Designing its own strong hybrid powertrain named HEV, Maruti Suzuki is really pushing the agenda of hybrid car technology. The Indo-Japanese automaker is preparing to enter the hybrid market segment with a new system in 2025 initially in the top-selling Fronx compact crossover and then in Baleno, Swift, and a small MPV.
Although the launch timings for Swift and Baleno hybrid models are yet to be finalized, auto industry sources say 2026 appears to be feasible for them to enter. The two Maruti hybrids are to use the series hybrid configuration, which will be less expensive than Toyota's Atkinson cycle technology currently applied in the Maruti Grand Vitara midsize SUV and Invicto MPV.
The Series Hybrid Benefits Relative To The Series-Parallel And Parallel-Only Hybrid Configuration Maruti Suzuki's series hybrid system is poised to offer several significant benefits relative to other hybrid configurations:
Simple Mechanical Layout: The design for the series hybrid system is exceptionally simple. The internal combustion engine will produce power to run the electric motor rather than powering the wheels.
Superior City Driveability: The electric motor powers just the wheels and regenerative braking supports battery charge and range through stop-and-go traffic better than parallel hybrids are able to accomplish.
Low Maintenance Cost: Series hybrid powertrains are less maintenance than series-parallel configurations since their straightforward design steers clear of using clutches, transmissions, and extremely complex gear systems.
Doubles As Range-Extended EV: With greater battery integration and pure electric range, the system can potentially be a range-extended electric vehicle.
Improved Fuel Efficiency: Series hybrid powertrains provide improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions over parallel hybrid systems since internal combustion engines never maintain optimal RPM range.
Strong hybrid technology would be combined with the Z-Series petrol engine that has recently appeared on the new-gen Swift. The new Maruti strong hybrid vehicles, apparently, will have over 35 kilometers to the liter fuel efficiency numbers, a marked improvement compared to the usual powertrains. The company feels that this move toward hybrid technology is a significant compromise between conventional internal combustion engines and completely electric vehicles that will provide the consumer with improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions without the range fears and charging infrastructure that plague today's EV users.
More details about this new hybrid powertrain and the entire hybrid vehicle roadmap shall be revealed in the coming months, as the company gets ready for its commercialization with the Fronx crossover next year.
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