Mercedes Benz Fuel Cell Car: The fuel cell car by Mercedes Benz, it is claimed, will cover up to 400 km on a single tank of hydrogen. The technology combines hydrogen with atmospheric oxygen to produce water and electric energy. Three prototype cars have already covered 30,000 km around the world to showcase the reliability of the concept
Photograph by: Aniruddha Bhattacharjee
Nissan Leaf: The Leaf is a fully electric, spacious family hatchback. An overnight plug-in of 6-8 hours gives its lithium ion battery pack enough power to cover nearly 160 km within city limits. The range swells considerably in smooth traffic. The Leaf can be recharged in as little as 30-40 minutes using a special DC fast charger
Photograph by: Aniruddha Bhattacharjee
Volkswagen XL1: Lightweight, practical and super efficient, the XL1 is Volkswagen's diesel-electric hybrid that can run 100km/litre. Power comes from a tiny one litre turbo-charged diesel engine and a 20kW electric motor. The car is extremely aerodynamic and weighs only 795 kg unloaded. The diesel engine and electric motor can work independently or together in tandem
Photograph by: Aniruddha Bhattacharjee
Ford Ecosport: This new compact sports utility vehicle (SUV) from FORD features a small, one litre turbo-charged petrol engine with only three cylinders to maximise fuel efficiency. The car aims to address the growing demand for crossover vehicles in India while keeping a check on its environmental credentials
Photograph by: Aniruddha Bhattacharjee
Hero Leap: A petrol-electric hybrid that showcases the future of the urban two-wheeler segment. No engine capacity or operating range has yet been specified but high fuel economy figures are expected from this vehicle. Hero says the scooter has been developed with help of an international consultant. It will hit production once commercial requirements are suitably addressed
Photograph by: Aniruddha Bhattacharjee
Volvo 7700 Hybrid: Compared to existing diesel buses, the 7700 diesel-electric hybrid from Volvo reduces emissions by as much as 50 per cent and lowers fuel consumption by nearly 35 per cent. It is currently undergoing testing and will be produced mid-2012 onwards. Volvo plans to deploy the 7700 as an extremely comfortable and noise-free alternative for urban public transport
Photograph by: Aniruddha Bhattacharjee
Tata Nano CNG: The latest version of already fuel efficient Nano will get a 35 litre CNG tank under the front row of seats, giving it a range of nearly 150 km on a single tank. While the petrol fuel tank remains untouched, the addition of CNG for daily commutes promises to reduce running costs even further
Photograph by: Aniruddha Bhattacharjee
Mahindra Reva NXR: It is Mahindra’s version of a fully electric, practical city hatchback. It is powered by a lead-acid or lithium ion battery pack and its performance figures are similar to that of Nissan LEAF. It has sold 1,800 units in Europe alone and forms the backbone of the world’s largest electric vehicle fleet. A new manufacturing unit is taking shape in Bengaluru to cater to the Indian consumer market
Photograph by: Aniruddha Bhattacharjee