On the Citroën stand at the Geneva Motor Show, the brand will showcase a C3 VTi 82 prototype fitted with this new technology it calls Hybrid Air.

According to Citroën, the C3 Hybrid Air produces CO2 emissions of just 69 gram per kilometer; in urban driving, fuel consumption and CO2 are reduced by 45 percent compared with a vehicle solely fitted with the same internal combustion engine.

A full-hybrid solution combining a gas engine, compressed air and hydraulic power, Hybrid Air delivers, per Citroën, exceptional performance with fuel economy in excess of 94 mpg (less than 3 liters/100 kilometers) and no additional batteries.

The unique Hybrid Air system was developed by PSA Peugeot Citroën in cooperation with the Bosch Group and draws from the Citroën brand’s historic expertise of hydraulic systems for cars.

Hybrid Air combines proven sub-systems and technologies including a PureTech gas engine, a compressed air energy storage unit, a hydraulic pump/motor unit and an automatic transmission with an epicyclic gear train.

Eighty patents were filed by the PSA Peugeot Citroën Group during the development process of Hybrid Air.

An electronic management system manages input from the driver to optimize energy efficiency with three operating modes: air power, with zero emissions; regular gas power, using just the combustion engine; and combined power, with the combustion engine and hydraulic motor working together.

The Hybrid Air system combines all of the technologies, relying on the electronic management unit to switch continuously between the three operating modes. Optimizing energy efficiency in this way is what helps cut fuel consumption and allows the system to recharge the energy storage unit with compressed air.

Active up to 43 mph, air mode works in the same way as the ZEV mode on existing hybrid vehicles.

In air mode, the combustion engine is not used. The energy stored (compressed air) is transmitted to the wheels through the hydraulic motor and gearbox. Depending on traffic, this mode will be active between 60 and 80% of urban driving time. Maximum use of deceleration and braking energy will ensure recharging of the compressed air unit.

The conventional gas mode transmits energy to the wheels without input from the compressed air unit. Citroën said this mode is used primarily for trips outside urban areas. Again, the energy from deceleration and braking is recovered for use when in air mode or for the boost function in combined mode.

In combined mode, the combustion engine and hydraulic motor work together. This mode is used particularly during strong acceleration, with a significant boost effect (total power of up to 90 kilowatt) delivering performance comparable to those of a car with a bigger engine.

Citroën believes its Hybrid Air technology has a number of benefits that make it both attractive and economically viable for a number of global markets:

• The system uses no additional batteries, so pricing will be competitive both in European and international markets;
• The technology operates at a constant level of efficiency, regardless of weather or driving conditions;
• The technology could be developed for all Citroën markets, is easily adaptable for both passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, and is particularly efficient on B & C segment models;
• The system has no impact on interior space or cargo capacity and is essentially mechanical, which simplifies servicing operations and end-of-life recycling.

The Geneva Motor Show will be an opportunity for visitors to discover the C3 Hybrid Air, a new step forward in terms of ‘Créative Technologie’.

Alongside the Hybrid Air technology itself, the prototype on show will feature new Michelin tires sized specifically (165/50 R 18) to cut fuel consumption which are designed with a particularly large diameter and a reduced width for lower rolling resistance, weight and noise.

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Go Low – a UK company which describes itself as a fast expanding Community Interest Company (CIC), with Department for Transport funding – says it is using the 100-percent electric Citroën C-Zero cars as part of a unique service it has developed with the support of Bristol City Council.

The Citroën C-Zero is essentially a Mitsubishi i-MiEV wearing the French manufacturer’s logo.

Go Low says users of the low emission service will include public sector organizations in the area. Funding is available to support the installation of charging points at a number of sites around Bristol where the C-Zeros will be based and access to other points will be allowed through the Source West electric charging initiative.

Customers will book Go Low’s C-Zero cars on-line and can see where available cars are at the time required. In addition to being available to customer staff for work, the cars are also available for private use in the evening or at weekends – maximizing the usage of these vehicles.

Pierre Fox, Go Low Director, explains; “Go Low is committed to improving the efficiency and reducing the cost and environmental impact of the pool car operations of public and private sector organizations. The Citroën C-Zero electric car is ideal for our Bristol operation in that it is a roomy, well equipped 5-door city car with excellent range and performance. We expect that Go Low will be expanding the number of C-Zeros it operates, both in Bristol and at our other locations.”

The Go Low order for 12 Citroën C-Zeros – one of the largest placed to date for this model – will be operated on a three year, 30,000-mile Citroën Contract Motoring lease agreement.

Set up earlier this year, Go Low says it provides sustainable fleet management services for NHS, public sector organizations and private sector businesses.

Go Low already has a fleet of some 200 vehicles ranging from electric bicycles through to low emissions city cars, based at approaching 50 locations throughout the UK. It expects to double its fleet size over the next 12 months and considerably expand the number of its operational locations.

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