How're hybrid cars doing in the Philippines and what are the best hybrid cars out there?

We were brought up with cars running only through fuel – diesel or gasoline. As the world progresses, and many more vehicles are being created every year, the environmental pollution rate only goes higher, which contributes greatly to global warming and also causes harmful ailments to our bodies.

Although there has been a lot of initiatives to somehow lessen air pollution by planting trees in the cities, the process also known as sustainable development, it is obviously not enough.

We also cannot stop factories from operating, and the car manufacturers to cease making cars. They are businesses that help our economies grow and have been well established throughout the years.

Air pollution is one of the biggest problems we have in this world

So, instead of stopping, major car brands have developed a way to somehow lessen the air pollution caused by vehicles that are usually run by fuel alone. Car brands have recently developed hybrid cars, their answer to lessen their contribution to air pollution.

I. What Are Hybrid Cars?

Hybrid cars are vehicles that use more than one way of propulsion – so, it’s combining fuel, diesel or gasoline with an electric motor.

It is designed to consume lesser fuel, therefore emitting less carbon dioxide in the air as compared to regular fuel-driven vehicles. Meaning, hybrid cars are more environment-friendly.

II. Types of Hybrid Cars

There are three types of hybrid cars that work differently from each other.

1. Parallel Hybrid Car

This is the most common type. A perfect example of this is the Toyota Prius. In this type, the car’s wheels can be powered in three ways: first, they can be powered directly by the engine, or second, they can be powered solely by the electric motor or third, can be powered by combining both.

This diagram shows how the set up for hybrid vehicles is

If you’re driving slowly, the electric motor powers up the vehicles making it ideal for those start-stop trips and only uses petrol as the speed increases.

2. Range Extender Hybrid Cars

This type only utilizes the conventional engine merely to produce electricity for the generator that charges the batteries.

If in a conventional car, the engine runs everything, in this hybrid car engine is only used to produce energy for the electric motor. Examples of cars that have this type of system are BMW i3 hybrid and Honda Jazz hybrid.

3. Plug-in Hybrids

You can charge the batteries of this type of hybrid by either plugging it on a power outlet or let the batteries charge while the car is running.

Fuel plus electricity runs plugin hybrids, so they have an option to either run on full fuel, fully electric or both

These hybrids lie in between a conventional car and a pure electric vehicle – they have larger batteries compared to regular hybrids and can run a longer range of distance just by relying on its electric power. Examples of these are the Mitsubishi Outlander, Toyota Prius and the Volvo V60.

III. Hybrid Cars in the Philippines

Our government in the Philippines have been very supportive of this initiative of alternative cars such as hybrids and electric vehicles. In fact, in 2017, they have started to replace government service vehicles with hybrid cars that were donated by the Japanese Government. This is also to help promote the use of much more environmentally friendly vehicles and help lessen air pollution in the country.

The BYD Tang is the BYD's contribution to lessening air pollution in the country

Just recently, BYD, exclusively distributed by Solar Transport and Automotive Resources (STAR) Corporation, launched its new product, a 7-seater BYD Tang Plug-In Hybrid Electric Executive SUV. It is run by two 150HP electric motors that can power its run up until 80km. It will only switch to its 2.0L turbocharged gasoline engine once the battery is depleted.

Although it’s pricey at PHP 3,288,000, if you are keen to help save the environment for a long period of time, then this is a good way to start.

IV. Some Powerful Plug-in Hybrid Cars Out In The Market

Today, Philcarnews.com will focus on the plug-in hybrids as we check the most powerful plug-in hybrids that we can find out there.

1. Volvo XC60 T8 Plug-In

This plug-in hybrid is powered with supercharged and turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine that runs alongside a 10.4 – kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack with 400HP.

The Volvo XC60 T8 Hybrid has a powerful engine and a great battery to boost

It’s also an All-Wheel Drive, A/T and 8-speed A/T with Dual Shift mode

2. Volvo S60 T8

Another Volvo in the list, the Volvo S60 T8 hybrid also has 400HP that comes from a turbo-charged and super-charged Inline 4-cylinder engine.

Don't belittle this classy car as it is powered by a supercharged and turbocharged engine

These drive the front wheels of the vehicle while an electric motor runs the rear wheels.

3. Volvo XC90 T8

It seems that Volvo has been focusing on creating plug-in hybrids that it comprises a majority of our list. This time, we have the Volvo XC90 T8, also packed with twin-engine – an in-line 4 cylinder engine and an electric motor.

Volvo seems to be very enthusiastic about creating plugin hybrids having the 2018 Volvo XC90 T8 Hybrid as its third entry in the list

With these powering the car, it has a fuel consumption of about 300kW and emits much lesser carbon dioxide compared to other similar vehicles.

4. Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid

An entry from no less than Porsche this time, the Cayenne S E-Hybrid runs on a six-cylinder engine that gives out 333HP alone and partnered with a lithium-ion hybrid battery pack.

Powerful luxury car, the Porsche Cayenne S E-hybrid is powered by a 6-cylinder engine

It pumps out 416 horsepower and 435 pound-feet of torque, making it the most powerful plugin hybrid that Porsche has been producing.

5. Mercedes-Benz S550e

An entry from Mercedes Benz, the S550e Plugin Hybrid is luxurious and powerful all at the same time. It is powered by a 3.0L V6 engine alongside a 13.5kW-hour lithium-ion battery pack.

Impressive acceleration, power and beauty all in one luxurious vehicle, the Mercedes-Benz S550e

With these components present this vehicle produces 436 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque that can make it accelerate for up to 130 miles per hour.

6. Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid

Another entry from Porsche, the Panamera S E-Hybrid is equipped with a bi-turbocharged 4.0L V8 engine alongside with a 14.1kW-hour battery pack. It is an All-Wheel Drive and can accelerate up to 60 miles per hour in 3.2 seconds.

2018 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid is an epitome of an environment-friendly sports car

It has a top speed of 310 kilometers per hour and produces 680 horsepower and 626 pound-feet of torque.

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