As oil reaches a record $70 per barrel, electric and hybrid vehicles are attracting the attention of even the rich and famous who live in the fabled principality of Monaco, and many were present at the Grimaldi
Forum in Monte Carlo on the weekend of March 30-April 2. The show, called
EVER 2006 (Ecological Vehicles, Renewable Energies), played host to a variety of
hybrid and electric cars, bikes and engines. See website
Surrounded by opulence and the idle rich, the Marchesini Cadillac parks in the Monte Carlo harbor--a very ironic place to have an Ecological Vehicles Show.
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True to his Emiliano heritage, our reporter took perverse pleasure in attending the event in his Cadillac DeVille, the one with the 4.6 liter Northstar engine. He parked nonchalantly next to an SUV and walked to the Grimaldi Center. Mind you, Mario is not totally immune from gas price increases, and he is considering revising his travel habits in relation to mode of transportation.
Peugeot's Concept Car
Center stage was the Peugeot concept race car. Like the Audi R10 V12, it is a diesel, but with a difference. According to the press release,
this is "..the RC CUP will be a major and eagerly awaited new addition to racing circuits in 2004. Derived from the Peugeot RC concept car (HDi engine), designed by the Peugeot Style Centre and presented at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show, the RC CUP is the talk of the town. Aside from its sporting credentials and thoroughbred style, this car offers major benefits. Indeed, it is an amalgam of concept-car, HDi engine, PEF (Particle Emission Filter)." The Peugeot diesel runs on 50% diesel fuel and 50% Diester biofuel manufactured from vegetable oils, and is a first in motorsport.
Peugoet's spectacular race car--powered by a 2.2 liter mid engined diesel which develops 190 hp. Weight is 800 kg (1800 lbs) and has a six speed sequential gearbox.
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The Practical Italians
Italy is not idle either, and many small firms are offering more and more in the way of diesel, hybrid and electric applications.
A firm called, appropriately enough, (not the Chevy) GEO in Italy, offered a line of electric vehicles including children's off road vehicles, called Quads. The firm also produces buses and industrial vehicles.
Geo is a small firm offering electric vehicles--this is called the Quad, for kids. See website
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A more practical application can carry up to 13 people, and is ideal for use in quiet, historic areas.
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Another offering from the GEO firm.
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Micro-Vett is another Italian firm producing electric cars, including a 'city micro-car called the YDEA Electric.
"..the ideal vehicle for city individual mobility in contexts where are requested no gas and acoustic emissions."
Micro-vett van is another product of the Italian firm. See website
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Lombardini produces a wide range of industrial engines, and has recently designed a new hybrid engine for industrial use, the Ecomove 523.
Ecomove 523, a 20.4 hp hybrid engine from Lombardini. See website.
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Lombardini also makes industrial diesels, such as this four cylinder 36 hp water cooled engine.
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But aside from the Peugeot concept car, there seemed little here to capture the public's interest. We applaud Peugeot's efforts to establish a race series for alternate fuel cars--as in the past, and hopefully in the future, racing will again improve the breed.
