Introducing the - Peugeot

Peugeot has long been a leader in the development
of ecologically friendly vehicles and has now raised
the bar still higher by launching its own ‘Blue Lion’
standard for low carbon-emission and largely
recyclable vehicles.
Simultaneously, the brand has demonstrated just
how low you can go with CO2 by developing a
308 hybrid HDi that combines a 1.6 litre diesel
engine with a 21bhp electric motor.
The 308 hybrid, one of the hits of the Frankfurt
Motor Show, emits only 90g/km of CO2 while
reducing fuel consumption by 58% in the urban drive
cycle compared to a standard 308 HDi (already one
of the most efficient vehicles in its class).
The showstopper was hailed as a signal that
hybrid commercialisation is making huge strides.
Peugeot’s involvement gives rock-solid credibility
to these developments as the company is the
world’s largest producer of passenger vehicle
diesel-engines and has produced diesel vehicles
since 1902.
Peugeot could be ready for a commercial hybrid
launch as early as 2010.
Peugeot’s latest parallel hybrid power-plant
combines a 110 bhp 1.6 HDi DPFS diesel engine
and an electric motor to deliver maximum
power output of 132 bhp, comparable to a 2.0
litre HDi. The electric motor backs up the diesel
engine for enhanced in-gear acceleration, yet fuel
consumption is miserly at 3.4 litres/100km.
The power-train has been designed with the
Euro V directive in mind. This comes into force
next year in the EU and regulates the urban driving
of electric and Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV).
Staying way ahead of regulatory requirements
is no accident. Peugeot has been doing it for
years. A generation ago, its VERA programme
in collaboration with the Energy-Saving Agency
showed that Peugeot was eager to harness
environmentally friendly technology.
In 1994, Peugeot pioneered commercial vehicles
driven by Vehicular Natural Gas (VNG). A year
later, the brand launched its first ZEV electric
vehicle and in 1998 introduced the first HDi
diesel common rail engine, offering a 20%
reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
The second generation of HDi units followed
in 2002.
Peugeot is also active in the utilisation of biofuels
and fuel-cell technology.
Since 2001 in Europe alone, Peugeot has sold
more than 1 million vehicles that emit less than
120g/km of CO2 and in the first half of 2007, 49%
of Peugeot’s European sales were accounted for
by vehicles emitting less than 140g/km of CO2.
Reduction of the carbon footprint has become a
Peugeot priority – which explains the introduction
of the Blue Lion emblem, a mark of eco-sensitivity
that Peugeot owners can trust.
Cars with Blue Lion status:
Have CO2 emissions of 130g/km or lower (or
meet similarly rigorous standards when running
on biofuel or VNG)
Are manufactured at a plant with ISO 14001
accreditation (showing strict adherence to
environmental management standards)
Are designed to ensure that at the end of their
life, these vehicles are 95% recyclable.
The 1.6 litre diesel 308 has CO2 emissions of 125g/
km and it joins the 107 and the 207 diesel as cars
sold in South Africa which already achieve Blue Lion
status. This means that when the environmentally
friendly 308 shows a clean pair of heels to the
competition, they really are clean.