In the quest to add to their image of ‘the most fuel efficient auto manufacturer’, India’s largest auto manufacturer, Maruti-Suzuki has developed two hybrid vehicles - 'EECO Charge' & 'SX4 Hybrid'
The EEECO Charge is a fully electric MPV with a 50kW motor (that’s 67.98 bhp for the petrolheads) and a 24kWh Lithium-ion battery that promises a driving range of around 100km on one full charge. The car also has a ‘sport mode’ in which the top speed goes right up to 100km/hr (Tesla, you can take a sigh of relief now)
The SX4 Hybrid combines Suzuki’s 1.2l K-series engine with 50kW motor mated to a 5-speed Automated Manual Transmission to provide low emission and high fuel economy. The braking power of the car is converted to electricity and stored in the lithium-ion batteries which the electric motors can then use to propel the car. It is based on the same KERS concept introduced last year in Formula 1
Both the cars are a part of National Hybrid Propulsion Program (NHPP) and the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) program and will be used as transport vehicles for CWG games. The company recently handed over 2 Maruti Suzuki SX4 Hybrid cars and 1 Eeco Charge to Arvinder Singh Lovely, Hon’ble Minister of Transport for NCT Delhi. The remaining 14 cars will be delivered shortly.
On the occasion, Mr. Shinzo Nakanishi, Managing Director and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited said,
I am happy that engineers at Maruti Suzuki have developed these future technology vehicles. This project has helped our engineers to increase their knowledge and enhance their R&D capability. We are grateful to the Government for their leadership to promote green technology in automobiles. Maruti Suzuki is happy to be associated with the Commonwealth Games national initiative, through these vehicles.
A team of 25 company engineers worked on this project with global hybrid technology and component suppliers.
Press Release
Maruti Suzuki unveils SX4 Hybrid and Eeco Charge Electric concepts for demonstration
Embracing green-technologies for a green world….
New Delhi, 28th September 2010: India’s car market leader Maruti Suzuki today handed over first lot of Two Maruti Suzuki SX4 Hybrid cars to Mr Arvinder Singh Lovely, Hon’ble Minister of Transport for NCT Delhi. The vehicles intended for use at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, were handed over by Mr. Shinzo Nakanishi, Managing Director and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, in the city.
Maruti Suzuki has made ready a lot of 14 future technology vehicles for the use at Commonwealth Games. These include 10 Maruti Suzuki SX4 Hybrid Cars and 4 Maruti Suzuki ‘Eeco Charge’ vehicles. The balance vehicles will be handed over to the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee for use by the Officials during the Commonwealth Games.
On the occasion Mr. Shinzo Nakanishi said, “I am happy that engineers at Maruti Suzuki have developed these future technology vehicles. This project has helped our engineers to increase their knowledge and enhance their R&D capability. We are grateful to the Government for their leadership to promote green technology in automobiles. Maruti Suzuki is happy to be associated with the Commonwealth Games national initiative, through these vehicles.”
Maruti Suzuki has developed the SX4 Hybrid concept vehicles as a part of the demonstration fleet. The demonstration of the fleet of SX4 Hybrids at the Commonwealth Games 2010, is in line with the ambitious NHPP and MNRE program outline.
SX4 Hybrid concept development has been taken up by Maruti Suzuki as a part of the Government initiated and SIAM coordinated NHPP & MNRE National Hybrid Propulsion Program (NHPP) and the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy Sources (MNRE)’s High Energy Density Battery Development Program.
Capability building @ Maruti Suzuki
The development of Hybrid and Electric vehicles is one of the exciting initiatives undertaken by Maruti Suzuki to enhance its R&D capabilities and gear itself for greener technologies. Through this exercise Maruti Suzuki is keen to expand its learnings on green technologies that put minimal stress on non-renewable energy. A team of 25 Maruti Suzuki engineers worked on this project with global hybrid technology and component suppliers.
These future technology vehicles by Maruti Suzuki demonstrate how eco-friendliness and personal mobility can be packaged together as an exciting product. These concepts have been developed by a team of Maruti Suzuki engineers and were showcased at Delhi Auto Expo 2010.
‘SX4 Hybrid’
SX4 Hybrid is a Full Parallel Hybrid with Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) on a sedan platform. SX4 Hybrid presents a case of evolution of transportation system with elements of flexibility, style and eco-friendliness. SX4 Hybrid offers mobility solution in an eco-friendly yet stylish manner.
The hybrid system used in the SX4 Hybrid features an electric motor and twin clutch arrangement with advance Lithium-ion battery technology. This concept combines a 1.2 litre K-series petrol engine and a 50 kW electric motor along with 5-speed Automated Manual Transmission. Together, these provide high fuel economy with lower emissions. The SX4 Hybrid is also capable of running solely on its electric motor, offering a further boost to fuel efficiency and zero emission modes in city driving. The SX4 hybrid offers 25 per cent more fuel efficiency compared to conventional gasoline vehicle.
About NHPP and MNRE
The National Hybrid Propulsion Programme (NHPP) is an initiative of the Government of India. It is a public-private partnership initiative and India’s first in hybrid technology; being jointly funded by Govt. of India and Indian Automotive OEM’s. NHPP is expected to develop awareness and generate interest in the Indian automobile market to the world of hybrids.
Considering the importance of battery technology for successful EV/HEV development, MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable energy) has initiated a program on high energy density battery. The objective of this joint program, funded by Govt. of India & automotive OEM’s, is to carry out the local development of high energy Li-ion battery packs by battery manufactures for pure electric/ hybrid electric vehicles.
Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has formed a core group of OEM’s to take these projects forward. In this initiative SIAM functions as a nodal agency for OEM’s, component manufacturers and Government of India. In line with Phase I of the project, OEM’s are to showcase their Hybrid and Electric vehicles during Commonwealth Games 2010.
