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Tribrid Cars
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Tribrid Cars
There’s hybrid technology and then there’s tribrid technology. Whereas hybrid uses two sources of energy, tribrid, which is called the third generation technology utilizes additional energy obtained from the ambient or free environment. Sources of energy could come from solar panels, windmills, sails or anything that can capture and store energy coming from the sun, the wind or the water. In vehicles, this is a very new innovation and is being touted as the wave of the future.
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Tribrid
Concept Vehicles
At present though, these vehicles are still virtually conceptual in nature, although there are initiatives to produce vehicles that will have its own energy-capturing device on board. In fact, in 2008, Wales introduced the first tribrid vehicle in Europe using three technologies: hydrogen fuel cell, lead acid batteries and ultra capacitators. The product however, was a tribrid minibus. Tribrid technology is now being tested for different things such as rockets, planes, boats and fuel cell cars. Here are a few of the concept cars that are being developed to integrate tribrid power. In addition, vehicles like the Toyota Prius and Chevy Volt could someday be modified as tribrids.
Toyota 1/X
Introduced in the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, the Toyota 1/X is a lightweight and compact version of the Prius that combines what its engineers calls the Flexible Fuel Vehicle technology and Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle Technology. Called 1/X because it is said to weigh only “1/Xth that of the other vehicles in its class.” It utilizes three fuel energy sources: electricity, standard petroleum and E85 ethanol.
At present though, these vehicles are still virtually conceptual in nature, although there are initiatives to produce vehicles that will have its own energy-capturing device on board. In fact, in 2008, Wales introduced the first tribrid vehicle in Europe using three technologies: hydrogen fuel cell, lead acid batteries and ultra capacitators. The product however, was a tribrid minibus. Tribrid technology is now being tested for different things such as rockets, planes, boats and fuel cell cars. Here are a few of the concept cars that are being developed to integrate tribrid power. In addition, vehicles like the Toyota Prius and Chevy Volt could someday be modified as tribrids.
Toyota 1/X
Introduced in the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, the Toyota 1/X is a lightweight and compact version of the Prius that combines what its engineers calls the Flexible Fuel Vehicle technology and Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle Technology. Called 1/X because it is said to weigh only “1/Xth that of the other vehicles in its class.” It utilizes three fuel energy sources: electricity, standard petroleum and E85 ethanol.
Venturi Eclectic
From the French automotive company, Venturi, comes this tribrid concept cartouted as the world’s first “autonomous energy vehicle,” and the “futuristic robot-car.” It is solar, wind and electric-powered harnessed through a combination of photovoltaic cells, wind turbines and NiMH batteries. Whilst small (it can only seat a maximum of 3 people) and will definitely not be a vehicle meant for racing (it can only achieve speeds of up to 50mph maximum), the car can definitely get you around. The good thing about this vehicle is that it is reported to be currently in production and will be available to the market soon.
Mazda RX-8 RE Renesis
This hybrid vehicle that debuted at the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show is said to be in the process of having more innovations, including the merging of its hybrid system which runs on hydrogen-gasoline with an electric motor, inverter, 144v battery and H2ICE engine. This makes the hybrid vehicle turn into a tribrid one.
Obvio Tribrid Sports Car: A collaboration between Brazilian designer Obvio and Lotus (builder of the body of the Tesla electric sports car), the Obvio tribrid is called a “high-performance micro sports car”. It runs on a combination of regular gas/bio ethanol, natural gas and electricity.
Whilst there is no doubt that tribrid technology will increase in usage and application and that it is a positive leap towards a more practical and environmentally-friendly form of transportation, the question of accessibility and availability would still remain, much like the hybrid vehicles and sports cars that are currently in the market. If the price remains too prohibitive, then people will migrate toward traditional fuel-powered vehicles. Soon though, the price will come down and tribrids will go mainstream.
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