Forget the Hybrid's Batteries?

Capacitors to the Rescue!

Hybrid innovations

Connaught Engineering will show off its new hybrid drive system this week, which the company hopes to implement in a sports car.

Connaught Motor Company will be debuting their newest automotive technological development at the Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC in Birmingham on April 15-17. Why would a sports car company have a stand at a commercial vehicle show? The reason is Connaught Engineering’s new HYBRID+ system.

The HYBRID+ system is a unique retrofit diesel hybrid technology that reduces fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions for vehicles up to 3.5 tons of gross vehicle weight. The system dispenses with heavy battery packs and high voltage, instead using compact super capacitors running at just 48 volts, and still offering regenerative braking at a weight less than 50 kilograms and with no changes required to the vehicle or its load space. It can be retrofitted to existing vehicles, and prices start at from 2,750 British pounds, or $5,441.

The first vehicles to use this system will be seven Ford Transit delivery vans belonging to TESCO.COM. Connaught is planning to utilize this hybrid technology for a gas/electric version of their 2.0-liter V-10-powered Type-D sports car, one they say will reach 60 mph in 6.2 seconds and a top speed of around 150, while returning 42 mpg on the highway. For more information,

visit www.connaughtengineering.com. - By Mark J. McCourt