Maruti Suzuki and Toyota have done well in India with strong hybrid versions of the Grand Vitara and Urban Cruiser Hybrid.
Both companies from Japan are planning to launch 5 new hybrid cars in India between 2025 and 2027.
Maruti’s New Hybrid Cars
Maruti Suzuki is expected to introduce a new Z Series 1.2L three-cylinder petrol engine in the next-generation Swift and Dzire. This engine will also be used in the hybrid system to charge the battery pack and provide energy.
The first car to have an electric motor powering the wheels might be the Fruxi facelift, expected to come out by 2025.
After that, we can expect the next-generation Baleno (YTA), Compact MPV (YDB) in 2026, and the fifth-generation Swift, known as YEA, in 2027.
These hybrid cars are expected to have a mileage of more than 35 kilometers per liter.
Using HEV Technology
Maruti Suzuki aims to offer hybrid cars to the mass market and wants to develop the technology themselves to keep prices competitive.
This system will extend the range of the cars.
The new hybrid powertrain series, codenamed HEV, will be more affordable than the current hybrid series because the petrol engine will act as a generator.
The gasoline engine will help increase the range and won’t directly power the vehicle.
Instead, it will generate electricity to power an electric motor, which will then move the wheels.
The electric motor will get power from the battery pack or generator, which is the engine in this case.
This system is similar to the e-Power technology used in Nissan cars worldwide.
