The XR3 Hybrid is a super-fuel-efficient two-passenger plug-in hybrid that achieves 125 mpg on diesel power alone, 225 mpg on combined diesel and electric power, and performance like a conventional automobile. The design of the XR3 Hybrid focuses on existing technologies and a vehicle “personality” that makes conserving energy a fun driving experience.

The L1 prototype is a single seat, aerodynamic, teardrop-shaped 4 wheel mini-car, reminiscent of Bubble cars of yesteryear with a high-tech one-liter diesel engine (6.3kW or 8.5bhp), highway speed of around 120kph (75mph) and gets the holy-grail fuel consumption figure of less than 1 liter of gas for 100kms of travel (0.99liters per 100kms to be exact, around 258mpg). It had a super low drag coefficient of 0.16, no mirrors (using rear facing cameras instead and an internal display) and had an extremely low weight of 290kgs (638lbs) through the extensive use of magnesium, titanium and high-strength aluminum. With its 6.5liter (1.7 gallon) fuel tank, it has a 646km (404 mile) range.

Apart from being really small and likely to get trampled over by a Dodge Ram or Hummer, it actually looks really cool and would be one of the most fuel efficient cars in the world. Now if only they could market the car to the rest of the world – provided it meets road safety requirements. It has a high-tech body incorporating carbon fiber skin (unpainted to save weight), anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control.

source : www.volkswagenag.com

Hybrid based engines are now promoted by many as a great way to prevent global warming. In fact we often see many celebrities that prefer the Toyota Prius, a popular hybrid car over most American brand of vehicles. Hybrid cars help by providing better gas mileage and reducing the harmful emissions that lead to global warming because the car can run off both gasoline and electric power. Some rental car companies also offer hybrid vehicles to their customers as an alternative choice.

Other technologies for future automobiles include fuel cell based vehicles. Fuel cells change hydrogen and oxygen compounds into electricity witch it uses to run the vehicle. This technology is already used by some organizations, and although it is not yet as popular as Hybrid based vehicles, it will also help ease global warming in the future. Alternate fuels are another method being explored such as Ethanol, alcohol, and bio-diesel. These alternate fuels can be made from a wide variety of sources including vegetable oils such as soybean and corn oils and even animal by products.

Most have us are aware that there are other alternatives and ways to help reduce factors that cause Global Warming but we all have to do our part to enact including the transportation industry.

The only problem with this scenario is that all these seeming benefits come with a heavy price. In ecological terms, these cars that have taken us places are taking us nowhere. In fact, they seem to be a big part of the problem. Air pollution, noise pollution, carbon dioxide emissions, global warming, fossil fuel consumption at an alarming rate, mountains of metal and plastic scraps and waste products, even the paving of perfectly good earth to make roads and parking lots; these can all be attributed in part or in full to our very own cars. The solution? Walking, bicycles, mass-transportation, car pooling, and solar powered cars.

For some time now we have been using solar energy to power our calculators and toys, and in a larger scale our homes and factories, as well as our communication and navigation systems. Add to this list the solar powered cars. Solar energy is plentiful in our world. The third planet from the sun is indeed fortunate in its distance from the yellow dwarf star. Aside from life-giving light and heat, the sun can now be harnessed to provide us with electricity and power. This can be done with the aid of solar cells. The same principle that is used for solar electric systems for the homes and factories are used here. Solar cells are placed in solar panels that are in turn placed in the roof of specially made cars. These solar panels capture light energy from the sun and then convert them into electricity. The electricity is then coursed through the car’s battery. Silicon cells act like semiconductors in a photovoltaic system in the solar powered car.

Number of concerned scientists, inventors, and engineers are busy working on solutions to the earth’s major problems. One of the things that have been worked on is the search for alternative sources of energy. The wind, sun, and water have been harnesses, as well as biomass. These sustainable energy sources have been used to power factories, homes, and solar powered cars.

Some of these solar powered cars are already being used, wheeling silently and efficiently down our streets. They run on batteries powered by the sun’s energy, not on gasoline taken from the earth’s dwindling supply of fossil fuels. Solar powered cars run silent and smooth without noise pollution and without air pollution. The next step for this technological and ecological breakthrough is to figure out a way to produce them cheaply and efficiently. Affordable solar powered cars are sure to make a positive impact on the betterment of our world for future generations. Now that is magical.