What's all this about?
It's a car that runs on compressed air.
Really? It looks like a Peugeot 208 to me.
That's because it is - this is Peugeot's 208 HYbrid Air 2L Demonstrator, set for a Paris Motor Show appearance next month. Based on the 82hp 1.2-litre, three-cylinder PureTech model, it can return 141mpg and run in zero-emissions mode too.
On air alone?
Yup. There's a high-pressure tank under the boot and a low-pressure tank near the rear axle, which acts as an expansion chamber. This 208 can run for short periods around town on the compressed air alone, farting its way along the highways, but at least not giving off any CO2 emissions - or you can drive it as a straightforward petrol car when you're on A-roads or the motorway. The fun comes in hybrid mode, when the compressed air helps the 1.2 out in 'transitional' phases. That's acceleration or standing starts, to you and I, meaning it is ideal for stop-start city driving.
Surely, and please forgive the pun, it quickly runs out of puff?
No, this is a renewable energy source, because when the HYbrid 2L is braking or coasting, or you're using very light throttle for the 1.2, it 'charges' the tank again with compressed air. And you don't have to wait 15 hours for it to do this; apparently, it can reach maximum pressure within just 10 seconds.
Anything else Peugeot has done to help?
The 208 HYbrid 2L is 100kg lighter than the production-spec PureTech model it is based on, thanks to extensive use of aluminium and carbon composite materials. It tips the scales at just 860kg all in.
Wow. Sounds too good to be true.
It probably is, as this is a concept car by any other name, but who knows whether Peugeot will put it into production? Thing is, if you're an eco-conscious type, the French firm is expanding its range of PureTech, 1.6-litre THP and BlueHDi engines as we speak, meaning the average CO2 emissions of its European range have dropped to 111.2g/km, compared to 115.1g/km this time last year. Impressive.
One last question: if this air-powered 208 has a 1.2-litre engine, what does the 2L stand for?
The economy figure of 141mpg works out as roughly 2.0 litres/100km.
Matt Robinson - 16 Sep 2014
