Most car manufacturers are gradually reducing the range of diesel engines and instead offer various hybrids. Starting with light cars, in which the electric part is connected for a short time, and ending with a car that runs several tens of kilometers on electricity alone. And the choice for buyers is getting wider every year, informs the communication agency “Velocita”.
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It’s not easy to get rid of the nostalgia for diesel engines, but their glory days are now in the past, they are losing their positions due to increasingly strict environmental regulations.
Skeptics, however, still remind us of the economy and performance of diesel engines, and when evaluating new hybrid technologies, information is passed through a dense filter of mistrust.
On the other hand, the manufacturers themselves confidently report that the machines are being improved, so there is no reason to be afraid of new technologies.
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Also, many studies and tests in real conditions show that hybrids can successfully replace diesels: they are efficient, economical and less harmful to the environment.
For example, in the super-popular compact crossover segment, hybrids such as Renault Rafale, Toyota Corolla Cross and Hyundai Tucson average fuel consumption of less than 6 liters per 100 kilometers, despite being tall and spacious.
This means that all of these mid-range family cars emit relatively little carbon dioxide, so they will pay less in taxes.
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In addition, modest fuel consumption does not necessarily mean low power: “Corolla Cross” hybrid develops 197 horsepower, “Rafale” – 200 hp, and “Tucson” – 230 hp.
It should be done now
Car manufacturers are encouraged to introduce hybrid technologies by stricter environmental protection requirements. Euro 7 the standard, which will enter into force in 2025, will be difficult to implement without adapting at least the simplest electrification solutions.
“The main motivation to introduce hybrid engines is precisely the strict emission requirements and only then lower fuel consumption or better dynamics. In order for the drive to work well and meet both people’s needs and stricter emission norms, there is a lot to be done, and the manufacturers have to hurry, because they cannot postpone all the work until the last year.
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Competition also plays its role – by messing around on the spot, rivals can run far ahead,”
says Guntars Pulss, editor-in-chief of “Profi Latvija” magazine and jury member of the “Gada auto of the Year” competition.
The introduction of new drives is a long and complicated process: development and testing are followed by preparation for production.
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Even after implementation, operational information, customer feedback and discovered errors are corrected. “All these processes take at least a few years, so companies, evaluating trends in technology development, modernize their technologies as soon as possible.
In this way, more and more different hybrid systems are gradually integrated, and the electric motor with a small or very small battery becomes an everyday part of the power unit,” says Guntars.
Many examples illustrate his point. Diesels will no longer be found in the latest generation models of the French companies Citroen and Renault, but cars with light hybrid, self-charging hybrid and plug-in hybrid systems are hitting the roads one after another.
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On the other hand, the South Korean manufacturer “Hyundai” allows you to choose from three options for the already mentioned “Tucson”. The first – a light hybrid with a 48 V system (1.6-liter gasoline turbo engine with a 12 kW electric starter generator and a 0.44 kWh battery); the second – self-charging hybrid, in which the same gasoline engine is complemented by a 44.2 kW electric motor and a 1.49 kWh battery; the third – a rechargeable hybrid with a 66.9 kW electric motor and a 13.8 kWh battery.
The latter can travel up to 74 km in electric mode.
Everyday benefits
Many drivers not only know that their hybrid produces less emissions, but also really feel the practical benefits of this drivetrain.
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“It’s 10-40% less fuel consumption, smoother drive operation, the ability to drive in slow traffic in electric mode.
Also, the bonus of the hybrid is slower wear of brake system parts and partial recovery of kinetic energy thanks to regenerative braking,” explains Guntars Puls.
Moreover, in this case, it is not only about a couple of hybrid generations, but decades of experience. For example, “Hyundai” began mass-producing hybrids in 2009, but “Toyota” systems are in their third decade of development.
Therefore, it is only natural that the latest hybrids are on par with internal combustion engines in terms of performance and dynamics as well.
“The improved control and also the individual components – dynamics of the electric motor, battery energy density and charge-discharge capacity allow these engines to be perfectly adapted to different driving modes.
True, for the majority of manufacturers, dynamics is not the main criterion, the emphasis is placed on the electric motor and battery in system development. By improving them, the distance traveled in electric mode increases, as well as fuel consumption and emissions decrease.
Either way, hybrids are expected to take over a significant share of the market within the next five years. Until pure electric cars become more suitable for long journeys,” summarizes Guntars Puls.
2023-08-10 01:21:00
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