As I have found with my 'buying used' article research, when the Koreans make something, it's made to last. So, while they may not be first on the floor, they do their homework fastidiously until they're happy with the product. So, what is Kia busy with? Hybrids seem like they will be the short to medium term motoring flavour, blending battery power with electric motors with a small economical engine, presently of petrol variety.

Kia has just launched its first LPI (liquid petroleum injection) in the Cerato line-up. This uses a 1,6-litre Gamma LPI engine with a CVT gearbox and an electric motor, inverter to change direct current to alternating current and, most important of all, the use of lithium ion polymer batteries instead of the usual nickel-metal hydrid variety.

Presently, this is only for sale in Korea, but depending on demand and availability of LPG (liquid petroleum gas) refueling stations, it may be exported. Using their research and development facility's wind tunnel, the aerodynamics have been improved to drop the drag coefficient from 0,29 to 0,26. Another feature is stop and go, wherby the engine is turned off instead of being left to idle. Claimed fuel consumption is 5,6 litres/100 km. The next vehicle to receive the HEV treatment is the larger Lotze (alias Optima/Magentis). The aim for production is 2011 and will be released in Korea, thereafter the USA.

Planned for mass production in 2013 is a range of vehicles called plug-in hybrids (PHEV) that are charged overnight and have a respectable range before needing the assistance of the engine. This transfers most of the energy requirements of your transport to the (more efficient) power stations, with a back-up small engine in case you forget, or there is a power failure overnight and so covers all the bases. Of course, calculating the real cost of your journeys becomes a bit trickier, as you must work out the fuel used plus the electrical power consumed in the re-charging process.

At the extreme end of the research is the FCEV (fuel cell electric vehicle). Using hydrogen stored at high pressure, this allows one of the simplest chemical equations to happen, namely two molecules of hydrogen plus one molecule of oxygen combining, with the only emissions being two molecules of water ( 2H2+ O2 = 2 H2O). This chemical reaction releases electrical energy that can be used to drive an electric motor and is more efficient than merely burning the hydrogen to produce heat to drive a turbine/alternator.

Of course, there is one small problem as they say in the classics, that of producing the hydrogen in the first place. It is possible to produce hydrogen from petrol or natural gas, but it requires high temperatures and also produces carbon monoxide and dioxide. Other methods are possible, but the most promising will be the electrolysis of water, but then again this requires electrical energy costing more than the value of the hydrogen produced. So, if the sun’s energy or some other form of renewable energy such as wind turbines can be used, then a viable source of production might be possible without pollution.

Kia began its FCEV research in 1998 and is continuing until the stage for mass production can be set. The present Mohave and Sportage vehicles utilize 115 kW worth of fuel cell stacks, a 100 kW capacitor, 110 kW electric motor, and with 700 bar pressure in the hydrogen tank, can so far achieve a 750 km range.