Hybrid Car May Cut UK Pollution

09/13/96

Reuters has reported that roadside radio beacons could enforce pollution-free zones in British city centers by automatically switching specially-designed cars to run on battery power.

James Randle of the University of Birmingham in England told a scientific conference on Wednesday that hybrid taxis could run on relatively pollution-free natural gas outside smog black spots and use batteries in designated zero-emission zones. Randle also presented plans for a small, sporty car that could run on similar lines. Randle bases his designs on the assumption that cities and towns would soon impose "zero-emission" zones.

Randle, a former engineer for Jaguar says his vehicles are quite different from the slower and easily-drained electric cars that often come to mind when environmentally correct motor design is discussed. "The performance can be quite remarkable," said Randle. "It's actually quite quick. It goes from zero to 60 miles per hour in 12 seconds without the battery." With the battery it could get to 60 mph in 10 seconds.

The taxi's 816 pounds of batteries will last for up to three hours, before they need to be re-charged. "You just want it to stop the engine running in areas where it is not running efficiently," said Randle. For example, the car would automatically know when it was in a traffic jam and when it was time to run off the battery. Additionally, a generator would charge the batteries while the car was running, so there would be no need to plug it into a recharger.

In spite of the car's performance and efficiency, Randle doubts manufacturers would make such a car, unless legislation gave them no choice.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel