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Honda To Offer India’s First Hybrid Car
Posted by Pradeep Sadanapalli | June 20, 2008 | 470 views
(4 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5)
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India got its first hybrid car on Wednesday with Honda rolling out a petrol-electric version of its Civic sedan. The car will be more environment friendly and fuel efficient (for its class) than any other car in the market but will remain a niche product.
The reason? The Civic hybrid has come with a prohibitive price tag of Rs 21.5 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), twice the price of the petrol Civic, thanks to accumulated duties, including customs, of 104%. This virtually makes the country’s search for green and fuel-efficient options a non-starter.
The Civic hybrid promises nearly 47% enhanced fuel efficiency along with lower emissions. It sports a 1.3-litre engine, that combines with an electric motor which is powered from a battery. The lowest petrol Civic costs Rs 10.8 lakh in the 1.8-litre ‘Executive’ model.
The hybrid is likely to be owned by very rich people with a green consciousness. Honda India CEO Masahiro Takedagawa said that 100-odd prominent people and a few corporates have already booked the car. He added, “Our objective is not to get large volumes or to make a statement. Our objective is to give Indian customers an opportunity to experience this new technology.” Hybrids are powered by two different sources — an internal combustion engine that runs on petrol and an electric battery that powers an electric motor. Interestingly, the hybrid’s battery system does not require an outlet for charging. It is charged automatically through a system known as regenerative braking, where the energy normally lost through braking or coasting goes to power the electric motor.
Also, to help save energy, the internal combustion engine is switched off when the car comes to a stop or is cruising at low speeds, that helps reduce fuel consumption and emissions, particularly in city traffic. As the car gathers speed and picks up acceleration, the petrol engine kicks in automatically. And while running at these speeds, the battery is recharged as energy is recovered through regenerative braking.
Times View
The government imposes 104% duties on all imported cars, but it should not slap them on vehicles based on alternate fuels, that are more fuelefficient and less polluting. At a time when global warming and spiralling oil price are major worries, India must encourage any technology that helps address these issues. If the technology is not available at home, as in this case, duty rates should be reworked so that there are no barriers to it entering the country. We would recommend zero duty on the import of such technologies.
SOURCES:
Times Of India
Topics: Consumer Market, Techonology, Travel |
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