Driving Pleasure with Fuel Savings for Future Cars

Never before have drivers had to pay as much for fuel in most develop countries as now, and there is no end to the price spiral for gasoline and diesel in sight. At present, the greatest potential for saving fuel is currently the foot on the gas pedal. Driving in an energy-saving manner helps to counter the record prices. Owners of vehicles with hybrid technology can count themselves lucky. For instance, fuel consumption can be cut by up to 25 percent. The technology behind the systems is a combination of regenerative braking and an intelligent start-stop function.

When braking, the system uses the engine as a generator, converting up to 90 percent of the vehicle's momentum into electric energy. The next time the car starts up or accelerates, it feeds this energy back into the powertrain, thus lessening the load on the combustion engine. Depending on the system capacity, it is even possible to drive using electricity for a limited time. The hybrid drive improves fuel consumption especially in the city driving cycle, when a car drives off and brakes often. The driver "refuels" each time he brakes. As soon as the car comes to a standstill, the start-stop function switches off the engine. When the gas pedal is depressed, the hybrid drive brings the combustion engine back to idling speed within 0.2 seconds – roughly ten times faster than a conventional starter and absolutely silently. With their low fuel consumption, hybrid vehicles do not just save natural resources and go easy on the pocketbook; the fun factor for the driver is enhanced as well. If the driver wants, an electric engine can react in a lively manner, spontaneously providing high power even at a low RPM. The hybrid drive supports the combustion engine with up to 400 Newton meters of additional torque or more, noticeably enhancing the vehicle's temperament and providing a generous, balanced power characteristic for turbo engines in particular. The creed of the German automotive industry is no longer bigger, faster, and more powerful. The concept for the future combines driving pleasure with fuel savings. The best approach for this is hybrid technology.