Car Makers Go For Green

The Age

Wednesday July 16, 2008

Ian Porter

CAR makers that previously were hesitant to hit the "go" button on their enviro cars are suddenly punching away like a pedestrian trying to make the "walk" sign turn green.

Mitsubishi and Hyundai are the latest to commit to cars with alternative power trains, with the Japanese company deciding to put its iMiev all-electric four-door city car into production next year.

The four seater is only 3.4 metres long, weighs just 1080kilograms and can cover up to 160kilometres on one charge of its lithium ion batteries.

Mitsubishi Australia chief executive Rob McEniry said the first iMievs would go to government fleets in Japan but he was expecting them to be available for export when they go on general sale in Japan in 2010.

"Mitsubishi is placing a lot of emphasis on environmental technologies, and has been for some time," he said.

"That includes the drive trains, the materials used in the car, the manufacturing processes and recyclability - that's a big issue."

Mr McEniry said he was keen to bring the iMiev to Australia, although he said it would need some re-engineering to meet Australian Design Rules.

In Korea, Hyundai will start retail sales of a hybrid Elantra next year, claiming that it will have the lowest operating costs of any hybrid on the market.

The car, known as a mild hybrid, will be powered by an internal combustion engine drinking LPG, backed up by an electric motor and battery pack.

A mild hybrid has an internal combustion engine boosted by an electric motor when extra power is required.

Although the hybrid Elantra will initially be for the domestic market, Hyundai said it would also look to export the car to markets with excellent LPG distribution systems, such as China and Australia.

The Elantra saves more fuel by using a CVT (continuously variable transmission).

Hyundai estimates that buyers will be able to recoup the extra cost of the LPG hybrid within two years in Korea, where LPG costs 4% less than petrol. The price differential is much greater in Australia, promising a faster payback time. -- IAN PORTER

© 2008 The Age

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