Michelin Challenge Bibendum Takes Alternative Fuel to the Streets of Paris

Courtesy AIADA

By Michelle Krebs
AIADA Contributing Editor

PARIS– International automakers brought to Paris their latest and greatest in alternative-fuel vehicles for the Michelin Challenge Bibendum in June.

 

The event is an opportunity for the global auto industry to share information on alternative fuels and alternative propulsion systems and show off their latest innovations. Sponsored by the French tiremaker, which makes its headquarters just outside of Paris, the Challenge Bibendum has been held periodically since 1998 in locales ranging from California to Germany and France and to Shanghai. This year’s event culminated with a rally of the alternative fuel vehicles at the foot of Paris’ Eiffel Tower, which capped off days of testing, competition and a media ride-and-drive.

Volvo’s new Multi-Fuel concept with view of Eiffel tower

Volvo used the event for the debut of its new Multi-Fuel concept. Equipped with a 2.0-liter, five-cylinder engine, the prototype is optimized to run on five different fuel types: hythane, a hydrogen-methane blend, in this case being 10 percent hydrogen and 90 percent methane; biomethane; natural gas; bioethanol E85; and gasoline. The engine is rated at 200 horsepower and, Volvo claims, accelerates from zero to 60 miles per hour in 8.7 seconds. It contains one large tank for E85 and gasoline along with two smaller tanks for hythane, biomethane and natural gas. All fit under the cargo floor. To switch fuels, the driver pushes a button.

Volvo also brought from Sweden a S60 bi-fuel with tanks for methane and gasoline, a production V50 bio-fuel that uses ethanol created from renewable source as well as gasoline.

 

Saab’s 9-5 Bio-Power Wagon	Mercedes-Benz’s boxfish bionic car

Sweden

’s other automaker, Saab, also brought an ethanol car to the event – the 9-5 BioPower wagon.

Mercedes-Benz’s bionic car drew a lot of attention, largely because it is so unusual looking. Its design is based on the boxfish, known for its hydrodynamic shape. The lightweight construction and aerodynamics of the bionic car make it maneuverable and fuel efficient; Mercedes puts its consumption of diesel fuel at a low 4.3 liters per 100 kilometers.

 

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class SunDiesel also gained attention. It runs on the second generation of SunDiesel, a biomass-to-liquid synthetic fuel aimed at reducing carbon dioxide, blamed for global warming.  DaimlerChrysler with Renault, Royal Dutch Shell, Sasol Chevron and Volkswagen teamed up in Europe in March to establish an alliance to promote wider use of synthetic fuels as standalone fuels or in combination with petroleum-based fuels.

 

Mercedes, to illustrate the breadth of the alternative-fuel technologies it is exploring, also entered into the event its E 320 CDI with its new Bluetec diesel technology, prototypes of the Smart ForTwo with a diesel hybrid and a Smart ForTwo that runs on CNG, its fuel-cell A-Class prototype called the F-Cell and its production fuel cell bus.

 

Toyota Prius	Honda Civic Hybrid

Toyota and Honda focused on hybrids – Honda with the Civic Hybrid and Toyota with its Prius, Lexus RX 400h and GS 450h. Toyota also showed off its new diesel engine in the Avensis.
 

Nissan’s X-Trail fuel cell fuels up	Audi tests its car-to-car communications system

Nissan showed the latest version of its fuel cell car, the X-Trail FCV. Power has been boosted by more than 40 percent in the latest generation, extending the range it can travel.

Audi brought its production Q7 sport utility equipped with a turbo-diesel engine that runs on SynFuel for good fuel economy. Audi also demonstrated its latest car-to-car communications system that allows vehicles to “talk” to each other, whereby the one ahead can notify cars behind of accidents or congestion.