In a propitiously ‘green’ move, XL Hybrids – a company based in Massachusetts, has successfully turned a Lincoln Town Car into an all effectual hybrid powered car. The inclusion of the electric motor is expected to reduce the total fuel consumption by 15 to 30 percent, and enhance the horsepower of the car by 20.
Where lithium-ion phosphate battery can take up one-fourth of the trunk space, it shouldn’t be a problem with Lincoln Town as it already features ample trunk space. Moreover, according to the company, the preliminary cost incurred for the conversion can be recouped in about two years or even lesser. It includes the maintenance cost of replacing the rubber belt every 50,000 miles. So, this favorable conception can prove to be both efficiently green and conveniently cost effective in the long run.
Justin Ashton, co-founder of the company, says:
We’re engineering the hybrid system for Ford E-Series vans to be released into customer pilot testing later this year (then one for GM van models in 2012). The van product is designed for shuttle, delivery, and service van applications and is really the big opportunity for us, both in terms of market size, and in terms of potential environmental impact from reducing total gallons of fuel used in fleets. As you know, turnover can be painfully slow (measured in decades). That’s why we offer both a retrofit hybrid system for existing vehicles as well as an upfit option for new vehicles as fleet buyers spec them out.
Source: Autoblog
