It is a well-known fact that the global automakers are shifting focus towards hybrid and electric technologies from conventional IC engined powertrains. The companies competing in the Indian market is no different as they try to capitalise on the incentives and tax benefits offered by the government and industry rule makers.
The Indian government provides lower excise duty on electrified and hybridised cars under FAME (Faster Adoption of Manufacturing of hybrid and electric Vehicles) as part of National Electric Mobility Mission Plan. ET Auto suggests a dozen of electric and hybrid vehicles are in the frame to be launched in the coming three years as M&M, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai and Maruti Suzuki will be introducing new products.
Also Read: Mahindra Scorpio Intelli Hybrid (Mild Hybrid) Launched in India
In particular, the leading SUV maker in the country is developing a mild hybrid system on the flagship XUV SUV. It has been reported to be arriving in the next fiscal following the recently launched e-Verito. Mahindra is also working on electric version of its micro-SUV, the KUV 100, and four door variant of the E2o spotted testing several times recently.
Mahindra introduced the Scorpio with Intelli-hybrid this past July. It replaced the micro-hybrid system which enabled features like brake energy recuperation and auto start/stop to avail electrical boost when needed for the vehicle during acceleration. It was claimed to improve fuel economy by 7 percent. The same feature could possibly be made available in the 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine of the XUV 500.
Also Read: Mahindra XUV500 W10 Automatic Receives New Features
The conventional engine currently generates 140 bhp power and 330 Nm peak torque and comes mated to a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The mild hybrid XUV 500 will resultantly have increased fuel economy. Like Mahindra, Hyundai Verna has been rumoured to get a soft hybrid next year alongside a Tucson hybrid. VW, Nissan, Honda and Toyota are also in the spotlight for selling pure hybrid models in premium segments in the near future.
Source: ET Auto
