KEY POINTS:
British design consultancy MIRA has developed a retro-fit hybrid conversion package it claims has the potential to reduce fuel cost by 61 per cent without the need to buy a completely new car.
The conversion features a removable battery. A demonstrator has been built around a Skoda Fabia to show the technology's potential.
As a "plug-in hybrid", the H4V can charge its batteries by running its engine or by plugging into the mains.
MIRA's advanced powertrain manager, Derek Charters, says: "Despiteadvances in powertrain technology, you can still obtain electricity from your domestic provider far cheaper and greener than you can produce it via an auto-motive com-bustion engine, so plug-in hybrids make sense. With this project we've removed the primary limitation of the 'plug-in hybrid' concept by allowing the battery pack to come to the mains, rather than having to park right next to a socket."
The 50/50 hybrid derives its power jointly from a 60kw petrol engine at the front and two 35kw inboard motors powering the rear wheels through an electronic differential. The car has a battery pack arranged into three portable cassettes, each capable of storing 30kw.
The aim of the project team is to see the power pack transferred from the car into other devices, which could include camping equipment for SUV variants, or redeployed to power electric jet skis or quad bikes.
