Strong hybrids may slow down pure EV India journey

Recently, it has been noticed that many who have booked pure electric vehicles (EVs), like the Tata Nexon EV, are reconsidering their choices, and if this trend continues, you could actually see strong hybrids slow down the pure EV journey in India.

Car buyers are waiting with bated breath for Toyota and Maruti Suzuki to announce the prices of the Hyryder and Grand Vitara, respectively.

Maruti Grand Vitara hybrid.

These are two cars, which were unveiled with much fanfare in the recent past.

The prices are likely to be known by September, and if the hybrids are priced smartly, many buyers could flock for them.

Maruti had rolled out mild hybrid technology first with its Ciaz in the year 2015, but it saw a tepid response.

However, this time, things are different and the new Grand Vitara has seen many takers.

In less than a week of its unveiling, Maruti clinched 15,000 bookings for the new Vitara. And, over half of the bookings are for the strong hybrid variant.

Strong hybrid versus mild hybrid

Mild hybrids only use their electric motors to support the engine during acceleration and cruising. In fact, the electric motor cannot propel the car on its own because of the low-voltage battery.

However, in a strong hybrid, you can use pure electric power for up to half of your city journey and while moving at speeds up to 50 km an hour. Strong hybrids can do self-charging while on the go.

At higher speeds or when overtaking, especially on a highway, the petrol engine and electric motor work seamlessly to give you a strong power boost.

These hybrids have the advantage of running even in pure EV mode with high fuel efficiency.

Hybrids don’t need charging infrastructure since they are self-charging. And, they also eliminate the range anxiety factor, unlike pure EVs.

Hybrid car plans of automakers

Shashank Srivastava, senior executive director of sales at Maruti Suzuki, said, “Hybrids could, in fact, be the solution for the intermediary period until the EV ecosystem matures.”  

He added, “The slow pace of EV adoption implies that it’s only logical to have multiple powertrains.”

Toyota Hyryder strong hybrid --
Source: Autocarindia.com

Srivastava was upbeat, saying strong hybrid roll outs will mark a shift in consumer behaviour in the passenger car segment.

But with the rolling out of the Hyryder by Toyota and Vitara from the Maruti Suzuki stable in the festive season (October-November), an era of budget strong hybrids is set to unfold in India.

Honda Cars India, which recently rolled out the City hybrid, is fully booked for 10 months, according to the company.

Last financial year, around 115,000 hybrids (mild as well as strong) were sold in India, which is 4.2 per cent of the 2.7 million passenger vehicles sold.

However, the share of strong hybrid cars was only 800 units. This is because a small number of players have offered such products. 

Prices of this category of hybrids would be revealed just ahead of launch, maybe around September-October.

Conclusion

So, if these strong hybrids are priced at par with pure EVs, and if the government also matches the subsidies for these two categories of green vehicles, it could slow down the pure EV journey in India.