Occupying a half-way house
between the world of the scooter and the car, the HYmotion3 compressor
is a highly original proposal designed to facilitate urban mobility.
Attractive thanks to its dynamic, streamlined and futuristic style; it
is an interesting concept combining numerous benefits (size, safety and
comfort) with ‘‘HYmotion’’ hybrid/petrol technology. This new generation
technology creates a three wheel drive vehicle, benefiting safety and
driveability and combining economy with an environmentally-friendly
specification (CO2 emissions of only 47 g/kph in the combined cycle,
zero in electric only mode).
The HYmotion3 compressor concept is a means of transport with no
affiliation to a particular type of
vehicle. With its three wheels and its streamlined body, it is something
of a missing link between two worlds which to date are quite distinct:
that of the scooter and that of the car. With an electric motor in each
of its two front wheels, coupled at the rear with a petrol engine, it
brings into play very innovative hybrid technologies allowing each of
its wheels to provide motive power.
In a world of intensifying urban traffic where everyone is trying to
save time, where oil prices are skyrocketing and the environment is more
than ever a priority, design departments are vying in ingenuity to
develop solutions for the future.
This vehicle offers an ideal mix of the benefits of a scooter and
particular characteristics of a car.
Its design is based on three wheels for maximum stability, safety and
driveability. Its width of 82 cm
enables it to thread a path through urban traffic with all the
efficiency of a two-wheeler. The front windscreen extends to the rear of
the vehicle to form a highly effective shield against bad weather for
the rider and passenger. In addition, regulations in France allow
the vehicle to be driven with a B licence only, giving it a wide range
of potential customers.
Finally, this vehicle
incorporates HYmotion technology, also featured on other concept-cars in
the Peugeot exhibition space at the Paris Motor Show. This new
generation hybrid technology incorporates the supercharged petrol engine
already featured in the Peugeot Satelis scooter. With a power of 15 kW
(20 bhp) driving the rear wheel, it is combined with two electric
motors, each with an output of 3 kW, located in the front wheels.
This configuration develops a maximum power of
21 kW (29 bhp) for a particularly low fuel consumption of 2.0 litres/100
kph and CO2 emissions of
47 g/kph in the combined cycle, or 0 in electric only mode.
The layout of this electric/petrol hybrid system allows three wheel
drive under all circumstances,
benefiting safety and driveability.
Braking, rendered more
efficient by the presence of an ABS system, it relies on three
ventilated discs and, above all, the front electric motors, which
recover energy to recharge the batteries. This assembly (three wheels +
electric motor braking) also reduces the braking distance by around 30%
compared to a two-wheel scooter equipped with traditional brakes.
Another system
contributing to the vehicle’s efficiency is the STOP & START system.
This system switches the petrol engine to standby mode during stop
phases (at a red traffic light or a stop sign, in queuing traffic, etc.)
or when the vehicle is being driven in electric only mode. This
allows significant gains in terms of fuel consumption and emissions,
particularly in dense traffic conditions. It also allows the petrol
engine to be restarted instantaneously and ‘‘transparently’’ for the
driver when necessary. Note that when being driven in electric only
mode, the HY motion 3 compressor is ideally suited to city use since it
generates no CO2 emissions or pollutants and is silent in operation.
The end result is a three-wheel drive vehicle offering reduced fuel
consumption in the combined cycle of 2.0 litres/100 kph and CO2
emissions of 47 g/kph! Performance doesn’t suffer either, since
with a maximum power of 21 kW (29 bhp), its acceleration and in-gear
acceleration is equivalent to what would have been possible with a
single cylinder 400 cc engine.
