Peugeot HYbrid3 Evolution Concept Revealed [Video]

A further illustration of Peugeot's innovative mobility solutions

Visitors to the 67th Milan International Cycle and Motorbike Show will discover, from 10 to 15 November 2009, the HYbrid3 Evolution concept.

With its three wheels, this concept is positioned between two clearly distinct worlds: that of the scooter and that of the car. The HYbrid3 Evolution is a roofless version of the HYbrid3 compressor, presented at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. It has in its genes therefore the ability to meet the expectations of different potential customers.

This new "concept-scooter" is based on the far-reaching experience of Peugeot Motorcycles in the world of the scooter and on the superb creative and innovative skills of Automobiles Peugeot stylists and engineers. With an electric motor in each of its two front wheels and a naturally aspirated engine at the rear, it uses hybrid technology solutions to achieve its 3-wheel drive capability.

This new study, following the example of the 100% electric vehicles presented at the last Frankfurt Motor Show (BB1 project and i0n to be launched at the end of 2010), further illustrates Peugeot's ability to offer a solution perfectly adapted to the diverse needs of urban mobility.

The design base

The architecture of the HYbrid3 Evolution is based on the concept of three wheels for stability, safety and maximum driveability. Its width of 82 cm allows it to adapt to urban traffic while still retaining the efficiency of a two-wheeler.

Its suspension and structure are designed to accommodate the hybrid technology and the two electric motors in the front wheels.The front suspension, consisting of deformable parallelograms (i.e. wheels that incline) has at its centre a transverse damper for optimal driveability and stability. The suspension assemblies are positioned on the wheel hub. Like a low-slung tubular chassis, reducing the height of the vehicle's centre of gravity.

For optimal safety the brakes incorporate an ABS system coupled with a linked integral braking system (PBS) which acts simultaneously on the rear wheel and the two front wheels. The braking system operates by means of three ventilated discs and, in addition, via the front electric motors which in this way recover energy to recharge the batteries. This assembly (3 wheels + electric motor braking) also makes it possible to reduce the braking distance by around 30 % compared to a two-wheel scooter equipped with traditional brakes.

Style

Based on a 3-wheel chassis specifically designed by Peugeot Motorcycles, Peugeot's car stylists created a resolutely elegant and avant-garde design.

The front suggests modernity, with panels of light emitting diodes located on either side of the base of the front windscreen. These ensure highly efficient lighting and as a result the ability to be seen more clearly in traffic. Finely chiselled front mud guards, taut style lines, rear lights with a hi-tech finish... Each detail accentuates the vehicle's dynamic credentials.

Hybrid Technology

The petrol engine providing the concept's rear wheel drive has an output of 30 kW (41 bhp). This is a new 300 cm3 compressor engine. It is compact and benefits from the PSA Peugeot Citroën Group's ‘downsizing' strategy : linked to a compressor, it obtains the performance of a 500 cc whilst controlling the level of CO2 emissions.

In addition to rear-wheel drive, the vehicle also has another drive mode.

Two electric motors, one in each wheel, are present at the front of the vehicle. With an output of 2x3 kW, they are powered by lithium-ion batteries which can be recharged by an energy recovery system active during deceleration and braking.

As a result there are no mechanical connections between the front and the rear, with everything controlled electronically ("by wire"), which works in favour of the vehicle's compact size.

The HYbrid3 Evolution can, therefore, be driven in a number of different ways:

• in electric only mode (start-up, low speed and deceleration, offering a range of up to 10 km);
• in petrol only mode, at stable speed on the open road, when the petrol engine attains its optimal efficiency;
• petrol engine/electric motor combined, with the design of this electric/petrol hybrid allowing three-wheel drive for enhanced safety and driveability under all circumstances:

• as required by road conditions;

• during phases of acceleration for extra power ("boost" function) and grip, when the power can attain a maximum of 30 + (3x2) = 36 kW (49 bhp).

These characteristics allow acceleration and in-gear acceleration equivalent to that obtained with a single 500 cm3 engine (the Peugeot Satelis for example).

Another system contributing to the vehicle's overall efficiency is STOP & START. This places the petrol engine on standby when the vehicle is at a standstill (at traffic lights, a stop sign or in traffic jams) or when the vehicle is being driven in electric mode. This technology allows for significant gains in terms of fuel consumption and emissions, especially when traffic is particularly heavy. It also means that the petrol engine can be restarted instantly and imperceptibly for the driver as and when necessary.

It will be noted that when driven in electric-only mode, the HYbrid3 Evolution is the perfect "good citizen", as it then produces no CO2 emissions whatsoever and becomes silent.

Finally, the HYbrid3 Evolution keeps fuel consumption in the standardised cycle to a minimum, at 2.0 litres/100 km for 48 g/km of CO2 !

This hybrid technology and its original implementation is one of Peugeot's technologies of the future. The Marque could for example make it available in different forms with different naturally-aspirated engines, different electric solutions and on any type of vehicle, even the smallest models.

From 2011, the HYbrid4 3008 will be the Group's first vehicle to be sold with an HDi engine at the front and an electric motor at the rear.

Peugeot Motyorcycles

A major player in European mobility for more than 110 years, Peugeot Motorcycles today offers one of the most comprehensive ranges of scooters and mopeds on the market.

A company at the cutting edge of innovation which draws its inspiration from the motor car, Peugeot Motorcycles was the first manufacturer to market the electric scooter, equip its 125 cm3 scooters with ABS as standard, offer a French-built 50 cm3 scooter for less than €1000 and develop the Compressor engine.The Ludix, Satelis and recently launched Vivacity are among the Marque's successes.

Europe's third-ranking manufacturer and occupying pole position in France, Peugeot Motorcycles has 4000 points of sale in Europe and 900 employees and sold 136,000 vehicles in 2008 for a turnover of €204 million.