Intro: Car dealers are gearing up for sale of hybrid cars and say, lack of charging infrastructure is impeding the growth of EVs.
Hybrid vehicle as the name suggests includes at least one electric motor and a gasoline engine.
According to a Toyota dealer based in Delhi, people are preferring hybrids over EVs and that has grown in 2024. According to an ET survey close to 36% of the respondents surveyed in 2024 said they preferred hybrids as compared to the 10% who preferred EVs.
Clearly lack of charging infrastructure is impeding the growth of EVs in India. Hybrids are also preferred as they make the transition to EVs smoother.
According to the dealers, People who want a cheaper option for a sustainable transport, hybrids are alternatives that fit the budget, and give better fuel efficiency as well.
A hybrid vehicle gives the experience of Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and the benefit of an EV with the push of a button.
Also compared to EVs, hybrids have smaller batteries that store only enough energy to assist the internal-combustion portion of the powertrain for short stints, so the environmental impact of their manufacture is comparatively lower, yet they still rely on fossil fuels.
Many automobile companies like Maruti and Toyota are betting big on hybrid technology. If hybrids are expensive, it is because of high government taxes.
As per a Maruti Dealer in Noida, Brezza which is a mild Hybrid in the range of Rs 13 lakh is doing very well. Almost 50% of all sales in that particular showroom is of Brezza. Grand Vitara and Invicto models are already doing well and the hybridisation of more models could push the overall sales in the short-term.
According to the dealer, hybrids are a great way to achieve the emission target till electric vehicles become common.
The Toyota dealer also pointed out that another reason why hybrids are being preferred is that EV charging infrastructure is not widespread in Indian cities.
A study conducted by IIT Kanpur suggests that the taxes on hybrids should be the same as EVs. The study also pointed out Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) release the least amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) compared to the other two categories of vehicles.
There are four types of hybrids available in India – mild hybrid, strong hybrid, and plug-in-hybrid and electric vehicles with range extender.
Types of hybrids:
There are four types of hybrids available in India – mild hybrid, strong hybrid, and plug-in-hybrid and electric vehicles with range extender.
Mild Hybrids: One of the most recent advances in hybrid technology is the “mild” hybrid system. Like the name implies, a mild hybrid system normally isn’t going to propel the vehicle on electric power alone. Mild hybrids, which are typically found in 48 volt electric systems, do not require a plug to operate. Instead, the batteries are recharged using a combination of gasoline engine power and energy collected during braking (also known as regenerative braking). Some examples of mild hybrids are Hyundai Tucson, Ford, Puma, Ford Fiesta, Suzuki Swift.
Strong hybrids
Full hybrid vehicles, like mild hybrids, include both a gasoline engine and an electrical component. However, the electrical component in a full hybrid vehicle can handle significantly more of the workload than a mild hybrid. Most full hybrids can travel for some distance entirely on electric power. This generally occurs at slower city speeds.
This system is found in Toyota’s Camry and Lexus hybrid cars.
Plug-in-hybrids
While above mentioned hybrids only charge their batteries internally, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) charge their batteries both internally and externally. As a result, plug-in hybrids tend to have longer electric-only ranges than full hybrids. Plug-in hybrids are essentially a halfway point between full hybrid and fully electric automobiles.
PHEVs can run as electric vehicles in cities, significantly reducing tailpipe pollution. In India, only a few cars are equipped with PHEV technology, including luxury SUVs like the Volvo XC90 and Porsche Cayenne, luxury sedans like the Porsche Panamera.
