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Tuesday, 05.04.2011
Car lover Putin tests first Russian hybrid car
Moscow. Vladimir Putin, known for his interest in test driving all sorts of vehicles, tried out the future Russian hybrid car "Yo-Mobil". However, he was not sure if he would arrive.
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Vladimir Putin held a meeting of Government Commission on High Technology and Innovations in his country residence in Novo-Ogarevo. For this occasion, multi-billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, who has a personal interest in this project, had arranged for two proto-types to be available.
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Arrival uncertain - Putin makes test drive
At the meeting, Putin praised Prokhorov for his involvement in trying out technologies for a new product that are not established in Russia yet, but did not hold back with sarcastic remarks: He would have to visit President Medvedev later on, it is not far, but "Will I be able to drive there? Your Yo-Mobil won't fall apart?" he hasked Prokhorov.
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Prokhorov however felt confident, especially as the distance to Medvedev's state dacha in Gorki was only 10 km. The two Yo-Mobils completed the drive, together with the usual police and security escorts, safely.
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Putin chose to ride a two-door coupe, while Prokhorov sat behind the wheel of a five-door micro-van. Both cars are about 4 meter long and thus of similar size as standard passenger cars.
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"Great promise" High-technology at a low price
Before going on the trip, Putin wanted to know the future price of the cars: 450,000 Rubel (Euro 11.200) answered him Andrej Birjukow, the general director of the production company "Yo-Avto". Extras, like four wheel drive, cruise control, navigation system and air conditioning will be included in the price.
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Prokhorov's Onexim group has already started with the construction of an assembly plant for the new vehicle near St Petersburg. The plant will be finished by the end of the year and start mass production in September 2012.
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However, there are considerable doubts within the Russian car industry, if the deadlines and prices, actually the whole project, can be realised. Up to now, the Yo-Mobil only gloats through its unusual concept but not with presentable, new technology.
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Putin drove concept cars
It seems that the two cars that were presented to Putin in December were only concept cars whose suspension and engine did not resemble anything like the project plans.
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Two-cylinder Weber engines, purchased in Germany are to be used, but for mass-production a small rotary engine with 60 horsepower is planned.
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New venture: Compact Wankel motor and composite body
This, with petrol or gas working engine is supposed to power a generator, whose current flows in turn into a capacitor, serving as a cache and weighing 100 kg. The actual drive would be executed by two 15 kW electric motors, one on each axis.
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The designers of the Yo-Mobil promise that the car would be able to run on 3.5 liter per 100 km.
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As it will not have a metal body, the Yo-Mobil will be a lightweight on the streets. Empty, it is supposed to weigh only between 650 to 700 kg. The outer shell will be made of a composite material based on Polipropylan - this would be a first in the auto industry.
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Perhaps it is all a big bluff,br> Lack of experience in construction, technical daring design, uncertain market perspectives and finally also the restricted financial mobility makes the project look rather unrealistic.
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Perhaps, as was speculated in the Russian media, the Onexim boss Prokhorov might just want to put himself in the good light with the head of state, who is looking for modernisation initiatives.
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Even if the Yo-Mobil should prove to be a no-go, he would have already shown his good will, in having made a valiant effort to invent something new - but which was again not feasable to produce in Russia.
Original German text can be found here >>>
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