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Mahindra Scorpio Micro-hybrid – The future is now!
Story: Muntaser Mirkar/Vikram Gour Photography:Kunal Khadse
Mahindra has led the way in bringing hybrid technology to the Indian masses with the Scorpio mHawk Micro-hybrid SUV. We take a closer look at the car that gives a huge pampering to your conscience.
The increase in traffic on Indian roads over the past decade is not only an indication of increased buying power, but also an indication of depleting natural resources and rising pollution levels. Rush hour commutes are pretty much the same ordeal in any of the major cities in the country. Never-ending traffic jams, cars interlocked bumper to bumper, moving at snail's pace only to be stuck again a few meters ahead for another agonizing interval of time has become de rigueur for any daily road user. In the midst of this rising chaos, the approach to a solution is two-fold. The first approach is by enhancing and reinforcing a city's infrastructure - widening roads, making flyovers, keeping a smooth flow of traffic and generally encouraging citizens to make more use of public transport systems. While this stand has to be taken by the government, the second approach is wholly in the hands of automotive manufacturers and in India, Mahindra seems to be taking the cause forward.
Mahindra launched the new ‘mighty muscular’ Scorpio successfully to excellent customer response. Always aggressive in its looks and attitude, the Scorpio’s dominance on Indian roads is a well-known story. But this time around, there’s a surprise in store for everyone, as this bully now has a soft corner.
The revolutionary new Micro Hybrid technology makes Mahindra’s Scorpio really gentle – on the environment that is. This technology allows it to intelligently switch off the engine when not required. Thus going into standby mode after few seconds of engine idling, ready to spring back to life the moment it’s needed again. This ensures you burn less fuel and reduce emissions. Providing much needed relief to the environment, our lungs and our wallets too!
What is a hybrid anyway?
In a very broad sense, hybrid engines are units that employ two power sources during normal operation - generally an IC engine and an electric motor. Based upon the involvement of the electric unit in the IC engine's functioning, hybrid systems are classified into three. First up are the 'Strong hybrids' that employ an electric motor that can power the vehicle over short distances without help from the fossil fuel powered engine. Second in line are the 'Mild hybrids' that make use of the electric motor only during accelerating from a stand still to assist the IC engine, thus reducing stress on the latter. The third kind, which is what Mahindra has opted for on the Scorpio mHawk, is called the 'Micro hybrid'. Contrary to its name, the system does not employ an electric motor. Micro hybrids are based on an intelligent start/stop system that governs the car's IC engine.
So how does a micro hybrid system work then?
What the Micro hybrid system does in very simplified terms is that it shuts off the engine if the vehicle has been stationary for a predetermined period of time. On the Scorpio mHawk micro-hybrid, a young team of engineers from Mahindra’s R&D centre has developed an electrical circuit that controls the engine. The system basically consists of a relay that acts as an automatic start/stop switch for the engine, a clutch and gear lever position sensor and a mode selector switch with three pre-sets. The system can be set for a time delay depending on how heavy or light the traffic is. As long as the vehicle is stationary with the gear lever in neutral and the clutch pedal isn't depressed, the system will automatically shut off the engine after the pre-set time has elapsed. When the driver wants to move ahead, all he has to do is depress the clutch pedal and the system cranks the engine back to life.
In a nutshell, the Micro Hybrid technology :
Switches off the engine when the Scorpio idles for a preset duration (*2 seconds in Scorpio VLX, 5 seconds in Scorpio M2Di)
Switches the engine back on, the instant your leg depresses the clutch pedal
Burns less fuel, thus reducing pollution and helping to conserve the environment
Do I have to drive differently?
Not at all. The Mahindra Scorpio mHawk micro hybrid drives exactly like its regular counterparts would. There is absolutely no change to power delivery and those horses under the hood are churned out with utter smoothness. The micro hybrid just helps make these vehicles even better in the city, thanks to the enhanced mileage. In addition to that, the rugged and the pothole munching Scorpio retain every single quality that customers have come to love.
Ok, so what's the big deal again?
It's about savings silly! This process (micro hybrid) ensures that the unnecessary idling of the engine is avoided and thus not only ensures more fuel savings but also prolongs engine life by eliminating wear and tear during idling. Keeping in mind the increased number of start/stop cycles that the starter motor will have to take care of, the motor itself has been reinforced to last longer than usual starter motors. That's not all, if someone chooses to leave the engine running in certain situations, such as when the air conditioning is switched on a hot summer's day, the third pre-set on the mode selector switch allows for the micro-hybrid system to be bypassed and the vehicle functions as normal.
Way to go, Mahindra!
The system has been constantly recording fuel savings of up to 8 per cent. There is absolutely no effect on the driving characteristics of the vehicle and it continues to run like any stock Scorpio. The Mahindra Scorpio Micro-Hybrid is available in showrooms at a minimal extra price for the micro-hybrid system and is poised to set the pace for further such innovations in Indian vehicles - definitely the right way to go! It is really great to see Indian manufacturers taking the initiative to go green. The micro hybrid system is ideal for India for a variety of reasons. The first reason being that it is huge step forward in the fight against greenhouse gases and emissions, secondly it will help reduce the load on fossil fuels, and lastly it is a technology that is affordable and will not really increase the overall price of the vehicle too much, thanks to the fact that there is no expensive componentry involved. The micro hybrid is for this reason a true winner, for at a reasonable extra cost, it will also provide savings that are quite substantial. Its suitable for the Indian environment, it is a brilliant technology that is simple, and at the end of the day it does not require a heightened level of care or infrastructure to support it. Go Green! It’s the new mantra, and Mahindra seems to know where to head! |
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