A HYBRID revolution is about to explode on to the car scene offering drivers an antidote to high prices at the pumps.
Previously the preserve of the likes of Toyota, Honda and Lexus, hybrid technology is about to be rolled out across the auto industry.
Within a year mainstream models such as the Ford Focus will be available with the alternative power system which uses an electric motor to supplement a conventional combustion engine.
The benefits are a significant improvement in fuel economy and low CO2 emissions which all help reduce everyday running costs.
Ford’s European chief John Fleming announced at the Geneva Motor Show that a hybrid version of the new Ford Focus would be on the road by 2012 to be followed the year after with other models including a plug-in version which can run purely on electricity.
Even a Transit van will be fitted with the system and will be available as early as next year.
Cars from BMW, Peugeot and Volvo are also about to become part of the hybrid boom and even Jaguar is preparing to clean up its act.
Its boss, Mike O’Driscoll, said that by 2012 a trial fleet of electric powered XJ limousines would be operational.
Fuel consumption above 60mpg could become the norm for petrol cars with many falling below the 100g/km threshold which exempts cars from road tax.
The British-built Toyota Auris will be leading the way and is due to go on sale as a hybrid in July offering 74mpg average fuel economy and emissions of 89g/km – the cleanest hatchback on the road.
Even fans of high performance cars will be able to benefit from hybrid engineering.
The Porsche 918 Spyder made its debut at Geneva as a concept 200mph supercar but with CO2 emissions of just 70g/km and average fuel consumption of an incredible 94mpg.
The German car maker revealed that in tests the Spyder has lapped the 16-mile Nordschleiffe circuit at the Nurburgring in 7.5minutes – quicker than a Porsche Carrera GT.
Unlike pure electric cars hybrids do not have to be hooked up to the mains – their batteries are recharged while driving and battery packs have a life of more than 10 years.
So-called plug-in hybrids can be recharged from a domestic power supply and run as zero emission electric cars for about 30 miles. At that point the petrol engine cuts in to recharge the batteries and enable the electric motor to come back into play to operate as a normal hybrid.