Chinese automaker Chery and automotive components supplier Ricardo developed these hybrid versions of the Chery A5 as part of transportation arrangements for the Beijing Olympics. The 50-unit fleet comprise of two different types of A5s. One is a start-stop “hybrid” which is basically a regular 1.6 litre petrol engine with a 5-speed manual equipped with start-stop system called the Belt Starter-Generator (BSG).
The other is what we would normally consider a hybrid vehicle. A 1.3 litre petrol engine is combined with a crank-mounted 12kW 151 volt motor. The system was fully developed by Ricardo, using an integrated hybrid control unit comprising of motor drive electronics, DC to DC converter and a high-voltage battery pack positioned behind the rear seats with minimal intrusion into the luggage area.
Ricardo claims the 1.3 litre hybrid system provides similiar peak power and torque to a 1.6 litre benchmark engine, with a 15% improvement in fuel consumption over the benchmark. In addition, the start-stop system can restart the engine within 200ms.
More images after the jump.
[Read more...]







Chery wants to re-examine it’s 

