Tennessee University Shows Off Add-On Plug-In Hybrid Kit [Video]

We’ve always said that instead of engineering and building new cars, we could convert our existing ones to run on electricity or whatever is greener and more freely available. It is a great idea, as you don’t have to get used to a new car, you can keep your old one without a care in the world.

While there are many companies who can no convert pretty much any car to run on electricity, most people will be put off by the limited range and long charge times. This is why hybrids are gaining so much popularity, as they use both their electric motor and petrol engine to achieve very good economy figures - especially in town.

Well, it seems that hybrid kits will be the way to go, as they seem to be quite easy to install, yet offer substantial benefits in fuel efficiency right off the bat, judging by this kit, which is the work of nine students from the Middle Tennessee State University, and one of their professors, Dr. Charles Perry.

They have patented a bolt-on hybrid system which genuinely seems to work, thanks in no small part to the simplicity of the concept itself. According to Dr. Perry, they have analyzed all possible ways in which to turn a car into a hybrid and have reached the conclusion that hub motors are the best way to go - we agree, as they are the solution which can easily be fitted to virtually any car (they were using a Honda Civc Estate, for their test runs).

Apparently, the kit is quite cheap for what it is, with a price around the $3,000 mark (we say it could go even lower, and if it does, then it will really take off). We honestly hope it does as it is by far the greenest way to go green, as you are not ditching your current car to buy another which would be built at great cost (both financial and environmental).

Story via autoblog.com and mtsunews.com