Hybrids: Why are they ideal for the Philippines?

Hybrid vehicles are becoming popular in the Philippine market, with more and more automakers bringing their examples to the car-buying public. We have recent entries into the segment from the Chinese such as the Haval Jolion (Specs | News) and Haval H6, and even more from the Japanese, such as the Toyota Corolla, Corolla Cross, RAV4, Zenix, Yaris Cross, and Nissan Kicks, each trying to get a piece of the lucrative pie, especially with the ever-increasing fuel prices.

While many are curious about Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV), not all are comfortable with the low number of EV charging stations outside of Metro Manila and, of course, range anxiety when considering traveling to the countryside.

And this raises the question, what makes hybrid vehicles so alluring and an ideal ICE car replacement for the Philippine market?

For this story, when we say hybrid vehicles, we pertain to the models with an internal combustion engine, an electric propulsion motor, and a battery pack. Mild-hybrids and plug-in hybrids are for another day.

Fuel efficiency

One of the best selling points of a hybrid vehicle is its fuel efficiency. Conventional hybrid cars, not the mild-hybrid models, come with two powerplants available. The first is typically a gasoline engine, while the other is an electric motor paired with a battery pack.

The gasoline engines are typically Atkinson cycle engines, which are fuel efficient with a lean tune to burn the fuel more efficiently but at the cost of power. This is where the electric motors come in to supplement some power and to fill in any gaps that the internal combustion engine has.

Aside from this, hybrids can use the electric motor to power the vehicle, giving you limited electric-only range. It's an advantage as you don’t use fossil fuels to power your car, meaning more savings, especially as fuel prices reach all-time highs.

It also helps that hybrid vehicles can alternate between the electric motor and internal combustion engine when needed to optimize fuel savings further.

Near instant torque

As the electric motor can power a hybrid on its own, it grants the user the near-instant torque these motors offer. It means quicker off-the-line performance but only to a certain speed before the gasoline engine kicks it to help power the car. 

It's ideal for getting you off the line at a stop light quickly, but not if you are after longer-term acceleration, as the gasoline engine will eventually kick in to help supply more power to the car. Either way, it's a great way to help you save fuel, especially during acceleration, where the most energy is used. 
Regenerative braking

To help you save fuel and to let you use the electric motor and battery pack more, hybrid vehicles come with regenerative braking. It's a way for the car to recover some lost energy and return it to the battery pack for later use.

If you choose to go into electric vehicle mode, you can use regenerative braking to constantly top off the battery pack aside from utilizing the gasoline engine to power the car and charge the battery simultaneously. 

Better features

As hybrid vehicles are the new hot ticket items, they are usually reserved for the top-spec of a vehicle model. It means these variants get access to all the bells and whistles an automaker offers.

Hybrid variants will likely come with the latest advanced driver assist systems, such as adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and autonomous emergency braking. These systems improve the vehicle's safety and make it easier to drive. 

Something to note is that turbocharged hybrids are available in the Philippine market, such as the Haval Jolion and the Haval H6, which bring more power to the table while maintaining fuel efficiency advantages.

These are the next generation of hybrids that bring more power, allowing you to get the best of both worlds regarding fuel economy and performance. 

Let's face it; most Filipinos still buy cars as their be-all and all-in-one steed. And if you're a car buyer who expects your brand-new ride to serve you well on your daily commute, to save money on fuel, and to bring you to the provinces when needed with hardly a worry, then a hybrid might be right for you. 

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