The Canadian-built Can-Am Spyder is evolving - meet the plug-in hybrid version of the three-wheeled freedom machine.
Powered by a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain, the Can-Am Spyder Roadster hybrid will utilise a V-twin engine paired with an electric motor to reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, and will be the first of many low emission vehicles from the company.
Created in partnership with the University of Sherbrooke's Advanced Technology Centre, Can-Am has been given a leg-up thanks to Canadian government grants worth around $11.3 million, and the project is expected to take around four years to complete.
Can-Am says the new project "is based on the unique roadster platform" and will break new ground as the only electric hybrid development project of its kind in the world. We're not sure if Piaggio would agree however, with its hybrid trike being announced back in 2009.
Though the new Can-Am hybrid vehicle will not be available to the public until around 2015, it is unlikely to make its way to Australia. Piaggo released a hybrid version of its trike, the MP3, but it was given the kybosh because of its high price. The same issue is likely to hamper the Can-Am hybrid's local arrival.
While the upcoming three-wheeled hybrid model will make for interesting reading once it is launched, the partnership between BRP and the University of Sherbrooke's Advanced Technology Centre (CTA) is perhaps of greater importance and may lead to a wider range of breakthroughs for BRP, which also makes Sea-doos, ATVs, side by side vehicles and Ski-doos.
"By deciding to establish R&D centres, BRP confirmed its commitment to accelerate the development of cleaner and more efficient new technologies," stated José Boisjoli, BRP's president and CEO.
"The powertrain technologies used in our snowmobiles, side-by-side vehicles, and outboard engines are already the best in the industry in terms of fuel consumption, and are milestones towards our goal of providing consumers with increasingly eco-performing technology."
BRP hopes the new R&D partnership with CTA will deliver improved fuel economy in its gasoline engines, and especially for its upcoming hybrid products, and Mihai Rasidescu, president and general manager of the CTA, virtually confirmed this: "Our goal is to develop completely new electric hybrid technology for a three-wheel vehicle that uses 50% less fuel and reduces CO2 emissions by 50% while maintaining its speed, power and performance."
If true, then the hybridised Can-Am Spyder Roadster would still accelerate from zero to 100km/h in under 5.0 seconds.
Some 30 staff, both BRP employees and University researchers, will form the hybrid development team, which plans to create "an entirely new propulsion system" as opposed to modifying existing hybrid technology.
During the next four years the development team "will produce three generations of prototypes and their components" according to BRP.
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