Hotmail: Suzuki Swift Plug-in Hybrid and SX4-FCV

Making their own foray into the world of electric vehicles, Suzuki is bringing two electrified versions of its Swift compact car to the Tokyo Motor Show, one a plug-in hybrid and the other a fuel-cell vehicle.
The more conventional Swift Plug-in Hybrid is really more of an extended-range electric vehicle and operates much like the Chevrolet Volt. Like the Chevy, an electric motor actually drives the wheels while a small gasoline engine acts only as a generator that produces electricity to either recharge the battery or power the electric motor. The battery can also be recharged by plugging it into a wall socket. Suzuki is targeting the car at in-city commuters who, according to the company’s research, travel less than 15 miles per day on average. By adding the gas-powered generator, though, the Swift Plug-in Hybrid isn’t limited by its battery size.
While Suzuki hasn’t released any information about the Swift Plug-in Hybrid’s range or fuel-economy, it’s expected to be impressive thanks in part to the car’s small size and weight. Suzuki hasn’t announced production plans either, but it’s likely the technology will see production in the future even if this exact car doesn’t.
SX4 1
The more advanced of the Swift concepts is the SX4-FCV, a fuel-cell vehicle. Using a GM-built fuel-cell and a 10,000-psi hydrogen tank to generate electricity, the SX4-FCV operates similarly to the Swift Plug-in Hybrid except that the fuel-cell generates electricity rather than a gasoline engine. The SX4-FCV is actually the latest generation of the vehicle and boasts improved handling and performance thanks to its more compact components and lighter weight. The previous-generation vehicle is already testing on Japanese roads and is destined for the open market in the near future according to Suzuki.