A Breakdown of OEM Plug-in Hybrid Vehicels (PHEV's) part 2

Here is second part of the OEM PHEV's breakdown that we will see soon. Actually, the Mercedes Sprinter is already in existence, albeit in very limited numbers. Also, the Saturn Vue plug-in was originally going to be released late this year but it now looks like it won't be until late in 2010.

Aptera 2h

Basically the same as its electric sibling, the Aptera 2h is a plug-in electric hybrid that boasts a 330 mpg fuel economy. The 2h uses a small gasoline engine in conjunction with the electric drivetrain to produce these numbers. The electric motor drives the single rear wheel and the gasoline engine drives the front two wheels, which makes it an all wheel drive. The hybrid mode Aptera will travel about 60 miles on electricity before the gas genset kicks on.

Opel Ampera

The Opel Ampera is basically a Chevy Volt that will be marketed in Europe. All of its specifications are the same as the Volt and so I will not repeat them. The difference will be exterior styling cues that make it look much more "edgy" than the Volt.

Persu Hybrid

Here is cool concept. The Persu is a three wheeled PHEV that allows the body of the vehicle to tilt into a turn, much like a motorcycle. The rear two wheels stay on the ground and the suspension allows the rest of the bike to tilt up to a 45 degree angle. The Persu (formerly Venture) will have a top speed of 100 mph and is expected to be rated at 75 mpg fuel economy. The Persu will have an estimated MSRP between $20,000 and $25,000 and will be available in 2010.

VW Hybrid

Volkswagen has entered the PHEV fray with their plug in offering, the VW hybrid. Powered by VW's "Twin Drive" system, the VW will travel 31 miles in all electric mode before the gas generator kicks on. The car will be based on the Golf model and utilize a 122-horsepower diesel engine, twinned with an 82-horsepower electric motor. Plenty of power there. Look for the VW hybrid to be available in 2010 with an MSRP to be determined.





Mercedes Sprinter hybrid

The Sprinter was the first plug-in hybrid ever to be offered by an OEM. The Sprinter is great for in town deliveries as it can travel roughly 20 miles on electric power alone. It is coupled in parallel with either a gasoline or diesel engine that drives the wheels and charges the battery. The electric motor's output is 70 kW's and the NiMH battery pack provides 14 kWh of juice. Imagine if all the delivery services in the world used this technology, how much fuel could be saved.




Saturn Vue

The Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid variant was one of the first to be announced by a major auto manufacturer. Originally publicized to be available in 2009, the Vue is now said to be ready by late 2010. With Saturn's future in question, even this date may slip. The Vue PHEV is going to use a smaller battery pack and offer only 10 miles of electric range before the genset kicks in. It would be configured as a parallel hybrid, like the Prius and offer significant fuel economy gains. Let's hope this car makes it to market, although I would like to see Saturn increase the electric range to 20 miles.

Well, there you have it. My abridged listing of the PHEV's we will like see in showrooms soon. If I missed a model, please post a comment so I can add to the list.