As the car makers in India struggle to adapt to the BS-VI norms to be put in place by April next year, several of them have started opting for a hybrid drive-train?in their upcoming vehicles. Maruti Suzuki is apparently one of them, as a hybrid version of its hatchback Suzuki Baleno was recently spotted testing in the country.?
The test mule of the hybrid Baleno caught on camera this time comes as a product of Bosch, as suggested by the stickers on it. In addition to sporting the stickers of Bosch and that of an ¡°e-drive¡±, the Baleno also represented a 48V Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicle (SHEV) sticker on its side.?
It can be understood from speculations that the variant of the Baleno will come with an option to drive the vehicle purely on its battery capacity, that means an all-electric drive. This is starkly different from the rest of the hybrids available in the country, which mostly store the energy through regenerative braking in their batteries and then use it to enhance the petrol performance of the cars.?
In addition to the all-electric option, the Baleno can also offer other drive modes such as a combined output of its electric as well as petrol drive train?as well as a mode that runs purely on petrol. The last option will be brought into use on highways, as the car crosses a certain speed, while for the regular city commute, the combined operations of electric motor and petrol engine or simply that of the motor can be used.?
Maruti Suzuki Baleno 48V SHEV spied testing (Image: Team-BHP)
Also read:?Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Impressed With Electric Cars; Calls Them 'Soundless, Very Comfortable'
The ultimate aim of such a hybrid system in a vehicle is to reduce the carbon footprint of the vehicle and increase its efficiency in the process. The hybrid system to be embedded in the Baleno will the car to deliver an enhanced mileage, fuel efficiency and hence a reduced emission count.?
There is no official confirmation of the make from the company as of now. But as the auto makers in India will have to use a BS-VI compliant petrol or diesel engine in their upcoming cars, which will ultimately prove to be costlier than the present engines, such a strong hybrid option of the Baleno might very well be up for launch by next year.