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‘Green revolution’ by Auto Industry

Increasing fuel prices is bestowing a tough time to everyone. But car manufacturers have come up with the solution to overcome this problem. Many auto makers turning their vehicles ‘green’ by rolling out hybrid cars. Honda Siel has launched the India’s first hybrid car – the Honda Civic Hybrid.

As hybrid cars are something new to India and people have little knowledge about it. Let’s start with the first and foremost thing – fuel efficiency. Hybrid cars are 47 per cent more fuel efficient than its petrol counterpart. This point itself is enough to sell the car.

Fitted with dual engine configuration, hybrid cars comprises of both petrol and an electric engine that compliments each other at different levels of speed during the journey. When the speed increases, the petrol pushes the car and electric motor kicks in acting as a generator that charges the electric battery in the car as the car slows down.

Coming back to Honda Civic Hybrid, in 2006 this version was launched in US and Japan and has given a good sales figure of selling over 220,000 units worldwide. In India we have cars fitted with dual fuel options (petrol and LPG) like Maruti Suzuki, Wagon R and Maruti Omni and now even Maruti 800. The advantage of dual fuel engines are that they very economical as well as safe, completely fitting the product strategy.

The sales of these cars are boosting up with Maruti Suzuki selling about 7,000 units of the Maruti 800 model per month, sold 15,000 units of Wagon R in May 2008 and Maruti Omni series with about 7,000 units per month.

Hyundai also joined the revolution. They have already added the CNG version to their flagship model the Santro. They have also introduced the CNG version to its best selling mid-size sedan Accent. Both CNG models are currently sold in Delhi alone.

Soon, we can also see other car manufacturers joining the ‘green car march’. Mahindra- Renault will be launching CNG version of its Logan. It is also working on the MUV Scorpio's hybrid variant.

When speaking about green cars and not mentioning electric cars would be wrong. The electric car sales are also going high thanks to fuel hike. Maini Reva has seen a 50 per cent jump in its sales. Available in three models, Reva plans to sell 3000 units by 2008. Presently, REVA is the only electric car that flaunts on the Indian roads but will soon be seen with its rivals. Electric cars are affordable and easy to maintain. The car turns out to be 40 per cent cheaper than a conventional petrol car.

Though the green cars will be expensive, it will definitely give tough competition to the petrol version cars. If the revolution gets its victory, then India will soon be a country with lots of fresh air.