With the accent on clean energy and alternative fuel powered engines, we have moved beyond just CNG powered vehicles. We now see electric buses in our metros and see several other electric vehicles on our roads. Bio fuel options are something else currently being explored. And then there are hybrid vehicles. So what are hybrid cars? Which Indian car manufacturers are currently offering hybrids?
This is a vehicle that has a conventional combustion engine, an electric motor and a hybrid battery. The car switches between the power sources depending upon the driving conditions and requirements. Hybrid engines are very fuel efficient (about 50% more than a comparable conventional car). In some models, the electric battery is self-charging. Due to regenerative self-charging, this sort of hybrid does not need external charging. The running of the car itself charges the battery.
A PHEV is the sort of hybrid vehicle that can be plugged in to charge the battery. This increases the electric driving range. So one can switch to using the combustion engine when the electric battery is exhausted.
Electric vehicles have a single power source which is the battery pack. It has no internal combustion engine. This has a specific range and then needs recharging. A hybrid vehicle has more than one power source which the car alternates between as required. The electric power source for starting and then petrol motor at higher speeds. The battery is charged when the brakes are applied and the car decelerates. Hybrids are low emission vehicles while EVs are zero emission. Hybrids and EVs both typically have some government incentives or tax discounts because they help to reduce pollution as well as reliance on fossil fuel.
Firstly of course there is the fact that the hybrid system increases fuel efficiency dramatically and also significantly lowers emissions. The plugin variety of hybrids lets you increase your range considerably as well. In stop and go traffic on crowded city roads, hybrids intelligently use electric power and don’t waste fuel. There is no energy used while idling. Also unlike a pure EV, the hybrid vehicle doesn’t give you range anxiety – an EV owner who has watched their battery gauge enter the red zone while still on the road knows about this.
A hybrid vehicle is significantly more expensive than an internal combustion vehicle with similar features and size. The battery pack will add to the overall weight of the car. Such a car could be risky in an accident; repairs and spares may be difficult. The discarded batteries present a significant pollution hazard.
The Toyota Prius has long been the byword in hybrid vehicles the world over. About 4 million of these have sold worldwide, making it the bestselling hybrid in the world. However at the Rs 45 lakhs price point, this one didn’t do very well with Indian car owners. The Toyota Camry is another popular hybrid option and thought to be one of the most popular options in India. The Honda Accord hybrid is another car for Indians to consider.
Maruti brands such as the Ciaz, S-Cross, Ertiga, Baleno, XL6 and the Vitara Brezza also include the SHVS (smart hybrid) technology with a dual battery setup that stores and uses power generation during braking. Mahindra Scorpio also has a smart hybrid system (Intelli-Hybrid) that improves driving performance and uses regenerative braking.
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