Mahindra & Mahindra, the country’s largest utility vehicle maker, is developing the world’s first hybrid technology that can be deployed in vehicles with manual transmission and enhance fuel efficiency by almost 20%. The company, which may debut its hybrids at February’s Indian Motor Show, has established a place for itself in green technologies with close to 4 lakh so-called micro-hybrid vehicles on Indian roads.
It also owns the world’s largest electric car company, by production capacity, Mahindra Reva, which sells the E2O hatchback, the world’s most affordable four-seater car that only uses battery power to run. The company is now moving to the next level of sustainable green mobility by focusing on full-scale hybrids and has roped in technology partners that have the expertise. “We have signed up with Samsung SDI, which is the global leader in lithium ion batteries for development and supply of these batteries for our hybrid range of vehicles,” Rajan Wadhera, chief executive - technology and product development, told ET from Cape Town in South Africa where he was attending a company meeting. “We are perfecting the hybrid technology to deploy it in various platforms and vehicles across the Mahindra range.”
Hybrids generally pair electric motors and regular engines and use batteries to store energy from motion and braking. They also use aerodynamic design to reduce drag and new materials to lower weight. Mahindra’s micro-hybrids reduce fuel wastage by shutting off the engine when it’s not needed. Hybrids — such as the Toyota Prius, with sales of more than three million units worldwide — come with automatic transmission. Otherhybrid variants include the Honda Jazz, Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Volt, all automatics.
Elon Musk’s Tesla makes all-electric cars that have gained a significant market share in the US in the last few years thanks to their sleek design and performance , although the company recently had to defend itself over some vehicles catching fire. Automatic cars, although they have gained ground of late in India, still aren’t as popular in the country as they cost more and are less fuel-efficient. That’s why Mahindra is going the manualtransmission route. “We are keen to develop a manual transmission mode compatible with the hybrid technology,” Wadhera said. “It is expected to be more efficient and also more adaptable to the range of vehicles sold across various markets.”
Other technology partners include Germany’s largest auto component maker ZF and tyre maker Continental. The fullscale hybrids are likely to be available as the top-end variants of sports utility vehicles such as the XUV500 and Scorpio. Both these models have micro-hybrid variants that enhance mileage up to 5% by switching off the engine when not required.
Various automakers in India have been trying to take fuel efficiency to the next level by developing different technologies to partially offset the spiralling cost of fuel. Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Honda and Toyota Kirloskar are working on microhybrids, electric assists and start-stop technologies to decrease fuel consumption and increase the efficiency of petrol and diesel engines. Maruti has introduced start-stop technology, which increases fuel efficiency by 5-7%, in some of the models that it exports. The company plans to offer this option in top-end variants in the local market as well. Mahindra officials expect that the initial success of its hybrid vehicles will establish new yardsticks for fuel efficiency in the Indian market.
“A hybrid electric vehicle combines conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion system leading to improved fuel economy and efficiency,” said a person close to the development. “Mahindra’s commitment to bring about a cleaner and greener future is exemplified through the partnerships entered with leading global technology conglomerates and pioneering consultants.”
It also owns the world’s largest electric car company, by production capacity, Mahindra Reva, which sells the E2O hatchback, the world’s most affordable four-seater car that only uses battery power to run. The company is now moving to the next level of sustainable green mobility by focusing on full-scale hybrids and has roped in technology partners that have the expertise. “We have signed up with Samsung SDI, which is the global leader in lithium ion batteries for development and supply of these batteries for our hybrid range of vehicles,” Rajan Wadhera, chief executive - technology and product development, told ET from Cape Town in South Africa where he was attending a company meeting. “We are perfecting the hybrid technology to deploy it in various platforms and vehicles across the Mahindra range.”
Hybrids generally pair electric motors and regular engines and use batteries to store energy from motion and braking. They also use aerodynamic design to reduce drag and new materials to lower weight. Mahindra’s micro-hybrids reduce fuel wastage by shutting off the engine when it’s not needed. Hybrids — such as the Toyota Prius, with sales of more than three million units worldwide — come with automatic transmission. Otherhybrid variants include the Honda Jazz, Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Volt, all automatics.
Elon Musk’s Tesla makes all-electric cars that have gained a significant market share in the US in the last few years thanks to their sleek design and performance , although the company recently had to defend itself over some vehicles catching fire. Automatic cars, although they have gained ground of late in India, still aren’t as popular in the country as they cost more and are less fuel-efficient. That’s why Mahindra is going the manualtransmission route. “We are keen to develop a manual transmission mode compatible with the hybrid technology,” Wadhera said. “It is expected to be more efficient and also more adaptable to the range of vehicles sold across various markets.”
Other technology partners include Germany’s largest auto component maker ZF and tyre maker Continental. The fullscale hybrids are likely to be available as the top-end variants of sports utility vehicles such as the XUV500 and Scorpio. Both these models have micro-hybrid variants that enhance mileage up to 5% by switching off the engine when not required.
Various automakers in India have been trying to take fuel efficiency to the next level by developing different technologies to partially offset the spiralling cost of fuel. Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Honda and Toyota Kirloskar are working on microhybrids, electric assists and start-stop technologies to decrease fuel consumption and increase the efficiency of petrol and diesel engines. Maruti has introduced start-stop technology, which increases fuel efficiency by 5-7%, in some of the models that it exports. The company plans to offer this option in top-end variants in the local market as well. Mahindra officials expect that the initial success of its hybrid vehicles will establish new yardsticks for fuel efficiency in the Indian market.
“A hybrid electric vehicle combines conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion system leading to improved fuel economy and efficiency,” said a person close to the development. “Mahindra’s commitment to bring about a cleaner and greener future is exemplified through the partnerships entered with leading global technology conglomerates and pioneering consultants.”
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