IndexFrom the more than sixty models developed to use energies other than petroleum being presented on the stands of this 80th edition of the Geneva International Motor Show, two different types of attractions will be centred on “alternative” vehicle technologies. The Green Pavilion lifts the covers from projects and prototypes for the future and also provides the opportunity to test drive some of the ecologically-friendly models available today.
Since last year, the old Hall 3 at Palexpo has become the Green Pavilion, an area entirely dedicated to vehicles developed to reduce fuel consumption and automobile-based pollution, i.e., the vehicles of the future.
Whether it is a stage for concept cars or those ready for production, all-electric vehicles or hybrids, tangible examples of these future options will occupy centre stage at the Green Pavilion. Here you will find an electric Mini, the highly anticipated battery-powered HydroGen4 from Opel, a hybrid liquid natural gas and electric model from the Korean firm KIA, or a city car powered by the latest generation of batteries developed by the Croatian company DOK-ING. The start-up group “i-Volt SA” will present their Italian-designed Tazzari-Zero, an electric-powered two-seater.
And just to demonstrate that green energies are not incompatible with high performance or driving pleasure, two sports cars will be featured in this “ecological” area: the all-electric GreenGT developed near Lausanne and the fabulous hybrid sports car Quarantafrom Italdesign-Giugiaro.
The Green Pavilion will also feature exhibits from several institutions displaying some very interesting collective efforts, for example, from the Duale Hochschule Baden Wurttemberg (DHBW) from Manheim or the Engineering School of Bienne. Latter will demonstrate how electric and hybrid vehicles have occupied the aspirations of constructors since the early days of the automobile. They will display the 1916 Detroit, built between 1907 – 1938 in the USA alongside and in contrast to the SAM, an ultra modern electric car powered by an energy cell. There is also the famous Icare project, involving numerous partner organisations including the High School of Engineering of the Canton of Vaud (HEIG-VD), the enterprises Swiss Engineering, and Romande Energie, which not only have developed a vehicle powered by wind and by the sun, which is totally free of CO2 emissions, but has undertaken another exploit by using this vehicle to make a round-the-world journey covering 30 countries from Spring 2010 to Autumn 2011. Then there is the Professional Centre of Northern Vaud (CPNV) and its team Jurassic Test which has developed a prototype ultra-light tri-hybrid (solar, batteries, and human muscle) two-seater vehicle.
In addition, the Swiss company TEXX will present their recharging stations for electric vehicles that are the most powerful in the world.
And finally, there will « green vehicles » available for test drives within the confines of the Motor Show organised by some of the constructors or importers. For more specific information regarding this topic, visitors are invited to consult the official website www.salon-auto.ch, or the special brochure that will be distributed at the Show.
A press conference will be held at the Green Pavilion on March 3, 2010 at 10:30 a.m., featuring Mr. Rolf Studer, Managing Director of the Geneva International Motor Show.
Geneva, February 24, 2010 (approx. 3'500 characters including spaces)
