According to UK-based Economist they can. The idea of a pneumatic hybrid system is an old one. That's because it's very simple when you break it down to the core contributors. Firstly, this is not a car that runs strictly on air, but instead utilizes a gasoline or diesel internal combustion engine mated with an electric engine-replacing, compressed air tank.

The electric motor and battery pack within a hybrid vehicle merely act as a boost mechanism when excess power is needed beyond the scope of the internal combustion engine and gains its charge through a processes such as regenerative braking. A regenerative braking system converts the kinetic energy produced while stopping the vehicle into a storeable energy form, rather than allowing it to dissipate as heat, which is the case in conventional braking systems. This energy is then re-routed into the battery packs, which in turn provides power to the electric motor that then supplements the main drive engine.

The difference with a pneumatic hybrid system is that instead of gathering kinetic energy through the brake system, it would instead be gained by utilizing the internal combustion engine. Under braking, the fuel supply would be shut off and the vehicle would slow via engine (compression) braking, but rather than lose the air that would be compressed by the pistons in the cylinders, it would then be collected. In this case the internal combustion engine acts as the air compressor for the system, then stores it in a high compression storage tank for a quick burst of additional energy when deemed necessary.

The disadvantage of this system is that compressed air has an extremely low energy density making it fairly inefficient during long strides of freeway driving, but put this system into an urban environment and now we're talking. The constant stop and go of city traffic would allow the system to quickly build up, store and dispense the compressed air in regular cycles, making the system all but invisible to the driver. The fuel consumption hovers around a 32% gain over a normal internal combustion engine according to Swiss Federal Institute of Technology professor, Lino Guzzella, and offers roughly 80% of the of the fuel savings offered by current gas-electric hybrids, but at a much lower price.

Could this be the system of the future or is it just another gimmicky foray into laboratory science that'll never see the light of day on our public road systems? Tell us what you think in the comments below. [via Economist, graphic via evconvert]

There isn't even a regular old Appalachian out here. Turns out, somewhere in the reporting of the hybrid diesel powertrain and the import of the Appalachian, the two were put together in an internet version of the phone game. From what FEV tells us, there were actually no plans for that variant of the truck and it will not be at SAE. The regular diesel truck is still intended for US import, but if you're a curry-flavored diesel electric truck lover, there is no joy in Detroit for you today.

The diesel-electric is fitted with a parallel hybrid system integrated into the transmission and provides drive power at start, additional power on command, stop/start functionality and regenerative braking capabilities. For the time being, enjoy that sweet teal train-like goodness seemingly following the GM methodology of making sure everyone knows you're driving a hybrid via large stenciled letters on the side. Also, there's a hood scoop. We're not entirely sure why that's important, but yeah, there it is. We'll be getting more details for you when things open up officially. For now, we have to work on outrunning the Detroit police.

"The Scorpio vehicle is a clear indicator of the enormous implications of globalization on the changing paradigm in vehicle development," said Rogers. "A rapid advancement of technology is occurring on a global scale, and our OEM customers are increasingly leveraging FEV's global presence to ensure around- the-clock development of new powertrain and vehicle concepts. The FEV Group has successfully expanded its capabilities and international reach to accomplish shorter development times and to support these types of global initiatives for its OEM partners."

FEV contributed its expertise in hybrid powertrain systems development and integration, as well as software development to support Mahindra in the hybridization of the vehicle, the first of its kind to be marketed in the Asian market.

"FEV has been a very receptive and experienced partner in the program and is known for their HEV work across the globe. With their support, we were able to meet our aggressive targets. They have made a valuable contribution to the development of the Scorpio Hybrid Diesel SUV," said Dr. Arun Jaura, Chief Technology officer, Mahindra Group.

The Mahindra Scorpio hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) features the following characteristics:

— Diesel-electric parallel hybrid vehicle with four major functions:
- Start-stop
- Electric launch
- Torque augmentation
- Regenerative braking
- Seamless but enhanced driving experience
— 2.2 Liter, I-4, second generation diesel common rail engine with 85 kW
and 270 Nm ratings
— 6-speed automatic transmission
— 30 kW (peak) motor with max torque of 270 Nm (peak) and a max speed
8500 rpm
— 288V, 8.4 Ah NiMH battery
— Quick cold start with e-motor assist

The Mahindra and Mahindra diesel-electric hybrid is representative of the type of advanced vehicle technologies under development by FEV. Further examples of this technology will be on display at the FEV exhibit.