Bridge to electrifi cation

FICATION

With increasing emissions regulations, many car manufacturers, as has been well documented, have turned their focus to electrification. Although, electrifying an internal combustion engine or going full-on battery-powered isn’t exclusive to the 21st century.

The conception of the full-electric vehicle followed a series of breakthroughs, first appearing in the late 1800s. Interestingly, an EV held the land speed record until 1900. In the 20th century, owing to the demure range of early EVs – among other factors – the public soon lost interest. It’s probably one of the reasons people are still influenced to buy EVs in this day and age). In 1996, the first mass-produced modern EV would make its debut. This was the GM EV1.

The first hybrid vehicle – the Lohner-Porsche “Mixte” – was developed in 1900. However, only 300 examples of Dr Ferdinand Porsche’s allelectric creation were built and the world had to wait 97 years for the first series-production petrol-electric vehicle, the Toyota Prius.

With the increase in development, modernday electrified vehicles, especially hybrids, are becoming more common on the roads. This can be attributed to less-costly propositions (again, especially hybrids) making their way to the market and the ever-increasing fuel prices. However, suppose you’re not quite ready to step into the silent electric-only future. In that case, hybrids arguably offer the best of both worlds, bridging the gap between petrol/diesel-only cars and battery-electric vehicles. Here are hybrid options to consider…

TOYOTA COROLLA CROSS HYBRID & RAV4 HYBRID E-FOUR

As Toyota was the first automaker to introduce a mass-produced hybrid vehicle to the world, let’s start with this Japanese company. Locally, the firm o ers several choices.

Launched in 2021, the Corolla Cross Hybrid (tested in Issue 04, where it scored fourout-of-five stars) has already claimed the crown for South Africa’s New Energy Vehicle at this year’s South African Car of the Year awards.

Priced from R425 400, the locally built Toyota is equipped with the same closed-loop powertrain seen in the Prius. The Corolla Cross’s 1.8-litre petrol-electric powertrain produces a total system output of 90 kW. Power is sent to the front axle via a CVT. Toyota claims an average fuel consumption of 4.3 L/100 km. Although the fuel tank is small at 36 litres, matching this figure translates to a range of 837 km. This powertrain can also be had in the Corolla Hybrid sedan.

However, if you’re in the market for something more spacious and powerful and planning on doing some gravel-roading, the company also o ers the RAV4 Hybrid. Priced from R663 400, the four-wheel-drive hybrid’s 163 kW 2.5-litre arrangement sips 4.8 L/100 km.

LEXUS UX 250H

The Lexus UX arguably attracts a younger crowd to Toyota’s luxury brand. The striking premium midsize crossover is available exclusively with a (135 kW/180 Nm) hybrid powertrain, comprising a 2.0-litre atmospheric petrol engine and electric motor, which drinks 4.5 L/100 km on average. If you’re in the market for a more premium o ering, the UX 250h might just be it.

HONDA FIT HYBRID

Spearheading the Fit line-up, the hybrid model is priced at a hair below the halfa-million-rand marker. This variant’s electrified 1.5-litre petrol engine produces a combined 80 kW and 253 Nm of torque. Although some might have reservations about continuously variable transmissions, we can report that Honda’s e-CVT is tops, gelling well with the petrol-electric set-up. The Fit is also frugal, having a claimed fuel consumption figure of 3.7 L/100 km, allowing a range of 1 081 km.

VOLVO XC60 T8 RECHARGE & XC90 T8 RECHARGE

It’s no secret Volvo is dead set on electrification. Locally, the Gothenburg-based brand has several electric-only models. However, if you’re not yet keen on parting with petrol, the company does offer the XC60 and XC60 with a hybrid powertrain. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo- and supercharged petrol-electric arrangement powering these two models produces 340 kW and 709 Nm for claimed 0-100 km/h sprint times of 4.8 (XC60) and 5.3 seconds (XC90). Volvo maintains the powertrain provides an allelectric range of up to 56 km in the XC60 and 77 km in the XC90. Average fuel consumption comes in at a mere 1.6 L/100 km. A