Number of part-time electricity grows: the plug-in hybrids of luxury car manufacturers

05/21/2018

Number of part-time electricity grows The plug-in hybrids of luxury car manufacturers

Bentley / dpa tmn

The car industry has long put pressure on diesel under the pressure of falling CO2 limits. But after the diesel dilemma, she seeks her salvation visibly in the plug-in hybrids. The supply of part-time electricity is therefore growing rapidly – especially among the luxury manufacturers.

It weighs 2.3 tons, has 462 hp and can drive up to 253 km / h fast. But it consumes at least on paper only 3.2 liters (72 g / km CO2). No wonder that line manager Stefan Fegg with the new Porsche Show stock market chart Cayenne S E-Hybrid is satisfied. Because the SUV, which is offered from 89 822 euros, is not only good for image and sales – but also for the carbon footprint.

Because he can drive up to 44 kilometers electrically and this is credited to him on the test bench, he has a lower consumption than any small car. This helps the manufacturer to meet the strict environmental standards from Brussels, Beijing or Washington. Especially now, where the diesel as a reasonably fuel-efficient propulsion concept has been called into question, loses in registration share and drives the last constantly decreasing fleet consumption curves back up.

“Without the massive use of plug-in hybrids, the CO2 requirements of 95 g / km from the year 2021 onwards are almost impossible for the premium manufacturers with their large, heavy and powerful models,” says Hans-Georg Marmit from the expert organization KÜS. He explains why not only Porsche but also Audi Show stock market chart, BMW Show stock market chart or Mercedes so readily grabbing the electric lifeline.

While volume brands like Opel or Ford Show stock market chart and importers like Peugeot Show stock market chart or Fiat Show stock market chart Still hesitant, they already have plenty of part-time electricity at the start and even more corresponding vehicle variants in the pipeline. While, for example, Volvo Show stock market chart Having pursued this strategy for a long time and offering the so-called twin-engine models in each of the 90s and 60s, in the face of the current situation, they are also turning brands that have so far had little to do with eco-technology.

Also read: How Chinese manufacturers Daimler, BMW and Co. put pressure

The Bentley Bentayga, for example, will soon be plugged in and, thanks to its 50 kilometer electric range, it will deliver fuel consumption of 3.2 liters (75 g / km CO2). And who pays at least 73 193 euros, can from this spring with Range Rover and Range Rover Sport an electric motor of 85 kW / 116 hp and a buffer of 13 kWh at least in the best case about 50 kilometers through the city.

Porsche not only relies on the Cayenne, but also offers the Panamera in two versions as a plug-in and the customers like to access according to the manufacturer. Because in Europe, the sales share is 60 percent, says the manufacturer. BMW offers the plug-in technology for 3, 5, 7 and X5.

Audi does not want to leave it with the part-electric Erstling A3 E-Tron and the Q7 E-Tron as currently the only plug-in hybrid with diesel technology. Chief developer Peter Mertens plans to launch around 20 models with electric drive by 2025, many of them as plug-in hybrids. In addition to the positive influence on fleet consumption, he adds another advantage: “They allow zero-emission travel in metropolitan areas and at the same time provide long-distance coverage for cross-country trips.”

His Mercedes colleague Ola Källenius also breaks a lance for the technology. For this purpose, the Swabians have developed a kit that also includes a 90 kW electric motor integrated in the nine-speed automatic transmission and a battery pack of 13.5 kWh. “That can be combined with almost all engines and models,” says Källenius and wants to make ample use of it over the next few years.

For example, in the S-Class with a V6 gasoline engine, in the E- and the C-Class with a diesel during the course of the year. And even the first AMG models will soon be parked at the power outlet. On the other hand, the supply on this side of the upper class is rather meager, because there the CO2 advantage is not that great.

But even with the compact, the selection is growing: VW offers the Golf GTE with cable, from Korea come Hyundai Show stock market chart Ioniq and Kia Niro and the Kia flagship Optima. And at least in small series also gets the hybrid pioneer Toyota Show stock market chart Prius for 8000 euros extra charge a larger backup battery for 50 kilometers electrical range. In addition, the BMW Group offers the uneven Gemini 2 Series Active Tourer and Mini Countryman as a plug-in.

The next novelties are already in the starting blocks. Even brands like Peugeot and Citroën have discovered the potential for themselves. They want to bring before the end of the decade, the first plug-in models in the new 508 on the market.

And the Chinese newcomer Lynk & Co does not want to offer any more vehicles with conventional technology when it comes to Europe in 2020. That men like Audi CEO Mertens celebrate the plug-in drive and see in him “more than a bridge technology” is no wonder given its advantages.

But there is also praise from a surprising corner. Because of all Günther shoe agrees with him. The Aachen professor is the head behind the street scooter of Deutsche Post and drives the entire industry ahead with the simple and affordable electric transporter. Nevertheless, he sees in battery drive is not an all-encompassing solution: “The battery is not much cheaper tomorrow,” he said in an interview with the magazine “car, engine and sports” and praises the plug-in as the “drive concept of the future.” By 2025, according to his estimate, 70 percent of new cars could drive with this technology.

Thomas Geiger, dpa

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