Both employ a common hybrid set-up: a 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine drives the front wheels, while an electric motor runs at the back.ĭrivers can choose from four different operating modes: auto, sport, 4WD (both models are capable of light off-roading) and zero-emissions, which runs the cars on battery alone for short distances. Two of them, in fact: the 3008 HY4 and the flagship 508 RXH. PEUGEOT Mercedes-Benz might be posh, but it was Peugeot that got to market first with a diesel-electric car. However, it does add 20kW/150kW to the donor car, while also combining the low-emissions advantage of hybrid driving in the city with the long-range ability of that ultra-thrifty 2.1-litre diesel powerplant. On paper, the BlueTec is a glamour hybrid for early adopters: it's only 0.6 litre for 100km more economical than the standard E250 CDI, yet costs $23,000 more. For that reason the battery is very small. The battery pack uses lithium-ion technology but it is recharged solely by deceleration and braking - unlike most other hybrid systems, the engine is not used to top it up. It's notable for being a diesel and also for the deceptively simple hybrid set-up. MERCEDES-BENZ The Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTec Hybrid is essentially the existing E250 CDI with an electric motor added. The RX450h crossover is now the oldest of the line-up but in some ways it's still the most technologically interesting: the petrol V6 drives the front wheels and the electric motor drives the rear. There's the CT200h (think of it as a very posh Prius), the IS, the GS450h and the super-luxurious - and silent - LS600h. The Lexus hybrid ranks have been bolstered this year with the all-new IS300h (which uses a 2.5-litre petrol V6 and electric motor), so the brand can now boast that it offers a hybrid in every one of its model ranges. LEXUS Toyota's luxury brand pioneered the concept of a "performance hybrid" and it continues to embrace that ethos. The fact that you can plug it into a home outlet and travel up to 90km on battery power (enough for 95 per cent of Kiwi commuting, says Holden), yet still use the petrol generator for long-distance driving, means the Volt offers the best of both worlds. It also shows that eco-conscious driving doesn't have to be dull, with svelte styling and an engaging driving experience. Volt is an extremely expensive car but also something of a standard-bearer for green motoring. But we include it here because it has two powertrains - a lithium-ion battery pack providing electric drive and a 1.4-litre petrol generator, which allows it to combine green motoring with real-world range (up to 600km) by combining the two powerplants. HOLDEN Some will argue that the Holden Volt is an electric car with extended range rather than a hybrid. Let's not forget the car that gets us to the airport: the Aussie-built Camry hybrid, which is available in fleet-focused entry-level specification and as a fully loaded i-Tech model. The V also pushes Toyota's hybrid technology forward by using more advanced and compact lithium-ion batteries, which helps liberate the room for those extra passengers. Above the C there's the familiar Prius, while the flagship model is the Prius V seven-seater. The C is now just one of three tiers in Toyota's Prius range. Deservedly so: it takes proven technology from the larger Prius and repackages it for the supermini market. Prius C is also the country's best-selling hybrid, clocking up more than 300 sales last year. Second, there's a bit of undermining and undercutting going on between those two companies for the honour of offering New Zealand's cheapest new hybrid, and right now it's Toyota's Prius C, which starts at $31,280. First, it's one of the two Japanese companies that really perfected and popularised hybrid technology for the mainstream, Honda being the other. TOYOTA We start with Toyota for two good reasons. But it's baby steps: that market share is up on last year, the hybrid segment is diversifying and new entry-level models from some brands mean these eco-conscious cars are more accessible than ever. Those European brands also bring a fundamental change to the hybrid market: it's no longer simply petrol-electric, because both Peugeot and Mercedes-Benz's offerings employ diesel power.Īs ever, we can marvel at the technology but lament the volume: at just 1 per cent of the passenger car market, hybrids are still a niche concern. Honda, Toyota and Lexus have added to their hybrid ranges, while some new brands have also joined the fray: Mercedes-Benz and Peugeot are now in the mix. When we last looked at the petrol-electric market a year ago there were 11 model lines on sale. If hybrids have still not taken over the automotive landscape in New Zealand, it cannot be for lack of choice. Entry-level hybrids make 'green' motoring more accessible than ever
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