Peugeot to Unveil Two Diesel-Hybrid Prototypes
05 January 2006
PSA Peugeot Citroen announced that it will unveil prototypes of diesel-hybrid versions of a Peugeot 307 and Citroën C4 on 31 January which may be on the market by 2010.
The announcement coincided with a call by French President Jacques Chirac to develop diesel hybrids and electric vehicles within 10 years.
Chirac’s speech was wide-ranging on energy issues, touching on the launch of a Generation IV nuclear reactor prototype, and calling for a fivefold increase in biofuels and the development of solar energy in addition to the diesel hybrids and EVs.
Jean-Martin Folz, Chairman of PSA Peugeot Citroën, believes there is no real advantage in developing hybrid gasoline engines in those parts of the world where diesel engines are well established. “Only a hybrid diesel engine is attractive because it offers both [cost and environmental] benefits.” (Earlier post.)
PSA Peugeot Citroën introduced a Citroën C3 Stop & Start version in 2004 as a first step in hybridization. The company indicated last year that it was working on hybrid diesel solutions.
Well, the French mandated a change to non-fossil fuel power generation back in the 70s, so I suppose they can pull this off as well. Although their position on foreign affairs is questionable, their energy policy has been one from which we could learn.
Posted by: cs1992 | 05 January 2006 at 02:40 PM