| Fossil fuels can't last for ever and burning them is | | | | suitable alternatives for 4x4 enthusiasts and the |
| now universally accepted as being harmful to the | | | | heavy demands many of them place on |
| planet on which we live. These are two good reasons | | | | performance. However, newly developed hybrid |
| to find alternative sources of fuel, especially for | | | | vehicles offer a combination of both the electric and |
| those who drive gas-guzzling vehicles. So, with | | | | traditional internal combustion engine technology, |
| pressure groups queuing up to condemn them and | | | | vastly improving their performance and making them |
| the government already penalizing them with higher | | | | much more attractive to 4x4 users. |
| road taxes, the future looks grim for 4x4 drivers. Is | | | | Like most new technologies, there are different |
| it possible for them to drive the vehicles that they | | | | developments in the offing, with each providing |
| love but at the same time become more | | | | variant solutions; two of the most popular being |
| environmentally friendly? | | | | 'series' and 'parallel'. For the 'series' system of hybrid |
| The UK has some of the highest fuel prices found | | | | engines, the generator is powered by petrol which |
| anywhere in the world. So, why are we so reluctant | | | | charges the electric motor and in turn powers the |
| to find and adopt alternatives? Fuel source | | | | wheels. In the 'parallel' system, either the petrol or |
| alternatives such as electric and LPG are used by less | | | | electric motor or both can power the wheels. |
| than one per cent of road-users in the UK. However, | | | | For 4x4 off-road vehicles the parallel HEV is the only |
| this could soon change as vehicle manufacturers are | | | | real alternative. This is because the mechanism |
| pouring millions of pounds into developing Hybrid | | | | allocates the engine according to operational need. |
| Electric Vehicles (HEVs) as an alternative to | | | | So, when a surge in power is required, such as when |
| petrol-only cars, and that development includes 4x4 | | | | heading uphill, the parallel system will automatically |
| versions. | | | | switch to the petrol engine if the electric system is |
| Electric cars have been traditionally cumbersome to | | | | struggling. In the series version, the petrol engine will |
| use. Recharging the low-capacity battery requires | | | | only kick in when the battery levels are significantly |
| plugging them into the wall on extension cords | | | | reduced: not an acceptable option for most off-road |
| overnight, and their tested vehicle performance to | | | | drivers. |
| date has been very poor. Factors such as negligible | | | | However, general acceptance of hybrid vehicles for |
| acceleration, lack of power and limited range have all | | | | 4x4 users will only happen when their performance |
| conspired against their universal acceptance. Useful | | | | equals that of conventional engines. |
| for only short journeys, electric cars are hardly | | | | |