Under the bonnet is the familiar 215bhp D5 diesel engine, powering the front wheels. The rear wheels are driven using a 70bhp electric rear axle, supplied by a lithium-ion battery under the
It sounds excellent on paper. There’s a combined 220bhp on offer from its petrol-electric drivetrain and, as this is a parallel hybrid, the electric motor can provide up to 100% of the
Like most manufacturers, Kia is investing heavily in its future drivetrains at the moment. Micro-hybrid, parallel hybrid, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell powertrains are under development and due for a production
The i3 is the first of BMW’s new plug-in vehicle sub-brand, and not only has it made strides in the engineering of the car itself, but it’s taken six years studying the
Battery electric vehicles are still a relatively small market in the UK and Ford believes this is a niche car. So training and equipment will be focused on the Dagenham Ford dealerships
Both will be propelled by a similar electric motor, driving the front wheels, and a Lithium-ion battery pack. This battery pack is built into the floor between the two rear wheels, partly
To give some background, BYD, an acronym for Build Your Dreams, has been involved in the domestic automotive industry for ten of its eighteen year history. But it’s growing, with ventures including
This first batch, of 1,000 vehicles, is being built alongside conventionally powered ix35 SUVs at Hyundai’s plant in Busan, South Korea. It’s an updated version of the car decision makers and journalists
Based on the 1 Series Coupe, the ActiveE is the latest in a line of BMW and MINI test cars built to glean data about real-world usage to inform the production version
Sector: Compact executive Price: £24,495–£38,485 Fuel: 60.1–65.7mpg CO2: 99–109g/km Forget the sub-100g/km for a moment and take a look at the styling. Different. Striking. Bold. That first one is key, as really it’s pretty difficult to get too
Sector: Luxury Price: £65,550 Fuel: 44.1mpg CO2: 149g/km Never one to shy away from filling a market niche with a new model, Audi has modified its flagship A8 saloon for the hybrid
Now having been launched and with sales underway, it certainly it looks the part, with cute styling and a very well designed, high quality airy cabin. But the aesthetics are barely half
Since March 2011, another eight manufacturers have launched plug-in vehicles, charging point availability has rocketed and LEAF sales are growing. Substantial media and public attention has made the LEAF a figurehead for
Hybrids aside, BMW has its low-carbon quota absolutely filled. Its 2.0-litre diesel engine, in various power outputs, has been offering a great balance of performance and efficiency in almost every model in
When Honda launched the CR-Z coupe in 2010, it was tasked with the job of making hybrids sporty. Beneath a bodyshell with hints of the well-loved CR-X in its profile, it used
The van’s drivetrain is based on the LEAF’s, with a 105bhp electric motor generating 207lb.ft of torque. Interestingly, the lithium-ion batteries will also be able to use the stored energy to power
So while there are few clues alluding to it, most of the platform and drivetrain are left unchanged here. Toyota got running costs, practicality and reliability right the first time. Instead, the
BMW had a go at introducing a 7 Series Hybrid a few years ago, based on the 4.4-litre V8 from the 750i. It was a technological first for the carmaker, and very
Better still, this isn't a concept car. A right hand drive version will be available in the UK next year, priced to compete with conventionally powered rivals and with the fleet market
Maybe that is not the best news for Ford as it prepares to launch the Focus BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) in Europe early next year, when production starts at Ford’s Saarlouis plant