Hybrid testbed for Indian technologies

Suzuki's Indian Maruti arm is driving forward with its own green technologies
discount new cars  » Get the best price on a new Suzuki

A Delhi Commonwealth Games sponsored green car technology program could provide the building blocks for more fuel-efficient Suzuki models for both India and Australia.

Suzuki's burgeoning Indian offshoot, Maruti-Suzuki, has begun development of its own 'green' technologies after a trial of 12 SX4 hybrid sedans at this year's Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Maruti-Suzuki is based in Delhi and this year will produce over 1.0m cars across a range of models from its two plants near the Indian capital. Of around 150,000 vehicles exported by Maruti, Australia accounts for 6000 -- all Altos. Known as A-Star in India, Alto (pictured) is one of the models that could benefit from native Indian technologies in the future.

The SX4 Hybrids were built in conjunction with an unnamed German components manufacturer. Featuring a four-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol engine (based on the Alto's K Series 1000cc triple) they were part of an Indian government technology project that included both hybrid and pure electric cars and light commercials as fleet vehicle during the games.

According to Maruti's head of Research and Development, Managing Executive Officer Engineering, IV Rao, the hybrids were not built as production-ready vehicles, but rather showcased technology the carmaker is working on to incorporate into its range of locally produced vehicles.

"It is unlikely Indian consumers would be able to afford the cost of a full hybrid powertrain.    If we were to apply to a small car it would double the cost... But the project generated a number of byproducts that we are exploring," Rao told the Carsales Network during a visit to Maruti's R&D headquarters in Gurgaon near Delhi this week.

"We are working on these byproducts... We are working on idle stop-start; we are working on regenerative braking; we are working on an automated manual gearbox."

According to Rao the hybrid powertrain yielded a 25 per cent improvement over the conventional 1.6-litre engined Indian market SX4. He says a proportion of Maruti's 1000-strong Indian based engineering team is already working on applying the new technologies to current and future models.

"We will draw on SMC (Suzuki Motor Corporation) experience on how to carry forward these technologies as total products... They will likely be applied to export products first [but they will have local applications]."

But he warns there is significant development time ahead of his team. For instance, senior Maruti execs confirmed the company had not filed patents on any of the systems.

Rao says fuel efficiency is the key driver of new car choice in India. He said that 2012 would see the Indian government mandate a 'corporate average' minimum fuel economy limit to help limit CO2 emissions.

In April 2010 the country, which is expected to increase from around 2.6 million new car sales per annum this year to more than 4.0m by 2015, introduced an emission standard that effectively mirrors Euro 4. Euro 5 is planned for 2015 introduction.

"Fuel economy is already a very important parameter in new car choice. Our focus is consistently on improving fuel economy," Rao explained. "But we must consider whether, for example, idle stop-start works with Indian driving patterns and traffic... [Defining] The logic that powers the stop start system is then in itself a major exercise."

Though Rao is confident Maruti will incorporate some or all of the systems in future models, he says there are no firm implementation targets.

"They are not in the product road map yet," he explained.

Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...