Geneva highlights green innovations

This year's Geneva Motor Show highlighted the latest green innovations engineers have been working on

Every year, the Geneva Motor Show highlights the steps the automotive industry has been taking towards a greener, more sustainable future, and this year was no different. As government and consumers become more concerned about pollution and the environmental impact of transport, the automotive industry is required to make sure its offerings meet these requirements.

Presently, vehicles with internal combustion engines are still by far the most popular choice of powertrain. However, concern for the environment has led to policy targets on carbon emissions both globally and at EU level. The EU is committed to a 20% reduction in CO2 emission levels by 2020 compared to the level in 1990.

For this reason, this year’s Geneva show highlighted that the future of powertrains will be very different from today, and that alternative forms of power are increasingly influencing the way cars are being made and bought.

At the show, it became clear that despite the gas-guzzling supercars present, most manufacturers were also offering a conventional alternative, and most line-ups now include an electric, hybrid of plug-in offering.

One of the most notable manufacturers for their alternative powertrains at the show was Hyundai, which revealed its ‘Ioniq’ line-up, consisting of three different powertrains – hybrid, electric and plug-in – all on the same platform, designed specifically to the multiple powertrain of the car. The 100% electric Ioniq has a high capacity lithium-ion battery of 28kWh which powers it for around 155 miles.

The hybrid plug-in version (PHEV) will use an 8.9kWh battery to go as far as 30 miles on electric power before the petrol engine kicks in. Finally, the hybrid (HEV) uses the petrol engine and the movement of the car to charge the battery, which restores the accumulated energy by improving the engine power.

Thomas Schmid, chief operating officer at Hyundai Motor Europe, said: “With our ix35 Fuel Cell electric vehicle and several hybrid and plug-in hybrid models sold around the world, Hyundai already has a proven capability in electrified powertrains. Now, with the launch of our first dedicated model, we are taking the lead as the only car manufacturer with hybrid, electric, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell vehicles in production.” 

Skoda also introduced a plug-in hybrid called the VisionS, which has room for six passengers across three rows of seats. The VisionS SUV has an internal combustion engine and two electric motors, can drive up to 31 miles in electric mode and travel up to 621 miles with both systems combined. The production vehicle of this SUV concept arrives on the European market this autumn.

Hydrogen fuel cells also made an appearance at the show, with the notable Pininfarina H2 Speed hydrogen-powered sports car concept. Described as being “halfway between a competition prototype and a production supercar,” the H2 is powered by two race-specification electric motors and fed by a lightweight hydrogen fuel cell. The concept also features a brake energy recuperation system. 

Toyota also showcased the hydrogen-powered Mirai on its Geneva stand. The Mirai stores hydrogen in a tank at great pressure, which is released into a “fuel stack” where it mixes with air in a reaction that creates the electricity used to drive the motor.

And it was not just the cars on show that outlined the future direction of powertrains. Designed by Beijing automotive R&D firm TechRules, a system called Turbine-Recharging Electric Vehicle (TREV) was showcased on-board a concept two-seater all-wheel drive supercar, claimed to be 50% more efficient than existing range extenders.

Whether in production or a concept, a supercar or passenger car, it became clear at this year’s Geneva show that manufacturers and and suppliers alike are adapting their powertrain innovations towards a cleaner future. Eventually, new powertrains will revolutionise the vehicles we drive, and change urban and inter-urban mobility, and it will remain in the hands of shows such as Geneva to make these innovations a reality.