We have spent decades researching how we can make vehicles that are kinder to the environment, producing technologies such as hybrid that have already proved their value in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping us move towards a low carbon society. We are still on that journey and we want to reduce our vehicle CO2 emissions by 90% by 2050, compared to the level we were at in 2010.

It is not just about reducing CO2, however. We share the concerns of governments and consumers around the world about the importance of air quality and continue to invest in finding ways of reducing vehicle emissions that directly impact on people’s health, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulates (PM) within our 360-degree view of design and technology innovation.

Around the world, people use different types of vehicles to suit their lifestyle and their local environment. Some may only need a small car for short urban journeys, while others require a larger and more powerful vehicle to make regular long-distance trips. Concern about the environment and cutting carbon emissions cuts across these differences, which is why we believe there is no single solution when it comes to creating the ultimate eco-car. With our hybrid system we have produced a low carbon technology that can be used in multiple ways to address these different demands.

Ever since vehicles began using the internal combustion engine in the late 19th century, they have largely relied on fossil fuels that produce CO2 and contribute to global warming. While conventional engines will continue to play an important role in the short to medium term, we are researching and developing alternatives such as biofuels from organic sources, electricity and, more recently, hydrogen. With this multi-path approach we aim to secure better environmental performance by providing the right car, in the right place, at the right time.

Our technology roadmap brings together a broad range of environmental technologies for cleaner, more efficient future mobility, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric battery power and fuel cell systems. Each technology moves us closer to our goal of creating the ultimate eco-car. By 2050 our aim is reduce our vehicle CO2 emissions by 90% compared to the level in 2010. It is an ambitious vision, but we are committed to developing and refining these new technologies and bringing them to the market so that their benefits can be realised in real-world driving.

Our multi-award-winning Hybrid Synergy Drive hybrid power system is the core technology shared by all the different powertrains in our roadmap. The fact it is modular in design means that it can easily be adapted for use in different types of vehicle. In plug-in hybrids it is largely unchanged, but uses a more powerful battery that can be recharged from an external power supply. In electric vehicles its format is simpler with no petrol engine and a more powerful electric motor. In fuel cell hybrids the petrol engine is replaced by the fuel cell stack, to generate electricity from hydrogen fuel with no harmful tailpipe emissions.