Abstract
Interest in hybrid vehicle technology has primarily arisen from the quest for
improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions, as the issues of pollution and a
finite global oil supply gain increasing worldwide attention. Related to this,
automotive manufacturers have made fleet average fuel economy commitments,
such as CAFE in the US and the ACEA agreement in Europe, put under pressure by
the popularity of SUVs and luxury vehicles. The ' green' credentials of hybrids
have proven attractive to consumers, national and state governments, and
manufacturers, with the latter also wishing to cultivate an image of
technological leadership. Latterly, the technology is being applied to
inherently high-fuel-consumption vehicles, such as SUVs, and luxury sedans in
order to help sustain the popularity they have enjoyed in recent years.
Concept unveilings have also included sports cars in which the electric drive
adds power without the penalty of poorer fuel economy. While these shifts in
application are criticised by environmentalists, hybrid manufacturers defend
the strategy by insisting that fleet fuel efficiency gains are still being
achieved.
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