A study at Australia's University of Melbourne shows that cars using telemetrics are as efficient as hybrids. This makes sense because both systems attempt to smooth out the most wasteful moments in driving. However, telemetrics is impractical at this point except on test tracks.
Hybrid vehicles, such as the Toyota Prius, use an electric motor and a gasoline engine which are deployed in different ratios of power while driving to use less fuel than a gasoline engine alone.
In contrast, "intelligent" cars are conventional vehicles that are fitted with telematics.
These are sensors and receivers that work in a network combining land and mobile information, controlling acceleration and braking so that the ride is smooth and avoids the stop-start phenomenon that so drains fuel.
What's to stop someone from incorporating this beneficial technology into all cars? Then we'd have "intelligent" ordinary cars along with "super-genius" hybrids.
Something tells me that a hybrid in the hand is better than two "intelligent" cars in the bush. Still it's a step in the right direction.
I'm thinking a more accurate title would be: "If we had 'intelligent' cars in the future, they might be as fuel-efficient as present day hybrids.'" A tad wordy, but eh...
I think the benefits of hybrid technology decline in a controlled start/stop situation, but it would be interesting to test a hybrid using telemetrics and see how much more could be squeezed out.
Of course, intelligent drivers go a long way in conserving fuel too.
Amen on the intelligent driver comment. A well-programmed human brain can do wonders.