PSA & partners unveil diesel-hybrid prototype

Edmunds Inside Line reports PSA (Peugeot) just unveiled a prototype diesel-electric hybrid, which has an ultra low carbon-emission powertrain that is 30 percent more fuel efficient and cleaner compared to a standard diesel. The prototype, named Efficient-C, was developed by PSA Peugeot Citroen together with U.K. based Ricardo and QinetiQ, in response to the U.K. Department for Transport's Ultra Low Carbon Car Challenge criteria, emitting just 99 grams of CO2 per km, based on a fully featured car. The powertrain is a Peugeot-Citroen 1.6-liter Hdi, turbo diesel with a compact electric motor, providing torque assist, efficient power generation, regenerative braking and full electric vehicle. The main focus for the future of the project is to make the technology cheap enough for mass production. PSA promises to have a diesel-electric hybrid in its range by 2010. Lets hope these diesel hybrids make it to the U.S. shore a little faster than the regular modern diesel engines that are all over Europe.
[Source: Edmunds InsideLine