A new retro-fittable hybrid power kit has been shown to reduce emissions by up to 24.7% in tests on a Ford Transit van at the government-approved Millbrook emissions testing facility in Bedfordshire.
The HYBRID+ kit is made by Connaught Engineering and is based around a 48V DC electric motor which can be fitted to a van in just one day – meaning minimal interruption to vehicle usage. Test results using a Ford Transit driven over the EU-standard CADC (Artemis) test cycle produced the following reductions in CO2 emissions and fuel usage:
- Urban: 18%
- Road: 11.5%
- Combined: 15%
Other test cycles were also completed, producing results consistent with the CADC tests:
- New European Drive Cycle (NEDC): 10%
- T2 City Drive Cycle: 24.7%
The HYBRID+ kit costs from £2,750+VAT fitted and can be fitted to most vehicles within a day – reducing any impact on vehicle availability. Installing the kit does not affect the original manufacturer’s warranty nor does it cause a reduction in payload, thanks to the use of lightweight, modern supercapacitors in place of heavy batteries.
The HYBRID+ solution sounds like it could rapidly pay for itself with van operators who do a lot of urban work. In addition, its envirnmental credentials seem strong – especially as highly-polluting and heavy batteries have been eliminated from the system. It will be interesting to see where this goes – perhaps it will provide the inspiration for a newer generation of factory fit conversions.
To learn more about the HYBRID+ solution, visit Connaught Engineering’s website.