PSA/Peugeot-Citroen and Bosch plan to launch hybrid cars partially powered by compressed air by 2016.

The carmaker says the so-called "Hybrid Air" system developed with supplier Robert Bosch will be lighter than a hybrid running on gasoline and battery power. GM will also likely use the technology as part of its alliance agreement with PSA, the spokesman said.

The technology will reduce the cost of cutting emissions compared with current hybrids. "The cost per gram of CO2 reduction is going to be very competitive," Bosch automotive chief Bernd Bohr says.

The technology uses a compressed air component to draw energy from the combustion engine and from the car's brakes. The hydraulic system, which comprises two hydraulic units and their pressure accumulators, allows the vehicle to be driven in three ways: the conventional mechanical way, hydraulically, or by a combination of the two.

In city driving conditions, the vehicles can travel on emission-free, compressed air power as much as 80 percent of the time with the three-cylinder gasoline engine cut.
Bosch said the technology can be combined with any conventional engine and is suitable for all passenger-car segments and light delivery trucks in urban traffic. "This hydraulic-mechanical powertrain system results in a hybrid powertrain that is more cost-effective, robust, and service-friendly. In addition, it does not require any special infrastructure, and can be deployed anywhere in the world," the supplier said.

PSA said a prototype Hybrid Air subcompact emitted 72 grams of CO2 per km, compared with 104 grams for a Peugeot 208 model with the same combustion engine.