Many of the automobile lead players in India are looking forward for a cakewalk in hybrid car market. In that view, automobile giants like Honda, Toyota, Ford and Mahindra & Mahindra is waiting to introduce their hybrid vehicles in a perfect time, even though the market is sluggish. Let us discover some of the models  that we may see on Indian roads in the near future.

M&M Scorpio Hybrid

Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M), which has successfully made the transition from utility vehicles to sport utility vehicles with its indigenously developed Mahindra Scorpio SUV, displayed another indigenously developed hybrid SUV – the hybrid Scorpio.

This is a notable achievement, as no other Indian car manufacturer has managed to indigenously develop a practical hybrid vehicle thus far.

The hybrid Scorpio is also interesting in that it will be a diesel-electric hybrid, not a petrol-electric one as is generally the case abroad.

Mahindra has announced that the hybrid Scorpio will be launched commercially in the Indian market over the next two years. TM&M indicated that the hybrid Scorpio would not be much more expensive that the regular Scorpio.

The Mahindra Scorpio hybrid SUV will meld common rail diesel technology with an electric motor. M&M has said that the integration of the CRDI diesel engine and the electric motor will be completely seamless and transparent. The hybrid Scorpio is expected to offer greater fuel efficiency – almost 16 kilometers per liter.

Mahindra uses its own CRDe engine and an electric transaxle with a traction battery for the powertrain. The hybrid Scorpio should offer lower overall emissions.

Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius is a hybrid electric mid-size car developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation. It first went on sale in Japan in 1997, making it the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle. It was subsequently introduced worldwide in 2001. The Prius is sold in more than 40 countries and regions, with its largest markets being those of Japan and North America.

The Prius was completely redesigned into a mid-size liftback which is between the Corolla and the Camry in size, with redistributed mechanical and interior space that significantly increased the rear-seat legroom to exceed that of many larger automobiles. The new model is 6 inches (150 mm) longer than the previous version. Its more aerodynamic body resulted in a drag coefficient of 0.26 Cd.

The new Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) uses an all-electric compressor for cooling. Combined with a smaller and lighter NiMH battery, the NHW20 is more powerful and more efficient than the NHW11. Air conditioning is now operated independently of the gasoline engine, an industry first. In the U.S., the battery pack of the 2004 Prius is warranted for 100,000 miles (160,000 km) or 8 years. The warranty in California is 150,000 miles (240,000 km) or 10 years for the Prius and in the seven Northeastern states that have adopted the stricter California emission control standards.

Honda Civic CVT

The 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid collects the praise full for its sparing value out of fuel, smooth and futuristic design and practices fuel-sirotantes. In our ranking, the car receives high points for its conventional external model, its fuselage of high-quality and for its exceptional safety. But there are many reviews which report that the Civic Hybrid’s performance is underwhelming.

It have standard engine of 1.3L I4, 8 valve, 110 hp at 6000 rpm, Hybrid – Electric. It has VAR speed automatic transmission. The car use Hybrid technology featuring Integrated Motor Assist (IMA). The speed of 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid estimated 45 mpg on the highway.

Chevorlet Tahoe Hybrid

The Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid comes up with only slight improvement over the previous model. This eight-seater gargantuan SUV is a no-excuse hybrid. The two-mode hybrid system with an electronic motor allows the SUV to be powered even at low speeds. It offers 50% fuel economy in comparison to other Tahoe models and this is achieved by aerodynamic front fascia, low ride height, low rolling resistant tires, lighter hood, etc.

The antilock braking system offers better stopping distances though the feel of this braking system is lacking. The feel of the electric power steering is also lacking in this new model. The comfort level can be compared to that of standard models of Tahoe.

It would seem like hybrids are fighting for its place in the SUV market, but this is only the start of GM’s hybrid plan. In future, we can expect much better and competitive models of hybrid. However, the present model is definitely a fuel efficient choice, which comes at a handy price.

Ford Escape

The Ford Escape Hybrid is a 4-door, 5-passenger sport-utility, available in two trims, the FWD and the 4WD. A variable-Speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard on both trims. The Ford Escape Hybrid is still one of the most efficient small SUV’s available today, with an estimated EPA-34/30 mpg (city / highway) for the front-wheel-drive model.