Peugeot-Citroën Hoping for GM Support on Pneumatic Hybrid

PSA PeugeotPeugeotFrance, 1882 > present120 models
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-CitroënCitroënFrance, 1919 > present94 models
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and Bosch announced their development of a pneumatic hybrid that would use compressed air to boost acceleration instead of an electric motor and battery. Now it is hoping to find a partner to further development the technology and is asking its partial owner General MotorsGMUnited States of America, 1998 > present8 models
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. 

PSA predicts that developing the Hybrid Air system to be production ready would cost less than €500 million ($650 million). It plans to have the technology on the road by 2016 in cars like the Citroën C3Citroën C3 Gen.2France, 2009 > 2016111 versions
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and Peugeot 208Peugeot 208 Gen.1France, 2012 > present103 versions
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. 

PSA says that the system would improve fuel economy by 35% and could run on compressed air as much as 60% of the time. It uses power regenerated under braking to compress air into a tank that is used to run a hydraulic motor to provide power. 

If GM does not support the project, PSA could look toward its Chinese partners Dongfeng and Changan, which it both has joint ventures with.

Source: Automotive News Europe