Porsche Reveals Hybrid Electric Concept Cars

Who is to say that electric cars have to be slow and boring?

This week Porsche released three hybrid electric vehicles, which are redefining how people view the future of high-performance sports cars and the like. The 918 Spyder is one of three Porsche models with hybrid electric vehicle technology, which made their world debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.

The 918 Spyder prototype integrates hybrid electric mobility with race car characteristics for an exciting blend of qualities such as: an emission level of approximately 70 grams of CO2 per 0.62 mi on fuel consumption of 94 mpg, acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in just under 3 seconds, top speed of 198 mph, and a lap time faster than even the Porsche Carrera GT, which is a far cry from a Toyota Prius.

The energy reservoir is a fluid-cooled lithium-ion battery positioned behind the passenger cell. One of the benefits of a plug-in hybrid is that the battery can be charged on the regular electrical network. In addition, this car's kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy fed into the battery when applying the brakes; thus providing additional energy for rapid and dynamic acceleration.

A button on the steering wheel allows the driver to choose among four different operating modes. First, the E-Drive mode is for electric power usage only, with a range of up to 16 miles, which is short compared to standard hybrids on the road. Second, the Hybrid mode uses both the electric motors and the combustion engine depending on driving conditions and requirements, where the driver can toggle between fuel-efficient up to a faster high-performance style. Third, the Sport Hybrid mode uses both drive systems but with the focus on performance, where most of the drive power goes to the rear wheels applying Torque Vectoring to improve the car's driving dynamics. Finally, in the Race Hybrid mode, the drive systems are geared towards pure performance with the highest standard of driving dynamics on the track, operating at their maximum in terms of power and dynamic output. In addition, when the battery is sufficiently charged, a push-to-pass button feeds in additional electrical power (E-Boost) for even better performance.

The high performance for this hybrid electric 918 Spyder Porsche is enabled partially by a lightweight drivetrain and body structure based on a monocoque bodyshell comprised of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic and a balance of magnesium and aluminum, which reduces weight to less than 3,285 lbs., while also offering enhanced driving precision derived from a high level of torsional stiffness for the materials applied.

The Porsche 918 Spyder represents another feat for the sports car industry in combining electro-mobility, low fuel consumption, supreme performance and possible electric-only driving range to meet increasing fuel efficiency and overall electric hybrid vehicle requirements across the globe.

An upcoming article will discuss the overall funding of hybrid electric vehicle and advanced battery initiatives under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support the next generation of advanced vehicles.

"Photo credit- www.cnet.com: Porsche 918 Spyder HEV Concept Car"