[sgiitk]

Sometimes I wonder whether the crazy game of manufacturers of labelling everything as hybrid during the odd-even days or was it a policy decision to discourage hybrids. I suspect the former. Otherwise there was no logic. Also, carmakers are keeping quiet.

[sreeharipv]

Originally Posted by gopi_rm;

In a country like India where uninterrupted power supply is a luxury, it will take a very long time to implement proper charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

I've had uninterrupted electricity at my work place for the last 8 years. So, uninterrupted electricity is not a problem commercially. Besides, if you have a 200 km EV, you don't need uninterrupted electricity. You just need to have power once in 4 days maybe?

Originally Posted by Sparks

The Chevy Volt is a PHEV, which means its a plug in hybrid, a type of vehicle that cannot be used in India as of now.

India is not ready for PHEV as of today.

Why do you think India is not ready for PHEV apart from cost?

We want to jump straight to electric only by 2030, which requires infrastructure at a level even USA does not have.

What infrastructure are you talking about? Our electricity distribution companies are giving Mega Watt connections to new buildings every day. Why can't they provide it to a charger that is installed in the parking lots of these very buildings?

Besides, most of the charging is done off peak at home. The only infrastructure you need to enable that is a wire from the main board to where your car is parked. If that is included in the building codes, it'll soon be a non-issue.

[abhishek46]

Originally Posted by sgiitk

Sometimes I wonder whether the crazy game of manufacturers of labelling everything as hybrid during the odd-even days or was it a policy decision to discourage hybrids. I suspect the former. Otherwise there was no logic. Also, carmakers are keeping quiet.

It is highly likely that this is a well planned policy move to discourage Hybrids, and encourage the direct leap to EVs (despite the hiccups like absence of infrastructure etc).
The same sentiment has been echoed recently by several Ministries.

[Sparks]

Originally Posted by sreeharipv

Why do you think India is not ready for PHEV apart from cost?

What infrastructure are you talking about? Our electricity distribution companies are giving Mega Watt connections to new buildings every day. Why can't they provide it to a charger that is installed in the parking lots of these very buildings?


PHEV requires a charge point. just because electricity connection is given to the building does not mean a separate line just for car charge will be installed unless it is approved in the plans of the building by the municipal authority, That is the building or housing complex is planned to be Electric vehicle ready. In Mumbai there are none, simply because its not a legal requirement nor does the market condition demand it.


For short city commutes PHEV manages only in electric motor alone, But on normal household current chevy volt takes upto 16 to 19 hours to charge it. It can be reduced if a 240V connection is installed at owners cost.

PHEV is a Normal ICE powered car on Long trips after the battery is drained with no scope of charge point availability (as is the case with India).

A non Phev Hybrid has both motors avialable at all times its a major advantage in present situation. a practical advantage of this setup, on a drive from mumbai to goa after taking a right turn at nippani its down hill gradient till sawant wadi, the ICE engine does not come on for the whole time.

For existing buyers just because one or two people owns a PHEV, the electric company is not going to install a charge point withing the common area of the society. That is the present day reality. (A charge point can only be installed in your allotted parking space)

Practically what is done is installation of a weather proof wire from your own meter box to a charge socket right next to your assigned parking slot provided you have a stilt parking with a wall next to the parking slot. forget about it if one has open parking slot.

All this can be done only if its feasible to install the wire which in turn
depends on where the parking slot location is in relation to the prospective owners meter box.

Additional option is to get 240V charge line installed for extra money (owners cost), provided existing setup allows it (Fire Risk, Rats chewing through, pilferage all at owners risk as of now )

This practical difficulty of installing a charging point is vetted by the company (eg mahindra) as their technicians visit the premises and figure out if its possible to install a personal charge point. This is a procedure followed by Mahindra when they sell e2go. If the installation is not possible 99 percent of time it results in no sale.

Its different matter when one has a independent house.

[jpcoolguy]

I also think the launch of Skoda Superb might well had an effect on Camry sales and this might be one of the underlying reasons behind this move. Since the launch of new Superb, the sales of Camry has almost halved and this could also have been played in Toyota's minds, but this is just an assumption.

[volkman10]

Toyota resumes its production of Camry HYBRID. Now reinstated in its website.

Toyota is expected to launch a number of hybrid versions among all categories.

While Camry’s production has been resumed, the sales have gone down by one-fourth to 25 per month.

Link

[vipul_singh]

Why are they:

1) Selling the previous generation car in India
2) in CBU form, and then
3) Complaining about numbers and market maturity

Get movin' Toyota! You should be able to dominate the high end segments given the harsh climate, road conditions and the inherent need for dependability

On point#1: I thought everybody learnt that lesson with the W124 debacle. And look where Mercedes is now!

[Sahil]

Originally Posted by vipul_singh

2) in CBU form, and then
3) Complaining about numbers and market maturity

I don’t think think the Camry Hybrid is a CBU.

The fact that cautious Toyota is looking to launch more Hybrid cars means there is perhaps a policy change on Hybrids expected by the govt soon.

[ShubhamGhute]

Originally Posted by vipul_singh

Why are they:

1) Selling the previous generation car in India
Toyota is known to be turtle slow to update its product line. Nonetheless their products are very good.

2) in CBU form, and then
Camry is a CKD. Its assembled in Toyota’s Bidadi manufacturing facility in Karnataka.

3) Complaining about numbers and market maturity
Camry used to sell in respective numbers but GST tax reforms haven’t been in favour of hybrids and thats the reason there is huge drop in sales.

[vipul_singh]

I am surprised that the Camry is CKD. I stand corrected. Many thanks @sahil and @shubhamghute!

On a different note: yes, the policy flip-flops are a dampner on the industry. My observation:

1) policy changes tend to happen 'with immediate effect' instead of a roadmap being provided
2) a good chunk of policy changes happen due to judicial action, rather than the Parliament proactively working to create regulation in view of the country's changing conditions and new challenges, while taking inputs from all affected parties.

When you ask the Judiciary to do the Legislature's job, it is no surprise that we have this situation, ultimately affecting manufacturers like Toyota and VW.

[volkman10]

2018 Toyota Camry HYBRID re-launched in India .

The interior changes include a new steering wheel, new Kogane leather seats and new carbon wood finish on the dashboard. Everything else remains exactly the same as the previous year model of the Camry Hybrid. The Camry Hybrid boats with best-in-class features like power recline rear seats, 9 SRS airbags and 19.16 km/l of fuel efficiency in the segment.

Link

[volkman10]

Toyota Camry's (Hybrid) sales figures, post GST, has Toyota re-think on the strategy. May pull off the Hybrid variant again.

We might have electric vehicles (EV)s or fuel cell vehicles (FCV)s in 2040 or 2050 but during the transition from ICE to EV, hybrids are important

Toyota sold 100 units of the Camry hybrid a month before the introduction of the GST when the tax was at 30 per cent. After the GST, sales have come down to 35 units per month.

If the government does not rethink on the taxation of hybrid cars, we will have to pull out our hybrid offering in Camry and go back to pure internal combustion engines (ICE)

link

[RM Motorsports]

2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid Introduced In India With New Features.

The Toyota Camry Hybrid for MY2018 gets a host of new features including a dual-tone cabin, wireless charging, and a new steering wheel as well.

https://auto.ndtv.com/news/2018-toyo...atures-1834709