Hybrid Technology: Where Performance Meets Efficiency

When someone says, “hybrid car”, what do you think of? Most likely an environmentally conscious city runabout without the spunk of a true ICE (internal combustion engine) car. Words like “sporty” and “fun” probably don’t come to your mind, but what if we tell you those words are exactly what should.

Car manufacturers are now making hybrid supercars that break the stereotype of hybrid cars being subdued and “not fun to drive.” But before we get to those, let's start from the world of motorsport.

Hybrid power in motorsports

 Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport. The competition in F1 is cut-throat and every team and engine manufacturer needs to stay one step ahead of the competition. The good thing is, the state-of-the-art and groundbreaking engineering that goes on in this sport eventually trickles down to road-going cars.

In 2014, Formula 1 went hybrid and ushered in the era of efficient V6 Turbo-Hybrid engines with a focus on fuel efficiency and being more eco-friendly than the V8s and V10s that F1 cars previously used. The newest champion of the Hybrid Era is Max Verstappen, who dominated the 2021 season using the Honda-powered Red Bull Racing RB16B to become the 2021 World Drivers’ Champion.

Red Bull Racing and its sister team Scuderia AlphaTauri were powered by Honda’s RA621H turbo-hybrid power unit, a 1.6-litre six-cylinder, V6 turbocharged engine with an Energy Recovery System (ERS). The ERS comprises one Motor Generator Unit-Kinetic (MGU-K) and one Motor Generator Unit-Heat (MGU-H). MGU-K is similar to what is found in hybrid production cars: it converts the kinetic energy lost when braking into reusable, deployable energy, and can deliver up to 120kW (160PS) of power to the drivetrain. The MGU-H is connected to the turbocharger and converts heat from the exhaust into electrical energy, the energy is then used to spin the turbine so there is no turbo lag.

What makes hybrid tech in F1 cars so interesting is that the technology trickles down to road-going cars, starting with supercars. 

Street-legal hybrid power

 

Supercars are generally associated with big, loud V8 or V12 engines. They are powerful for sure, but they are a disappointment when it comes to carbon emissions. A hybrid supercar offers the best of both worlds: power and efficiency. Honda’s luxury division Acura has proved this point with the second-gen Acura NSX, a fully street-legal hybrid mid-engine supercar, a perfect example of how hybrid tech can aid performance. 

The NSX is equipped with a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 along with Honda’s Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive). The SH-AWD system makes use of two electric motors in the front and a single direct-drive electric motor in the rear. Together it produces over 500 horsepower and 550 Nm of torque and all that power is channelled via a 9-speed Dual Clutch Transmission to all four wheels. 

The Acura NSX accelerates from 0-100 in 3.3 and has an electronically limited top speed of 307 kmph. Another feature of the NSX is that you don’t have to wait around while your battery is being charged: the high voltage lithium-ion battery charges itself under braking and deceleration.

Hybrids for everyone

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Honda is known for making fun to drive cars for everyone, so you don’t need to be an F1 driver or need to own an Acura NSX supercar to experience some of that hybrid goodness. The Honda City is one of those exciting everyday cars which also comes in a hybrid variant in international markets. 

The City RS hybrid is powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine which churns out 99PS and the electric motor delivers a further 110PS. It also boasts an impressive 27.7kpl. The car is a good example of when green tech and performance go hand in hand, especially when you look at the ever-increasing fuel prices in the country. 

Conclusion 

So, from Formula 1 to supercars to everyday cars, hybrids are so much more than just efficient and kinder to the environment. They can be fun to drive, and you don’t have to fill them up quite as often as ICE cars.