Researchers at a university in Tennessee have developed a way for anyone to drive a hybrid--without buying a new car.
From The Huffington Post:
“The whole point was to demonstrate the feasibility of adding the electrical motor to the rear wheel of the car without changing the brakes, bearings, suspension – anything mechanical,” Perry said in a statement.
The technology was tested on a 1994 Honda station wagon, and it was able to increase the car's gas mileage between 50% and 100%.
And the real draw of the technology is the fact that it could be applied to nearly any car. It cuts out the major cost of buying a new car to receive similar improvements.
The research estimated that if the kit is produced commercially (and it's being shown off to investors now), it will have a price tag around $3,000. It would still take a little saving up, but it's better than trading in your old-yet-functional car for a shiny new hybrid.
Charles Perry details the function of the kit in the video:
Via
Electric Car