Peugeot diesel hybrid for 2010 debut

Just as Citroen plans to underline its greenie friendly credentials at the Frankfurt motor show with the offbeat C-Cactus (more here), so too does PSA stablemate Peugeot, which will reveal its 308 Hybrid HDi.

Due on sale internationally in 2010, the ultra-frugal Pug consumes just 3.4 litres of fuel per 100km on the combined cycled, and it's no environmental vandal either, as evidenced by CO2 emissions of just 90g/km.

Peugeot says it chose the pearlescent white and green colour scheme for the prototype as these hues symbolise purity and ecology.

The Gallic carmaker hinted at its intentions last year with the reveal of the 307 Hybrid HDi 'demonstrator', and it has now confirmed the choice of a diesel engine, instead of a petrol engine, as the best option to provide the best reduction in fuel consumption and emissions. This strategy is in contrast to those of Toyota and Honda, who persist with petrol-electric hybrids.

The 308 Hybrid is powered by what Peugeot claims is its most efficient parallel hybrid power plant to date, combined with a six-speed electronically controlled sequential manual gearbox.

It has a 80kW 1.6 HDi DPFS diesel engine coupled with a 16kW electric motor providing a maximum power output of 96kW -- comparable to that of the 308 with the 2.0-litre HDi DPFS 100kW diesel engine. Despite offering similar power to its conventional sibling, the Hybrid offers a fuel consumption reduction of 38 per cent compared with the latter, claims Pug.

In addition, the engine has been designed to meet the future Euro V directive which comes into force in 2009 and offers the possibility of driving exclusively in electric or "ZEV" (Zero Emission Vehicle) mode for journeys in regulated urban centres.

Peugeot says the innovative hybrid drivetrain is complemented by the 308's "excellent aerodynamic performance" and Michelin's new Energy Saver tyres, which reduce rolling resistance.

Compared to the previous 307 Hybrid HDi demonstrator presented in 2006, the focus of the development has now switched to concentrating on the packaging of the hybrid technology into the structure of the new 308, says Peugeot.

To ensure its price remains affordable, Peugeot says it pilfered as many components as possible from its existing vehicles. This has enabled the number of specific parts associated with the hybridisation of the 308 to be reduced by around 30 per cent compared to the previous 307 Hybrid HDi demonstrator.

The vehicle is started by a customary ignition key but, unlike a conventional vehicle, this does not fire up the diesel engine. Instead by pressing the accelerator pedal with the gearbox in automatic mode, the vehicle moves off from rest in silence as the electric motor provides propulsion.

The diesel engine only operates when required and is controlled by a stop and start system. All the powertrain operating modes are controlled by a Power Train Management Unit (PTMU) that determines the driver's requirements.

The driver can keep tabs on the powertrain's operating mode via a schematic diagram on the vehicle's colour multifunction display.

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