PSA Wants GM To Pitch In On Compressed Air Hybrid

Last month, we suggested that PSA's new compressed air hybrid system was a good way for PSA to drum up some investment into its ailing new car business. Now comes word that PSA wants to talk to other car makers, including alliance partner General Motors, about pooling the R&D cost of the new tech. Given that PSA spent an estimated $4 billion on R&D in 2011, the $650 million cost to develop the new technology is a relatively modest sum. Yet PSA is still looking for a partner (or partners) to help bear the burden. PSA is looking to get cars using the technology, dubbed HybridAir, on the road by 2016, a very short timeframe for a new technology, especially one as radical as this. PSA is also looking for a partner for the technology in China. Meanwhile, GM issued a statement claiming that the new hybrid system "is not part of the alliance discussions". Bosch, which has assisted PSA with the initial development of HybridAir, previously warned of "unspecified technical challenges" with the system, throwing further doubt on the viability of the technology as a real automotive solution. Evidently, it doesn't seem to be doing much to bring some badly needed money in either. from The Truth About Cars http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com

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