1. Honda’s e-HEV
(a) It is a new hybrid vehicle that is being launched by Honda worldwide. It will be powered by a 1.5L petrol engine which will be connected to two electric motors.
(b) It is in sync with the company’s policy of producing low emissions and having a maximum of EVs in the market by 2030.
(c) Peak power – 126ps
(d) Mileage claimed by the company is 26.5 km per litre.
2. Key Features
(a) Sports Hybrid engine to power the car.
(b) extremely low emission levels.
(c) Enhanced Fuel efficiency of up to 40-45% as compared to other petrol cars.
(d) Modes of drive available – EV mode, Hybrid mode & the Engine driving mode.
(e) Newly introduced method of regeneration while the car reduces speed.
(f) Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS).
(g) Road Departure Control & Lane Keep Assist
(h) Adaptive Cruise Control.
(j) Automatically adjusted beam projectors or LEDs.
(k) Internet Connectivity.
3. Environmental Challenge & the Aim of Carbon Neutrality.
With the well-known declaration of the looming danger of global warming and other environmental challenges, Honda as a company has very responsibly and strategically come up with a roadmap of having net carbon neutrality by 2050. The key step for the company will be to bring the electric vehicles market to India.
4. Takuya Tsumura.
This gentleman is the recently instated President and CEO of Honda in India. He clearly indicated the start of the company in this field of electric vehicles. For that, the company has started taking substantial steps, some of which are: –
(a) Aim to achieve total carbon neutrality by 2050.
(b) Honda City model-based eHEV is the flagship program towards this step in India.
(c) Safety Features of the vehicles in line will be one of the primary focus areas. This will be aided by correct analysis and utilization of the data available.
5. What is Hybrid Engine.
Usually, we have either an electric system, i.e., an EV, or a typical petrol/diesel engine. But, in the case of Hybrid Vehicles, a combined system is used as a powertrain. An electric motor is connected to the conventional engine. With the engine running on the conventional engine the electric motor gets charged. Or the power is stored in the batteries. It provides flexibility to the user to switch at will between the electric motor or the petrol engine. Key benefits of the eHEV can be: –
(a) No requirement of charging from an external source.
(b) User can switch between the two types of power sources (Electric Motor or Conventional Engine).
(c) Improved Reliability of the roadworthiness of the vehicle. The reduced concern of any gas station or of the electric charging station.
6. Drawbacks Expected.
With the fast-paced changes in the field of power storage, the present tech of batteries is going to change. The customers might see a drastic change in the price or associated technologies. Despite the claimed advantages of a Hybrid engine the major disadvantage will be the price at which the tech would be available. As it is still in its nascent stage the cost involved would be much higher. This would further be amplified by the fact that R & D would be an ongoing phase. Any changes in the tech would eventually come down to the pockets of the customers.