Hybrids, a major draw at auto show

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Retail Plus Chennai

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Raj S. Rangarajan

The Hybrid car could be the answer to our fuel problems - a look at the brands available and how it will impact our lives

It is customary for the New York Auto Show to coincide with the Easter weekend, and this year was no exception. While the economy seems to be sputtering there was a certain bounce and bonhomie among auto manufacturers and the public. The week's ambient interactions radiated hope.

The usual crowds and hoopla, balloons and razzmatazz were on display though a trifle subdued. This time the focus was on hybrids and electric cars. Several top names such as Porsche, Mercedes and Lexus introduced hybrid models of the SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle).

With the concept of the SUV ingrained in the American psyche, where the average American is used to everything large including his/her vehicle, it is not surprising that car makers known for their larger sedans were taking the next vital step: to go hybrid. BMW, Volkswagen, Hyundai and Nissan have gotten into or about to enter the world of hybrids. Market conditions and public opinion are in the automaker's favour specially with global warming a serious concern.

Over the years reams of paper have been consumed singing the praises of the cute, unusual looks and performance of the Porsche. But, now comes word that a new Porsche with a family feel is about to hit the American auto scene - the 2011 Cayenne Hybrid.

In simple terms, the Hybrid car is a blend of two forms of energy - gasoline (petrol) and electricity. The Cayenne's electric motor and its V6 engine are connected by a decoupling clutch which ensures that the vehicle could be driven either by electric power or by the combustion engine or by both units together. This car can cover short distances on electric power alone, free of emissions or noise and can speed up to 60 km/h.

It uses a 288-volt nickel metal-hydride (NiMh) battery fitted beneath the luggage compartment that constantly regenerates energy when braking and under normal driving conditions. Unlike Porsche's Cayenne, the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid uses lithium polymer batteries which adds robustness and power on long hauls.

The New ML450 Hybrid from Mercedes-Benz boasts 46 percent better fuel economy than a comparable V8 ML550 model with a 3.5 litre V6 petrol engine, two magneto-electric motors and sophisticated electronics. While parking or on a low-speed operation, the ML450 runs on electric drive alone.

Volkswagen has joined the bandwagon in the hybrid market with its Touareg SUV, aiming at efficiency and performance with a fuel economy rate of mid-to-20 mph and top speeds of 150 mph.

Nissan debuted its Infiniti M35 Hybrid at Geneva in March and says, "it is designed and engineered to add to, not take away from, the driving experience, a key part of any Infiniti's appeal." According to the U.S. Department of Energy, gains from this dual technology can be as efficiently high as 50 percent. Any hybrid is expected to pay back in terms of cost-efficient savings in the long run.

While it is fashionable and perhaps PC (politically correct) to talk about hybrid vehicles, about the depletion of the ozone layer and the environment, the average vehicle-user who uses petrol (gasoline) may not see an immediate change in his/her bank balance. Not for ten years perhaps.

(A New York based independent trend writer, Raj S. Rangarajan reports on the art market and shows, and reviews films for media based in New York; Toronto, Canada; Seoul and India.)
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