Hybrid vehicles are finally making their way into mainstream products in India. Let’s take a look at the different types available and how they function.
Mild Hybrids
A mild hybrid system helps enhance a vehicle’s mileage, however at no point does the system propel the vehicle in pure electric mode. The system uses a smaller battery pack that is charged while driving or coasting and the power from this pack is used to provide a boost to the engine especially during hard acceleration or while dealing with steep inclines. The mild hybrid system does not need to be charged separately. In India, Maruti Suzuki uses a mild hybrid system on their range of products such as the new Brezza, XL6 and Ciaz.
Full Hybrids
A full hybrid vehicle comes with a normal internal combustion engine as well as an electric motor. It also carries a larger battery pack as these vehicles can operate for a certain distance in pure electric mode as well. Typical set ups include a parallel hybrid system or a series hybrid system. With a parallel hybrid, the vehicle can either run in pure electric mode, pure petrol mode or a combination of both. In the series hybrid set up, the wheels get their power from the electric motor only, while the petrol engine is only there to power the electric motor and charge the batteries. Full hybrids charge their battery system in essentially the same way as mild hybrid systems, through energy from the gasoline engine as well as regenerative braking. In India, we can find full hybrid cars from Toyota, Maruti and Honda currently.
Plug-In Hybrids
Plug-in hybrids are essentially full-hybrid vehicles; however, they have a much larger battery pack on board that cannot always be charged through regenerative braking or the motor. For that, it needs an external power source. Because they have a larger battery pack on board, they have the option of offering a longer ‘electric -only’ range and are seen as the ideal in-between product between hybrids and fully electric cars. Currently in India, we don’t have any models on sale, however the BMW i8 which was sold in the country a few years ago was a plug-in hybrid sportscar!
Electric Vehicles with Range Extender Hybrids
Manufacturers offer some EV models with a range extender hybrid system. Such vehicles run in pure electric mode at all times and the range extender comes into play to charge the battery or send power directly to the electric motor in order to allow the owner to get where they need without being stranded. Such vehicles are not very common, and this type of hybrid is essentially being phased out with the rapid network of charging stations being set up.
