Suzuki Motor has said it will introduce an affordable, simplified petrol-electric hybrid technology in its cars.
Suzuki, which has largely focused on internal combustion engines, said it needs to boost fuel efficiency to survive in a competitive industry, Reuters reported.
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“The customers’ expectations for fuel efficiency are growing not only in Japan and Europe but also in emerging markets. Even a small carmaker like Suzuki will need to further improve fuel efficiency,” executive vice president Osamu Honda told the news agency at a technology briefing.
The report said Suzuki had already introduced a regenerative braking system in which the car’s kinetic energy is converted to electrical energy during braking. The electricity is sent to a lithium ion battery and used to power equipment such as the air conditioner but not for acceleration.
The new system uses the energy to help the car accelerate, it said. The technology is already used by other carmakers including Nissan and Volkswagen.
Unlike Toyota’s more sophisticated system used in models like the Prius, Suzuki’s new system cannot run on electric power alone because it is simpler and cheaper.
The new system will be introduced on a compact car that will be sold in Japan, followed by Europe, managing officer Masato Kasai told Reuters. He declined to say when the cars would go on sale.
In the future, Suzuki hoped to develop a more sophisticated hybrid system, executive vice president Honda said.
Suzuki offered a hybrid version of its Twin kei car (minicar) in Japan from 2003 to 2005 but the bare bones city car was not a success and was phased out.
