EU project creates 'new hybrid car'
A European project known as INMOVE has developed an electric propulsion system for hybrid vehicles, which will encourage increased usage of electric vehicles. INMOVE, or 'integrated modular electric propulsion system for parallel hybrid vehicles' was funded under the BRITE/EURAM 3 programme of the European Commission's Fourth Framework programme. When asked whether he considered the project a success, Ralf Bady from the Forschungsgesellschaft für Kraftfahrwesen mbH in Aachen, one of the project partners told CORDIS News 'Yes [...] we showed that the fuel consumption reduction of 25 per cent is possible [...] and we confirmed it by real measurements, not just having simulation.' On account of rising vehicle related pollution levels, many governments are currently trying to encourage the use of electric vehicles. However, electric vehicles are presently encumbered by low power, inadequate safety features, insufficient range for daily use, excessive weight due to the batteries on board, long recharging times and high costs. Hybrid electric vehicles are the preferred option since the internal combustion engine (ICE) power is transmitted directly to the wheels without incurring additional electrical losses. This hybrid system is more efficient than any combustion engine because the ICE can be smaller, and also allows the driver to cope with adverse driving conditions. The INMOVE project was innovative in that it succeeded in developing a hybrid drive, reducing fuel consumption by 25 per cent, making the power train design as simple as possible by using one clutch instead of two and therefore more cost effective, Mr Bady told CORDIS News. 'It's a new hybrid car!' added Jacques Laeuffer, from PSA Peugeot Citroën, another project partner. Two cars have already been equipped with the new technology and the project is now entering the marketing stage of development. 'For sure, to get such a product to the market you have to do further work, but this was not a development project, it was a research project, so I think two or three years of development is necessary to bring such a project to the market,' said Mr Bady. Both Mr Bady and Mr Laeuffer admitted that the grant from the European Commission had made the project possible. Mr Laeuffer observed that the companies invested more in the project than the EU, but added that 'our main interest in such a project is the cooperation with European partners, the establishment of links with partners.'