[TusharK]

According to a media report, Honda is planning to launch a mass-market hybrid in India by 2021. The car is expected to be more affordable than the Accord Hybrid, which costs more than Rs. 43 lakh in India.



While the carmaker hasn't provided any more information about the "more affordable" hybrid model, reports suggest that it could be based on one of its high-volume models. It is said that Honda is already working on the next-generation Jazz and City. These models will reportedly have hybrid powertrain options and could be the likely candidates for India.

Honda has confirmed that it plans to introduce 6 new models in India by 2021. These include the recently launched second-generation Amaze and the new CR-V. The carmaker is likely to launch the new Civic by the end of this fiscal. The mass-market hybrid model is among the 3 other cars destined for India.

Source: Autocar India

Link to Team-BHP News

[SmartCat]

Related development:

Honda to invest Rs 9,200 crore, largest for India car business
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/a...w/66141929.cms

Japanese auto major Honda plans to invest Rs 9,200 crore to set up its third factory in India to produce hybrid and electric vehicles. The company is in the process of acquiring 380 acres of land for the new factory, which will be set up in Gujarat.

[HKap]

Finally!! It's time for India to say goodbye to diesel engines for 4 wheelers. Hybrid is the way to go till we set up infrastructure to support electric or hydrogen powered vehicles. Maybe even a PHEV. Most parking lots in office buildings and residential apartments should be easy to wire up and support PHEV. These can easily do about 50kms on electric power and work like a normal hybrid after that. If implemented systematically, I think this will help India cut down its fuel bill big time.

[sri_tesla]

Hybrid in 2021? This is 2018 and full-electric vehicles are already outselling plug-in hybrids in major markets like US. China is already reduced subsidies for low range electric vehicles (full-electric or plug-ins) to push the manufacturers to BEVs (battery electric vehicles or full-electric vehicles) and to gain edge next generation manufacturing. India also taxing the hybrids same as petrol/diesel vehicles rightly since starting of GST.

Hybrids and plug-in hybrids are cunning strategies by traditional automakers to delay the BEVs. The likes of Honda, Toyota, Ford, FCA, Mazda are so far behind in EV development, I am afraid some of these will struggle to survive the next decade.

[superbhikari]

Volvo plans to introduce all electric from 2019. Many others will follow. By 2021, i believe we will see many electric vehicle launches but at some premium prices. It may take another 4 to 5 years for the prices to stabilise and reduce. Earlier Hybrids were the way to go before electric. But pathetic development or low zeal of auto companies killed the prospects of hybrids. Electrics will be the future for sure IMO. It's will be the same story like how short were the era of CFL (killed by LED bulbs) and Plasma/LCD (killed by LED TVs).

[landcruiser123]

Originally Posted by HKap

Maybe even a PHEV.... Most parking lots in office buildings and residential apartments should be easy to wire up and support PHEV......These can easily do about 50kms on electric power and work like a normal hybrid after that. If implemented systematically, I think this will help India cut down its fuel bill big time.

I don't see any of the small hybrids giving 50km on a single charge. Even 25km (with AC and other ancillaries running) will be enough for most of our driving.

PHEVs aren't yet feasible in a country which can't guarantee 24x7 electricity for homes.

Originally Posted by sri_tesla

Hybrids and plug-in hybrids are cunning strategies by traditional automakers to delay the BEVs....

I'm not saying you're completely wrong, but any major technology (IC Engines) has to be gradually phased out. We're still the third world- our country can't guarantee 24x7 electricity for all homes. Until we have surplus electricity, there's no scene of having BEVs running on our streets.

It is true that Hybrids (of all types) may save only 35-40% of the fuel of comparable cars. If our country can cut fuel import by 10-15% over the next decade, that'll be a great achievement.

[HKap]

Originally Posted by landcruiser123

I don't see any of the small hybrids giving 50km on a single charge. Even 25km (with AC and other ancillaries running) will be enough for most of our driving.

PHEVs aren't yet feasible in a country which can't guarantee 24x7 electricity for homes.

Toyota advertises the Prius Prime's pure electric range at 25 miles which is about 40 kms. The Honda Clarity is advertised at 43 miles. Kia advertises the optima at 29 miles. So the technology does exist to do about 50kms on pure electricity before the petrol engine kicks in. I believe with some more refinement, we should be pushing 65 - 75 kms in a couple of years.

These cars will sell mostly in the metros and I think the power supply is pretty good in most metros. I do not remember power cuts in Mumbai in the last 5 years. Plus the petrol motor is always a backup just in case you're out of juice.

Pure EVs are still a distant dream in India but PHEVs and regular hybrids are THE tonic that India needs

[sri_tesla]

Originally Posted by landcruiser123

I'm not saying you're completely wrong, but any major technology (IC Engines) has to be gradually phased out. We're still the third world- our country can't guarantee 24x7 electricity for all homes. Until we have surplus electricity, there's no scene of having BEVs running on our streets.

India does have a surplus electricity for the last 1-2 years. There are some transmission issues here and there but the actual power demand is being met. In fact many of the thermal power plants are sitting idle or closing down because of less demand. Plant load factor is just 60% for the thermal power plants. Renewable energy is growing at record pace and we are even ahead of US in 2018 in solar capacity addition. Many states like Karnataka, AP, Tamilnadu are adding solar and wind power plants rapidly.

You don't need to wait for each home in the country to be electrified 24*7 to justify hybrids. Honda and others are doing it because they don't have proper EV plan. Hybrid in 2018 itself is bad but for 2021 its pathetic. knowing Honda, I bet the so called mass market hybrid will definitely be priced much higher than regular models. They did the same with Accord which is not even a plug-in.

[arunramaswamy]

What has actually stopped Toyota and Honda from introducing Hybrid tech to the mass market? How long now have they had this tech in their armory? PATHETIC.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by TusharK

It is said that Honda is already working on the next-generation Jazz and City.

This is a BRILLIANT move. Hybrids are the "today", electric vehicles are the "distant tomorrow".

Hybrid tech can increase fuel economy significantly. Camry owners get like 15 kmpl in the city - imagine a Jazz or City doing 25 to 30 kmpl. Customers will run to it like bees to a hive.

Unlike EVs, hybrid tech is easy to deploy. Over 90% of India parks its cars on the street - where are owners going to charge their EVs? We are still a long way off from mass market adoption of EVs due to a lack of charging infrastructure, limited range of current batteries and their cost. They are coming no doubt, but mass adoption is still a while away.

On the other hand, well-priced hybrids can gain traction in the market just like the AMT did. All it needs is the right price + FE benefit communicated to the market.

Originally Posted by HKap

Finally!! It's time for India to say goodbye to diesel engines for 4 wheelers.

Diesel & petrol are still going to dominate the scene for a while, pal. They aren't going anywhere too soon.

Originally Posted by sri_tesla

This is 2018 and full-electric vehicles are already outselling plug-in hybrids in major markets like US.

Plug-in hybrids won't be ideal for India, again due to lack of charging facilities. We need a traditional hybrid (where the engine charges the battery with no plug-in required).

Originally Posted by arunramaswamy

What has actually stopped Toyota and Honda from introducing Hybrid tech to the mass market?

Complacency .

[Superleggera]

A brilliant move. Finally some one in Honda is really thinking about being serious in India, Amaze Diesel CVT is the first step.

Honda was not successful in India not because they did't have the technology or cars. The day Honda gets rid of "This is sufficient for cheap Indian customers" mentality, their sales chart will be on fire.

[arunramaswamy]

Originally Posted by GTO

This is a BRILLIANT

Hybrid tech can increase fuel economy significantly. Camry owners get like 15 kmpl in the city - imagine a Jazz or City doing 25 to 30 kmpl. Customers will run to it like bees to a hive.

Can't agree more with you. Why would someone buy an "Unsafe" Maruti for mileage when I can get it with a "Safer" Toyota?

If Toyota had been bit more serious about India, they could have very well managed to get the Yaris with a proper Hybrid tech; a first-in-segment. This, along with the 7-airbags would have given that push literally.

You've gotta hand it out to the Japanese arrogance. Heck even the Corolla still does not get a Hybrid in India

[HKap]

Originally Posted by GTO

This is a BRILLIANT move. Hybrids are the "today", electric vehicles are the "distant tomorrow".

Hybrid tech can increase fuel economy significantly. Camry owners get like 15 kmpl in the city - imagine a Jazz or City doing 25 to 30 kmpl. Customers will run to it like bees to a hive.

Unlike EVs, hybrid tech is easy to deploy. Over 90% of India parks its cars on the street - where are owners going to charge their EVs? We are still a long way off from mass market adoption of EVs due to a lack of charging infrastructure, limited range of current batteries and their cost. They are coming no doubt, but mass adoption is still a while away.

On the other hand, well-priced hybrids can gain traction in the market just like the AMT did. All it needs is the right price + FE benefit communicated to the market.



Diesel & petrol are still going to dominate the scene for a while, pal. They aren't going anywhere too soon.



Plug-in hybrids won't be ideal for India, again due to lack of charging facilities. We need a traditional hybrid (where the engine charges the battery with no plug-in required).



Complacency .

Completely agree with you. Petrol and diesel aren't going anywhere but its about time we chalk out strict policies. Take a look at the air quality in each of the large metros.

I believe the PHEVs do work like a regular hybrid too. I could be wrong on this.

Even though the infrastructure for charging doesn't exist today we need to start pushing towards PHEV (if they also work like a regular hybrid... something like the chevy volt). Its a chicken and egg thing. PHEV will be the interim step before we move to all electric. Gadkari has this ambitious goal of having a crazy number of electric cars zipping around by 2030. Its not happening if we don't start NOW.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

All good, but hope this doesn't mean the next generation City is likely to be a 25L product. Hybrids will only succeed in India if the prices of the petrol hybrid are comparable to diesel variants.

[shreevishnu]

Is it possible that this gets a new top hat for the Mainstream Hybrid in india?

https://paultan.org/2017/09/18/drive...-hybrid-i-dcd/