(08 Dec 04)

Audi has released details of its A2 hybrid, pictured below competing at Shanghai in this year's Challenge Bibendum competition for sustainable-energy vehicles.

The A2-H2, as it's known, uses the not unfamiliar layout of a hydrogen fuel cell, a large battery and an electric motor. Normally the cell feeds power directly into the motor, but any extra charge unused in this process is sent to the battery. If hard acceleration is required, the motor takes its power from both the motor and the battery.

Hard acceleration, eh? Well, as it turns out, yes - Audi says the A2-H2 has the equivalent of 148bhp, a top speed of 109mph and a 0-62mph time of under ten seconds. So it doesn't hang about.

There are three hydrogen tanks, and together they go from completely full to completely empty in no more than 137 miles. But refilling them takes just 1.8kg of gas, the equivalent of about six litres of fuel. Audi reckons this is the equivalent of 94mpg. Both the performance and the fuel economy are helped by the A2's all-aluminium bodyshell, which is therefore very light, if not especially good-looking.

Audi Road Tests

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