3 posts tagged “hybrid cars”
Suzuki is moving forward to the future with a furore. This Japanese auto maker is leaving no stone unturned in its way of exploring the better way to drive in to the future. Come this year’s Tokyo Motor Show and Suzuki has big plans to make the show its own and how? Suzuki is unveiling a Swift with a Plug-In hybrid and a Suzuki SX4-FCW hydrogen drive under the slogan: “Small Cars for a Big Future” at the Tokyo Motor Show.
The Swift Plug-In is designed for short city trips with a petrol-driven generator in addition loading the battery of the electric engine. The battery can also be connected to an electric household socket that gives the car a range of 20 km on one charge. Now that’s a swift action by Suzuki on Swift. What say?
Suzuki is also showcasing the SX4-FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicle) with a fuel cell unit designed by General Motors. The high-pressure hydrogen fuel tank has been designed by the Japanese manufacturer with additional energy coming from brake regeneration.
Suzuki, which has ridden on the back of these two successful models in gasoline variants, has done all right with the proposed plans of producing the hybrid versions of these cars. Suzuki is currently carrying out field tests with the SX4 for possible serial production. Let’s all hope that Maruti Suzuki brings in these models to the Indian car market.
Fuel prices shoot up and we have the environmentalists hoarding up banners for CO2 emission. “Go Green” seems to be the slogan everywhere. This is the time when the image of an Electric Car flashes in your mind’s eyes.
Electric vehicles (EV) are driven from energy storage in the form of battery packages. This energy could be from any source. It could be from the elements: air, water and the sun. Energy for EVs can be obtained from fossil fuels and nuclear power and can be stored in the batteries or fuel cells. The power in the batteries wears out after a certain mileage. But, the power cells can be replenished once they get exhausted.
Electric cars, also known as Alternative Fuel Cars, have been pricey for a common man to afford. The comfort level of these cars is negligible. Moreover, these cars could not give the performance of a regular petrol or diesel car.
Car manufacturers are giving a thought to the concept of Alternative Fuel Cars. Cars of this type do not have a internal combustion engine. As a result, we have witnessed the rise of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). These hybrid cars are powered by rechargeable cells, which can easily be plugged in to a electric power source. Plug-in hybrids reduce air pollution and converse fossil fuel as their batteries are charged with nuclear or renewable energy.
People were excited with the hybrid technology coming to India and India’s first hybrid car Honda Civic hybrid was launched last week but the excitement faded away when the price tag was turned. The car carries the price of Rs.21, 50,000, which is pretty high to afford.
The reason for the high price is said to be the import duty, as most of the car components are imported. This hybrid car attracts 110 percent of custom duty as the technology also demands higher tax. If the green cars are so expensive, people will not opt for it. Government should atleast work on the import duty so that the price burden will be reduced.
