Siemens shows off hybrid sports car

A modified hybrid Mercedes C-Class by Siemens

Hybrid sports cars don't make sense, right? People buy hybrid vehicles for fuel economy, not performance, so why would Siemens modify a Mercedes C-Class Sports Coupe into a hybrid?

For starters, the hybrid offers incredible sport's car performance, along with incredible fuel economy for such performance. Moreover, it allows Siemens to debut its new prototype lithium hybrid technology, as well as its lithium battery cooling system - possibly the key to lithium power.

Still, isn't such a vehicle a waste of hybrid technology? Didn't the Honda Accord hybrid prove that performance hybrids don't sell?

Until a new battery is developed, hybrid technology is still just an emerging technology. NiMH batteries are not the future of the automotive revolution. Lithium batteries, or something similar, will power the real hybrid revolution. More important, economies of scale will make lithium-powered vehicles cost-effective compared to conventional vehicles, even expensive sports coupes.

Ultimately, cost-effective lithium technology isn't only about fuel economy, it's about better automobiles, even sports coupes.

--> Read more about the Siemens hybrid in the DetroitNews.