The Green Renaissance

MANILA, Philippines – Whether you believe in climate change or not, no one can deny that the air could be a lot clearer, the planet a little bit cleaner. For decades the automobile industry has churned out millions of cars, nearly all of them using the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE), consuming untold amounts of fossil fuels with every turn of the wheels as well as releasing tons of exhaust gases into the atmosphere. Is it any wonder that smog is a fact of life for most city dwellers? Or that drivers are hostage to the pricing whims of oil companies?

But change is in the air, and while our generation might not see a complete revolution in environmentally friendly cars, we are witness to a welcome development. Drivetrain technology that was the stuff of sci-fi movies only two decades ago is now slowly being introduced into production lines. And while exotic technology such as hybrid and full electric drivetrains are exclusive to “halo” models for now, we can take heart that in a few more years, these may yet trickle down to the mainstream. And yes, two of them, the Toyota Prius and M-B S400 Hybrid, are actually available in the Philippines for those who have the means to lead the way for a greener future.

Toyota Prius

The veritable poster boy for eco-driving, the Prius is priced in luxury car territory here but is an ubiquitous model in the US and Japan, where it’s even employed as a taxi. The Prius was among the first to make eco-driving fun, combining a hybrid 1.5-liter internal combustion engine with an electric motor to drive the front wheels. Fancy engineering switches the two motors on and off depending on the situation. In traffic, the ICE is shut down to conserve fuel while the electric motor does the work. At cruising speed, the ICE works with the electric motor. Regenerative braking charges the electric motor. A driver information display on the dashboard shows the flow of power between the two motors.

Lexus HS

Think Toyota Prius, but with ritzier appointments. Or more precisely, the bigger Toyota Camry suited up for the luxe crowd as it uses the latter’s hybrid drivetrain (yes, there’s also a Camry Hybrid in other markets). A compact 5-seater, the Lexus HS puts together the 2.4-liter, 147 HP ICE of the Camry and a 25 HP electric motor, then mates all this to a Continuously Variable Transmission.

Honda Civic Hybrid

Honda’s bestselling compact is available as a hybrid in other markets. With luck, someone at Honda Cars Philippines will find a way to make it available in the Philippines too, and at a price that won’t cause palpitations. The hybrid version mates a 90 HP, 1.3-liter ICE with a 20 HP electric motor. In the US, the hybrid has a base price of around $24,000.

Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid

Mercedes-Benz’ flagship sedan does its own bit for Mother Earth by combining a 3.5-liter V6 with a small electric motor and a compact lithium-ion battery pack. A3-phase AC external rotor magneto motor develops peak output of 20 HP and a starting torque of up to 160 Nm with an operating voltage of 120 Volts. On the other hand, the conventional 3.5-liter V6 has also been engineered for optimal performance, using the Atkinson principle of a longer expansion phase than the compression phase for improved thermal efficiency and reduced fuel consumptions. The V6 develops peak output of 279 HP, for a combined total of 299 HP. Finally, the 7G-Tronic 7-speed automatic transmission has also been specially configured for the hybrid drivetrain, featuring specific software programming and an auxiliary oil pump.

BMW ActiveHybrid 7

For big shots who like the big gun approach, the ActiveHybrid 7 is proof that being green doesn’t have to mean boring. The ActiveHybrid 7 is powered by a 440 HP twin turbo V8 paired with a 155 lb-ft electric motor that’s fed by a 35-cell lithium ion battery pack. The green monster is said to be capable of a 0-60MPH sprint in just 4.8 seconds, while achieving a 15% improvement in fuel efficiency compared to a conventional 750i.

Mitsubishi i-MIEV

Could this be the future of urban motoring? The i-MiEV is a full Electric Vehicle (EV) with about the same dimensions as a Honda Jazz and the same packaging logic: push the wheels out to the very corners of the platform, raise the roof, then scoop out the interior to make way for cargo and passengers. The i-MiEV scoots along courtesy of a 63 HP, 155 lb-ft electric motor (AC). A 1-speed direct drive transmission means the li’l Mitsu makes peak torque pronto. Given ideal conditions the car can go 100 miles (160 kms) on a single charge, which takes around 14 hours on a 110V household outlet, or 7 hours on a 220V outlet. If the i-MiEV becomes a hit, recharging it every night will be as second nature as charging your iPhone.

Nissan Leaf EV

Another full Electric Vehicle, the highly touted Leaf is set to debut in 2011 with a 107 HP motor fed by lithium-ion batteries. Driving range on a full charge is said to be in the area of 160 kilometers, and a fast charge feature reloads the battery up to 80%; a full charge takes up to 8 hours. The Leaf is around the same size as a Versa or Grand Livina, but wouldn’t you agree it just looks so much better?

Tesla Roadster

For the multimillionaire who wants to have his cake and eat it too, the Tesla Roadster rips to nearly 200 kph without burning a single liter of high-octane. Based on the Lotus Elise, a 248 HP electric motor substitutes for the ICE, and 6,831 lithium-ion cells ensure a driving range in the area of 380 kilometers on a single charge. It is, of course, named after Nikola Tesla, inventor of the AC motor. The body is made by Lotus in England and then finished by Tesla Motors in California. Tesla Motors was founded by Elon Musk, who made a fortune when helped found PayPal and then sold it for $1.5 billion in eBay stock.

Ford Escape Hybrid

Available as early as 2004, the hybrid version of Ford’s ubiquitous compact SUV utilizes a 2.3-liter Atkinson Cycle ICE combined with two electric motors: one to help drive the wheels, another to start the engine and spread the ratios of the Continuously Variable Transmission. A 330-volt battery resides under the Escape’s load floor to power the two motors, and is recharged via regenerative braking and the gasoline engine.