The Best of Both Worlds
THE PROBLEM OF pollution in Delhi seems to be under control at the moment due to the seasonal change, but fog and smog will envelop the capital city as soon as winter sets in, and the solution to this problem is electric and hybrid cars.
Last month Volvo launched the XC90 plug-in hybrid, the second plug-in hybrid to be launched in India a er the BMW i8. Whereas electric cars have their limitations such as dearth of charging points and range, plug-in hybrids offer the best of both worlds. The range of 40 kilometres on one charge lets one use the car on battery power for commuting within the city like an electric car, and should one need to do long distance driving, one can use the petrol or diesel engine.
Whereas electric cars have their limitations such as dearth of charging points and range, plug-in hybrids offer the best of both worlds
An electric car cannot be your only car because of its limitations but a plug-in hybrid can be your only car because your driving range does not get hampered. The government should encourage hybrid cars by offering concession in taxes.
The Volkswagen Polo is one of the best hatchbacks in the country but it was let down by the three-cylinder petrol and diesel engines when it was launched. Today the Polo with the 1.5 TDI and 1.2 TSI engines is one of the best in the country. However, it seems that Volkswagen have not learnt a lesson because they have launched the Ameo with the same 1.2 three-cylinder petrol engine which was one of the reasons why the Polo did not do well in India when it was first launched. One cannot fathom why they launched the car with this engine; presumably to keep the cost down. The car that was unveiled prior to the last Auto Expo had the 1.5 TDI engine and a DSG gearbox. They would have done better to launch the Ameo with that 1.5 TDI engine.
EDITOR – ASPI BHATHENA
