Most people would not associate Italian auto brand Ferrari
as a trend setter in the green vehicle market. The automaker is hoping to break
into the high-end hybrid market with hybrid and all-electric components over
the next decade. Ferrari presented the HY-KERS hybrid prototype at the Geneva
Motor Show to preview its advances in green technology. This prototype combines
Ferrari’s lightweight electric motor and hybrid system with the familiar 599
GTB Fiorano body.
The HY-KERS incorporates the early versions of Ferrari’s
hybrid and electric drive components. The 100 horsepower electric motor offers
substantial power thanks to the automaker’s desire to balance motor weight and
horsepower. This motor kicks into gear when the HY-KERS accelerates to highway
speeds. Ferrari also notes that the prototype could travel on all-electric
power at low speeds if it were turned into a production model. This
all-electric power would be possible thanks to a lithium-ion battery pack and
regenerative braking. In addition to the 599 GTB Fiorano design, Ferrari also
nodded to purists by incorporating a seven-speed F1 manual transmission. All of
these components add up to a carbon dioxide emissions savings of 35% compared
to the traditional Ferrari model.
Ferrari is not merely playing around with prototypes and
experimental technologies at the moment. The venerable automaker is also
incorporating a stop-start system into the latest version of the Ferrari
California. Ferrari’s stop-start system reduces fuel consumption considerably
while also decreasing carbon emissions by 6%. The Ferrari California will also
be able to start within a split second from a full stop, thus eliminating the
clunks and vibrations of repeated stops and starts. The direct-injection V8
engine used in the Ferrari California has been streamlined to reduce energy
waste and increase fuel economy.
Ferrari’s presentation at the Geneva Motor Show exemplified the
tensions awaiting sports car brands in the green vehicle market. Traditionalists
will be pleased with Ferrari’s commitment to existing designs along with the
continued use of high-performance transmissions and engines. The HY-KERS, the
California and other innovations by Ferrari may not compare with the Prius in
fuel economy but they are certainly more miserly with gas than standard models.
Ferrari seems to be keeping one foot firmly planted in its rich tradition while
tentatively extending the other foot into green technologies. The automaker’s
reputation for impeccably designed vehicles should make it an instant leader in
the currently microscopic niche of high-end hybrid sports cars.
Looks good
Can the red button be pressed when the car is at a complete stop ?