New Delhi: A hybrid vehicle gives the experience of ICE and the benefit of EV with the push of a button. For potential buyers who find EVs expensive and gas prices prohibitive, hybrids are alternatives that fit within the budget and give better fuel efficiency than ICE vehicles.
Hybrid passenger vehicle sales continued to be dominated by Toyota (74%), followed by Maruti (25%) and Honda (1%) in Q3 2023. Their highest sales were in Q1 2023 with 22,389 units. Sales fell in Q2 to 14,399 units and revived to 22,022 units in Q3 as per an AutoPunditz report.
In the following article, ETAuto explores the various aspects of hybrid cars that one should be aware of before buying any.
Q: What is a hybrid vehicle?
Hybrid vehicles demonstrate the type of vehicle that is a mix of a gasoline engine and an electric motor. It differs from standard gasoline cars which are based solely on diesel/petrol, while in hybrids we combine gasoline with one electric powertrain.
In certain situations, a gas engine does all the work of recapturing energy, and sometimes electric motors, and sometimes both work together.
Electricity is generated from a high-voltage battery (other than the car’s conventional battery), that is replenished by generating energy from the deceleration that is produced in heat by the brakes in conventional cars. The system of generating heating after applying the brakes is done through the regenerative braking system.
Hybrids use the ICE to charge and maintain the electric battery of a car. OEMs use multiple hybrid designs depending on the requirements of the user.
Q: How does a hybrid car work?
How HEVs work is quite simple to comprehend. The power of a hybrid electric vehicle is generated through the internal combustion engine and electric motor. The electric motor consumes the electrical energy stored in the electric battery pack in the car. The charging of the battery pack is done through the regenerative braking system or via a generator that is run by ICE. Both the electric motor and ICE work in conjunction to give comfort to the passengers and save maximum fuel for the car.
The additional power generated through the electric motor helps the ICE to improve the efficiency of the vehicle. Electric battery packs assist in charging the other electronic components in the cars too like lights.
Hybrid cars primarily put their electric motor in action when the driver wants to have low-speed driving, coasting, or decelerating; all these factors rely upon the battery’s charging capability. Hybrid vehicles are fuel-efficient; they use fuel engines only when they are climbing sloppy landscapes (mountains or hills), accelerating, or when extra power is required.
Q: What makes a hybrid car different from conventional ICE and electric cars?
The electric powertrain saves fuel when the car’s engine starts/stops, where the engine has an automated command to shut off when not in use. It automatically starts when the driver presses the throttle pedal. HEV-like EVs need not have to be plugged into any external charger.
They automatically charge the car’s hybrid battery, thus eradicating the necessity of external charging stations. Hybrids provide the user with better fuel efficiency and lower emissions than conventional vehicles. While electric cars derive power from a single source, i.e., an electric motor/ powertrain to run.
Q: What are the types of hybrid vehicles, and which HEV suits you the best?
HEVs can be classified into four types based on power delivery and distribution.
Series Hybrid: Series hybrids are also known as Range extenders, where the ICE powers the electric powertrain. Electric generators power the wheels and engines power the electric battery pack. It is known as a range extender as the ICE powers the electric powertrain and the battery pack.
Parallel Hybrid: As the name suggests both the electric powertrain and the ICE work parallel and in conjunction to propel the car. The efficient and smooth functioning of the car is done through both the IC engine and the electric motor. The electric battery as mentioned above gets recharged via a regenerative braking system.
Plug-In Hybrids (PHEVs): It is different from the ones mentioned above, it has a larger battery pack that has to be recharged through an external power source. It is a hybrid whose battery has to be plugged in to recharge from the grid. People are shifting to PHEVs as they feel it will reach the zero-emission goal without them transiting to a completely new setup of EVs.
Mild Hybrids: As the name suggests, these types of hybrids have less powerful electric motors which can’t propel the vehicles themselves. They work between the engine and the transmission, which can be a part of the starter-generator system. The motor adds energy to the ICE whenever required to boost it and save the potential fuel.
Q: How to maintain a hybrid car?
Hybrid cars require more maintenance than the conventional ones. The first thing you need to focus on is your car’s battery, which is expensive to replace. If you think that the battery’s state is not good, then you need to buy a new one soon. If the battery condition is good, then take proper care of it. The fan filter is crucial that you have to do on a high-voltage battery, as it ensures that the heat is dissipated appropriately and prevents battery cells from dying. They are affordable when it comes to their operations. Hybrid cars don’t have alternators, which implies that routine maintenance is budget-friendly.
Q: What are the pros and cons of Hybrid cars?
Pros
1. Cleaner emissions: When we talk about internal combustion, hybrid cars have both electric motors and internal combustion engines. This leads to reduced emissions and is more environmentally friendly.
2. Compact and efficient engine: The smaller engines don’t have to power the hybrid cars all alone; there is an electric motor too. The engines used in such cars are small, thus making them more fuel-efficient.
3. Braking: Whenever the brake is applied in a hybrid car, the electric motor generates electricity and recharges the battery through a regenerative braking system. Thus, you don’t have to worry about charging your electric battery.
Cons
1. Reduced performance: The main motive of hybrid cars is to increase fuel efficiency, but the power or acceleration are far behind those of conventional engine cars.
2. Not budget-friendly: Though the companies are trying to reduce the price of hybrid cars and make them comparable to conventional ones, the cars are still more expensive.
3. Increased maintenance: With two engine parts in one hybrid car, they demand increased maintenance. Plus, not every mechanical engineer knows how to repair it.
Q: Indian automotive manufacturers take on hybrid vehicles?
For automakers, the hybrid is a smooth transition between the Internal Combustion Engine to Electric Vehicles. The CTO of Maruti Suzuki, C.V Raman said in 2022 that in the coming five years, Maruti will focus on Hybrid cars. Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) in 2022 launched a campaign, ‘Hum hai Hybrid’ to promote its hybrid cars. Honda is also launching multiple hybrid cars.
Q:Which are some of the top hybrid cars in the market?
1. Toyota Innova Hycross INR 18L- 31L
2. Toyota Hyryder INR 10L- 20L
3. Maruti Suzuki Vitara INR 10L- 20L
4. Maruti Suzuki Invicto INR 24L -29 L
5. Toyota Vellfire INR 1.2cr – 1.3cr
6. Honda City Hybrid, INR 18L – 21L
