The Hybrid Car Phenomenon

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With the rise in oil prices and the high-profile launch of the Toyota Prius in Europe, the hybrid has gained an unexpected notoriety, even though its operation is often poorly understood. It appears that hybridization is probably a key technology in the medium and long term. Indeed, the question of the impact of the car on the environment has become important in our society and all the car manufacturers, whether in the East or West, know that they, currently, have to offer cars which can at once please the consumer and comply with the laws on the environment. What exactly is a hybrid car? By definition, a hybrid car is a car that uses electricity and gasoline as fuel. It is equipped with a gasoline engine and an electric motor that takes over while driving and braking. The electric motor transforms the kinetic energy of the car into electricity.

Extraits

[...] The European average CO2 emissions fell by 25 g / km in 10 years. Today 1 in 2 car sold in France in 2006 emits less than 140g/km, according to ADEME. Two factors may explain these encouraging results: The innovative efforts of manufacturers to use less of their product. The introduction of energy labelling mid-2006, but its effectiveness remains limited because only 10% of buyers take this into account in their acquisition. But it appears that the new targets are difficult to keep: the European Commission wishes to go further in reducing CO2 and must propose, not later than the first half of 2008, a legislative framework to achieve the objective of the European Union of 120 g CO2/km by New Car in 2012. [...]

[...] - The glocalization strategy is a mix between global and local strategies. This is the most used by companies. Foreign direct investment and exportation - Foreign direct investment, when a company invests directly in facilities in a foreign country to produce or sell a product. This is the most appropriate method to entering a foreign market. There are two type of FDI: Greenfield investment, when a company establish is own foundation working capacity by the investor in a foreign country. [...]

[...] This should be achieved by internal developments engines. Standard Euro V should also lead to the reduction of emissions from gasoline vehicles. The Commission proposes a 25% reduction of emissions of nitrogen oxides bearing the limit to 60 mg / km instead of 80 and 25% that of hydrocarbons by setting the standard of 75 mg / km instead of 100. The Commission also proposes to introduce a standard limit of particles emitted by vehicles petrol direct injection operating with a lean burn, but does not affect vehicles stoichiometric combustion. [...]

[...] The major obstacle: cost. In fact, integrating both hybrid and diesel technology can add up to $US to the price of the vehicle. The challenge is now to move from prototypes to an affordable car. Biofuel hybrids It is the Swedish automaker Saab that revealed the first Biofuel hybrid. The vehicle, already on sale in Sweden, combines the potential of E85, a fuel blend with 85% bioethanol from plants, with the further emissions reducing, power increasing and cost reducing perks of an electric motor. [...]

[...] The European average CO2 emission stood at 160g CO2/km. - Incentives for the purchase of "clean" cars Jean-Louis BORLOO, Minister of the Ecology, the Development and the sustainable development, Christine LAGARDE, Minister of Finance, Finances and the Employment and Eric WOERTH, Minister of the Budget of the Public Accounts and the Public service, announce a system of bonus/surcharge, based on CO's discharge by km of the new vehicles, will reward the eco- responsible automotive purchase by inciting the buyers of new vehicles to privilege the most sober cars in carbon. [...]