New technology stars at city's auto show

FUEL efficient engines, Roewe's hybrid sedan, Shanghai-made fuel cell vehicles and replaceable fuel technology can be seen from Friday at the 12th International Automobile & Manufacturing Technology Exhibition.

More than 1,300 car makers and auto-parts manufacturers from home and abroad will display their achievements at the auto show, which will run from April 20 to 28 at the Shanghai New International Expo Center.

At least five new cars will make their world debut there, with eye-catching designs from international giants and domestic car makers.

But vehicles using new energy sources are the flavor of the moment. A total of 30 models use new technology, said Shanghai World Expo (Group) Co Ltd, the show's organizer.

General Motors, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen and Ford will exhibit their improved models and technology, signaling that new energy vehicles may be a step closer to commercialization.

Batteries

GM will unveil a battery electric concept model, Chevrolet Volt, equipped with GM's newest, most efficient hydrogen fuel cell system, E-Flex. This was first shown in January at the North American International Auto Show.

This second variant of the E-Flex system uses GM's new fifth-generation fuel cell propulsion technology and a lithium-ion battery to provide up to 483 kilometers of electric driving.

BMW will unveil its BMW Hydrogen 7, the world's first hydrogen-drive luxury performance automobile to help stimulate demand for a viable hydrogen infrastructure in the long term.

The car comes equipped with an internal combustion engine capable of running on either liquid hydrogen or gasoline.

Toyota will not only exhibit its mass-produced Prius but also reveal the hybrid Lexus LS600h and GS450h.

Delphi Corp, the world's leading auto parts maker, will also launch several new technologies to help protect the environment, including biofuel compatibility and engine management systems for multiple fuel applications.

Although overseas car makers are taking the lead in new energy cars, the show is also a platform for Chinese innovation.

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp, China's largest auto maker, will unveiled the hybrid version of its Roewe 750, just five months after the launch of its first self-branded model.

The hybrid Roewe 750 sedan uses Chinese-developed hybrid technology, including a traditional gas engine, ISG electric engine and automatic transmission.

The model only consumes 7.9-liter of gasoline for every 100 kilometers, 20 percent lower than the current generation of cars, and meets the Euro 4 emission standard. SAIC plans to make the model on a small scale from 2008 and mass production will start from 2010.

SAIC will also launch its first fuel-cell vehicle under the name of one of China's oldest car brands. Industry analysts said the Shanghai-branded fuel cell sedan is likely to be China's first such mass-produced vehicle.

Anhui Province-based Chery, the nation's fourth-largest car maker as well as the biggest exporter, will also show three of its latest new energy vehicles with three different fuels.

Hybrid Chery A5BSG is a low-level parallel hybrid electric vehicle that uses a belt to connect the engine, electric battery and transmission to improve power efficiency through three different working modes.

Chery will also launch a revamped V5 sports utility vehicle powered by bio-diesel.

China's Chang'an Group, the Chinese partner of Ford, will debut its hybrid multi-purpose vehicles based on its Jiexun model. The price of its 2.0-liter hybrid Jiexun, which will be produced before 2008 Beijing Olympic, will only cost one-third of Toyota's Prius, the world's first mass-produced hybrid.

Cars using alternative fuels now have to find a commercial market. And with a global focus on environmental protection, that's a problem facing all car designers. It's only a matter of time before we see the future - and it starts at the auto show.