'Green' car

Holden have unveiled a concept vehicle that uses 50% less fuel than a conventional family car and reduces exhaust emissions. The ECOmmodore has been developed jointly by Holden and CSIRO and is designed with an emphasis on practical and achievable technology.

The ECOmmodore is a full-sized family car with a hybrid-electric powertrain, that combines an electric motor powered by supercapacitors and advanced lead-acid batteries with four-cylinder aluminium alloy petrol engine. It delivers the same level of performance as a standard 3.8 L V6.

The 'green' car technology is specifically targeted at improving vehicle efficiency. This includes mass reduction through the use of advanced lightweight materials, clever aerodynamics, reduced rolling resistance and regenerative braking.

The aim of the Holden/CSIRO project was to demonstrate that a full-sized family car could meet future fuel consumption and emissions requirements without compromising the safety and engine performance of the current Commodore.