AFS Trinity | Ultracapacitor Plug-In
Contributing Monkie G Living Staff Monkies
Published on February 15, 2009
Filed Under Alternative Vehicles, G Living Tags Battery, Electric Car, Electric Vehicle
Looking for something interesting at the Detroit Auto Show? Don’t spend too much time, because there isn’t really anything new. Sure, there are hybrids, flex-fuels, and testosterone machines, but there’s nothing that people who care haven’t seen already.
There is however, a new-ish hybrid that changes the dynamic of hybrids, if only a tiny bit. The AFS Trinity is boasting 150 mpg from its XH 150. The difference between the Trinity and other hybrids: battery technology. Instead of charging batteries that discharge to the engine, the Trinity charges ultracapacitors that discharge to the engine quicker than traditional Lithium-ion batteries – so fast, in fact, that it will get you up to 90 mph on battery power alone. The Trinity can also go about 40 miles before the gas engine kicks in, making it a zero-emission vehicle for most commuters.
The catch: it’s a plug in. So your emissions are displaced to the power plant — an alternative that may reduce smog, but will do little to reduce overall greenhouse gases. The other catch is that it will be significantly more expensive than even top-of-the-line hybrid SUVs. Oh yeah, and the battery pack may take up the coveted extra space that lures so many to the “utility” of the gas-guzzlers.
If you’re still interested, you can check out some obsequious videos on the Trinity here.
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