What Is BlueMotion, Is It A Hybrid?

Wednesday, 5. August 2009

What is BlueMotion, is it a hybrid? We are seeing the emergence of the colour blue as a replacement for the far less attractive green as an expression of environmental friendliness! Why? I don’t know but in terms of German cars – no it doesn’t define a new type of hybrid engine. Instead VW’s BlueMotion and Mercedes Blue Efficiency are simply terms they have started to use to describe the ultra efficient nature of their cars. By incorporating stop/start technology or systems that heavily recharge the battery under braking, which can then allow you to use this stored energy resulting in better fuel consumption when accelerating or cruising, the car becomes blue. The blue tag is meant to make us believe that the new blue cars are better for us and the environment than the old cars. Whilst blue cars are not fully fledged hybrid cars they incorporate new technology rather than an engine that allows your car to run on grass cuttings – now that really would be green technology. Check out the manufacturers’ websites to see what they include in their new Blue technology. By Graham Hill