designed to quickly discharge electricity, providing power to the hybrid's motors for fast acceleration. The company's demonstration vehicle, the XH-150, also features plug-in technology, letting its battery pack get charged from the electricity grid.
Plug-in hybrids, without AFS Trinity's ultracapacitors, are reputed to get 100 mpg. The company tested the XH-150 at Michelin's Laurens Proving Grounds in South Carolina, and claims impressive performance, such as 150 mpg (1.6L/100km) using the EPA Combined Urban/Highway Driving Cycle, a range of 64km under electric power, and full range of 640km using both electricity and petrol.
Using both petrol and electricity, the car's 0-60mph (0-98km/h) time was clocked at 6.9 seconds, while under electric power it took 11.5 seconds and its top speed is 140km/h. The company is showing off the XH-150 with the intention of licensing its ultracapacitor technology to automakers.
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Macca
15/01/2008 11:27 AM
But how much coal is burnt to keep thing thing charged up.
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fiddickc
15/01/2008 06:04 PM
Macca, electricity can be generated in many ways including solar power. If the car was recharged using renewable energy sources such as this then there would be very little emissions generated to power this little beauty.
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