Written on October 8, 2008 – 12:54 pm | by Maria Mihale |


The new Peugeot HYmotion3 Compressor Concept was presented at the Paris Motor Show, revealing the most amazingly high-tech scooter of all times. The three-wheeled HYmotion3 is a mixture of a scooter and a car and the slick aesthetics on this one makes it completely drool worthy.

Described as the missing link between the scooter and the car, the HYmotion3 compressor is a highly original proposal meant to reconsider and facilitate urban mobility. Due to its dynamic, streamlined and futuristic style, the concept is considered to be very attractive and combines numerous benefits such as size, safety and comfort. The HYmotion hybrid/petrol technology is the fundament of the development of a three wheel drive vehicle, benefiting safety and diveability and combining economy with an environmentally-friendly specification (CO2 emissions of only 47g/kph in the combined cycle, zero in electric only mode).



As you can easily figure it out for yourself, the HYmotion3 compressor concept is a means of transport, but it can’t be associated with a particular type of vehicle, as it’s not a car, nor a scooter. It’s provided with three wheels: two up front, independently powered by individual wheel-mounted hub motors and one in back. The two front wheels have no connection to the supercharged four-stroke 125cc engine that powers the rear wheel.

The urban traffic is intensified nowadays and everyone tries to deal with serious issues like saving time, skyrocketing oil prices and taking care of the environment. So what we’re all expecting from all sorts of companies is to develop solutions for the future. Taking all of these things into consideration, specialists in the scooter field from Peugeot Motorcycles and stylists and engineers working for Automobiles Peugeot joined their forces in order to develop the HYmotion3 concept car. Or is it a concept scooter?



The HYmotion3 has a width of 82 cm which makes it easier to thread a path through urban traffic will all the efficiency of a two-wheeler. As you can see in the pictures, there’s a front windscreen extending to the back of the vehicle and forming a highly effective shield against bad weather for the rider and the passenger. A very important aspect is that according to French regulations it’s possible for any possessor of a B license to drive the vehicle.

The vehicle is based on HYmotion technology, which was used with other concept-cars in the Peugeot exhibition space at the Paris Motor Show and features a supercharged petrol engine. It has a 15kW power (20 bhp) when driving the rear wheel and combines with two electric motors, each with an output of 3kW, located in the front wheels. The two electric motors are powered by “lithium-ion” batteries and recharged by an energy recovery system which operates during decelaration and braking. Therefore, the maximum power of 21 kW (29 bhp) is developed for a low fuel consumption of 2.0 litres/100 kph and CO2 emissions of 47 g/kph in the combined cycle, or 0 in electric only mode.



As far as the design is concerned, you can observe a sporty and avant-garde design which captures the spirit of Peugeot’s latest creations, such as 308 RCZ concept car. There are two polished aluminum roll-over bars supporting the “bubble” which protects the two occupants; in addition, the bars end in a handle which can be used by the rear passenger. The vehicle isn’t provided with rear-view mirrors, as this function is being accomplished by two display screens placed on the instrument panel. On either side of the base of the front windscreen there is a row of light emitting diodes (LEDs) which ensures a highly efficient lighting and that the vehicle can be seen in traffic.

There is also an ABS system which makes braking more efficient. In addition, braking relies on three ventilated discs and, above all, the front electric motors, which recover energy to recharge batteries. The three wheels combined with the electric motor braking help reducing the braking distance by around 30% compared to a two-wheel scooter provided with traditional brakes.

The HYmotion3 is just a concept right now, but Peugeot is very well known scooter maker, maybe the most important in the world. Targeting the European market, eager to purchase practical scooters and other fuel-efficient vehicles, the company has all the means in order to bring the HYmotion3 to mass production.

(Source engadget.com)