While EVs are gaining popularity, robust hybrids offer another solution to the problem of reducing fuel consumption.
Hybrid technology has existed in the auto industry for decades. Applications in today’s cars range from ever-increasing mill-hybrid technology that provides limited electrical support to self-charging hybrids and plug-in hybrids that allow owners to drive their car or SUV on electric power alone for limited distances. Huh. Here we only take into account the latter two hybrids and take a look at which hybrid cars are currently on sale in the Indian market.
Honda City E:HEV Hybrid
photo credit: honda
Honda City E: HEV is the most affordable petrol-electric hybrid sedan you can get in India at Rs 19.50 lakh (ex-showroom). The sedan is Honda’s third hybrid car to arrive in India after the hybrid iterations of the Accord and Civic over the years. Honda’s system uses two electric motors along with an onboard battery and petrol engine to power the front wheels. The system is capable of running in pure EV mode for short periods of time in traffic and is being used as a range extender in hybrid mode for the engine to power the motor and charge the battery. The City E: HEV also gets a third drive mode where the engine powers the wheels directly.
Toyota Camry Hybrid
Think Hybrids and Camry might be the first cars to come to your mind. The Camry Hybrid has been available for sale for several generations, with the current-gen sedan available only as a hybrid. The Camry is powered by a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that produces 215 Bhp coupled with a permanent magnet electric motor. The electric motor is paired with a 245V battery that allows owners to drive limited distances in pure EV mode, as the petrol engine kicks in when the speed increases or the battery is depleted. The Camry Hybrid is priced at Rs 43.45 Lakh (ex-showroom).
Lexus ES Hybrid
Toyota luxury arm Lexus is also big on hybrid technology, so much so that almost its entire model line-up in India is equipped with a hybrid powerplant. Sister model to the Camry, the ES uses essentially the same hybrid set-up as the Camry, with the electric powertrain allowing all EVs to run at lower speeds to help reduce fuel consumption and boost economy. It alternates between petrol and electric at high speed.
Lexus NX Hybrid
The NX is Lexus’s smallest SUV in the Indian market, with prices starting at Rs 64.90 lakh. Like most of Lexus’ line-up, it is only available with a hybrid powertrain consisting of a 2.5-litre petrol engine with two electric motors – one on the rear axle – to give it an all-wheel-drive layout.
Toyota Vellfire Hybrid
At Rs 90.80 lakh (ex-showroom), the Vellfire is the most expensive Toyota Hybrid on sale in the country. The upmarket MPV aims to offer Toyota only with its own hybrid technology against models like the Mercedes V-Class. Like the Camry, the Vellfire also uses a 2.5-litre petrol engine, though the Camry has only one electric motor, the Vellfire uses two to give it a pseudo-all-wheel drive layout. One motor works in conjunction with the engine and the other is mounted on the rear axle.
Volvo XC90 Recharge PHEV
photo credit: www.volvocars.com
Volvo’s flagship SUV in India is available with either a petrol or petrol-hybrid powertrain. The T8 twin-engine set-up pairs the company’s 2.0-litre petrol engine with a rear axle-mounted electric motor and an integrated starter generator. Unlike the self-charging hybrid mentioned above, the XC90 is a plug-in hybrid, which means its battery pack is capable of being charged from an external power source if it runs out. Like other hybrids, the XC90 Recharge also lets owners drive in EV mode only at city speeds, as the engine kicks in when the speed increases or the battery pack runs out of charge.
Lexus RX Hybrid
Currently sold in its long wheelbase body style, the RX follows an SUV-coupe design with the flexibility of a third row of seating. While priced at Rs 1.11 crore (ex-showroom) for the SUV, the RX is loaded with technology and pairs a 3.0-litre V6 with two electric motors to drive the wheels. The engine and front electric motor are the primary drive units, with the rear axle mounted unit kicking in whenever the situation demands it. Lexus recently revealed an all new generation of RX in the global markets.
BMW 7 Series 745Le
One of the most expensive hybrids you can buy currently, the current 7 Series is available with the option of a plug-in hybrid powertrain at a price of Rs 1.75 crore (ex-showroom). The 745Le is available with xDrive all-wheel drive as standard and pairs BMW’s familiar 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with an electric motor and 10.4kWh battery pack. Total system output is rated at 389 bhp and 600Nm. BMW claims that the 745Le has a full-electric range of up to 50 km on a full charge and can hit a top speed of 140 kmph on EV power alone.
Lexus LS500h Hybrid
The flagship sedan from Lexus is one of the most priceless hybrids in the market currently, with a price tag of around Rs 1.91 crore (ex-showroom). The LS is also available with a hybrid only set-up in which a V6 petrol engine has been paired with an electric motor to develop a combined 354 bhp. The LS also promises a lot in terms of cabin comfort along with an extensive list of features. The LS is a CBU import and is the closest direct competitor to the BMW 745Le.
Lexus LC500h Hybrid
While many sportscars are only now getting electrified, Lexus has long offered the LC Coupe with a hybrid powertrain option in the markets. For Indy, the LC remains a hybrid that develops a combined power of 354 bhp only by pairing a V6 petrol motor with a 132kW electric motor.
0 notes
While these are hybrids that have been officially launched in the country, Land Rover has started bookings for the Defender plug-in hybrid in India since late last year, though the SUV is yet to be launched. The company has also listed the new Range Rover plug-in hybrid on its website and price list, though an official launch is yet to take place.
for the latest auto news And reviewFollow carandbike.com Twitter, Facebookand ours. subscribe to youtube Channel.