Peugeot compressed air hybrid by 2016

Peugeot has confirmed to European media it will take its HybridAir technology to production, most likely for MY16.

Touted by the French maker as a cost-effective alternative to expensive petro-electric systems, HybridAir replaces electric motors and big batteries with a hydraulic motor drawing power from a compressed air storage tank to save fuel.

Peugeot has told UK magazine Auto Express a 208 hatch with the system will be good for around 2.9L/100km with CO2 emissions of 69g/km – a substantial improvement on the 3.75L/100km 87g  of the most fuel-efficient 208 the company makes currently, the 1.4 e-HDi.

A 60kW 1.2-litre petrol engine provides most of the power, driven through an automatic transmission. The system uses pressurised nitrogen gas to drive a hydraulic motor connected to the transmission. On deceleration and braking, the system activates a hydraulic pump that adds to the pressure in the storage tank.

Like electric full hybrid systems, the HybridAir powertrain can drive the car using the hydraulic motor and the petrol engine in combination or isolation. Air-only mode operates most of the time at speeds of up to 70km/h; the car moves to petrol-only for highway driving. In between, it combines the two, the drive management system shifting seamlessly between modes with changes in conditions and driver demands.

Peugeot says that by the time it goes to market, the HybridAir package could be better than current efficiency figures using some of the weight reduction and aerodynamic technologies from its experimental 208 FE Hybrid.

Powered by a hybrid package marrying Peugeot’s 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine to a 30kW electric motor, that concept car uses resin composite, carbon fibre and aluminium componentry to slice about 200kg off the production 208, down to just 780kg.

Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...

Don't forget to register to comment on this article.