Kia uses wind power to lower emissions and boost economy

Kia's new Aero-Soul concept utilises wind power to lower emissions and boost economy

In a dramatic, and very cost effective manner, Kia has revealed the new Aero-Soul concept, which aims to drastically reduce Co2 emissions and improve economy by harnessing the power of the wind, in a low-cost solution called Air Propulsion and Retardation Installation Line.

In simple terms, the A.P.R.I.L system uses small sensors built in to the front and rear of the car to monitor wind forces, and deploys wind chutes at the front or rear of the car to aid in braking or forward propulsion.

So at cruising speeds if the wind behind the car is strong – such as in winter gales – the panels will harness wind power to provide forward motion. If the car is slowing or under braking the panels will deploy to provide additional retardation effort. Additionally a small electrically powered baffle can be lowered just behind the exhaust pipe under harsh braking to provide the kind of “reverse-thrust” normally associated with aircraft during landing – this element will only be available as a factory-fitted device.

Systems Manager Avril Babo at Kia’s Eco-Technology Research Institute in Mabuk, south of Seoul said:

“The big problem with most emission reduction systems is that they are expensive. We wanted to come up with an answer that didn’t cost the earth and could be retrospectively applied to cars already on the road.

Tests of this system at our Nong Dam facility have shown that during windy weather fuel consumption can be reduced by up to 25 per cent and emissions by anything up 40 per cent. Even in calm weather using the system simply under braking can result in reductions of 10 per cent and 15 per cent respectively. In perfect conditions – downhill with a following wind fuel use and exhaust gasses can be reduced to almost zero! Plus, brake-pad life can be extended by anything up to 50 per cent depending on driver behaviour”.

The new system will be available on all new orders from Kia after 31st March, with a full after-market kit available for retro-fitting the following day.