Hybrid vehicles are quietly emerging, and their momentum is just as strong as that of electric vehicles?

All signs indicate that hybrid cars may no longer be a rare species on the road in the future.

On July 9, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued the Amendment to the Parallel Management Measures for Passenger Car Enterprises’ Average Fuel Consumption and New Energy Vehicle Credits (draft for soliciting opinions). One point in this version of the Amendment is very eye-catching. The general idea is that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is considering reclassifying hybrid electric vehicles. Hybrid vehicles are still considered fossil fuel vehicles, but they are reclassified as "low fuel consumption passenger vehicles." This is equivalent to clarifying the concept of low fuel consumption models represented by HEVs and incorporating them into the new energy credit statistical system.

Two years ago, fuel vehicles were considered a burden by the "double points" policy, and vehicle manufacturers, especially those with high sales, were believed to be under great pressure of negative points. With the introduction of the concept of "low-fuel-consumption models", low-fuel-consumption models that use advanced electrification technology will enjoy preferential points calculation and become beneficiaries of the new policy.

■ Before the arrival of the pure electric era, who is the most suitable choice for the transition period?

The "new energy" route headed by pure electric vehicles is certainly a national strategy, but what we are concerned about is not only that one day in the future, pure electric products will be able to compete with fuel vehicles in terms of endurance, cost, and ease of use, but also how to guide high-energy-consuming fuel vehicles to low-energy-consuming models, which is also a very important part.

From the perspective of cost investment, hybrid technology is just right, especially for urban commuting scenarios, it "saves" fuel in places where gasoline cars spend money. It only needs to add a few batteries and a motor with a low power (which can also generate electricity and recover braking energy), the weight of the whole vehicle will not increase too much, and the cost of the whole vehicle after large-scale mass production will not be much more expensive than a high-end fuel car on the same platform. It is not much different from ordinary fuel cars in use, and its convenience is much higher than that of plug-in cars at present.

■ Who is “the one” who catches the opportunities of the times?

Speaking of hybrid technology and car companies, Toyota has to be mentioned. So far, Toyota's hybrid models sold in China include Corolla, Levin, Camry, Avalon and imported Lexus, while Honda's hybrid models include Accord and CR-V. Here I mainly want to talk about Toyota, the recognized leader in hybrid technology.

Toyota's hybrid products have 14 million owners worldwide, accounting for 90% of the global hybrid market; in 2018, among the 1.49 million new cars sold by Toyota in China, hybrid models accounted for more than 10%. For more than 20 years, Toyota has insisted on using a series-parallel hybrid technology with a planetary gear structure as the core (which can optimize economy and power efficiency), continuously improving the operating efficiency of engines and electric motors, reducing system weight, and optimizing system control logic. While pursuing the continuous reduction of fuel consumption, the cost of hybrid technology has been effectively controlled, so that it can be widely used in different models of various brands under Toyota.

It is worth mentioning that Toyota has accumulated experience in three-electric technology with hybrid technology as the cornerstone, integrating multiple technical routes of pure electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, and fuel cell vehicles, which can solidly accelerate its electrification process. According to Toyota's expectations, hybrid models are expected to reach 30% of annual sales in China by 2020.

In 2005, FAW Toyota introduced Prius, which made Chinese people aware of Toyota's hybrid technology, but it failed to be popularized quickly due to many reasons such as the market stage. However, FAW Toyota still insisted on popularizing and expanding hybrid power. Until 2015, the launch of Corolla Hybrid laid the foundation for the gradual establishment of the reputation and value retention rate of hybrid models.

FAW Toyota, as the real "evangelist" of Toyota's hybrid technology in China, launched the Corolla Hybrid in the mainstream family car price range of 100,000 to 150,000 yuan, allowing more consumers to enjoy the quiet, smooth and energy-saving driving experience of hybrid technology. With excellent reliability and fuel economy, Chinese consumers have realized the advantages of hybrid technology. Even without policy support, many users can still pay for this advanced technology. The monthly sales of Corolla Hybrid reached 7,000 units this year. Although there is no policy support, its sales are far ahead of other similar products. The 12th generation Corolla Hybrid, which was just launched not long ago, is equipped with the same THS second-generation parallel dual-motor E-CVT as the overseas fourth-generation Prius. The engine thermal efficiency reaches 40%, which is the product embodiment of Toyota's latest generation of hybrid technology.

▲Compared to other plug-in hybrid models, the Corolla Hybrid E+ can become a mature hybrid car even when it is “out of power”

■ Corolla Hybrid under TNGA architecture

The 12th generation Corolla, which was just launched not long ago, is developed based on Toyota's TNGA architecture and has been revolutionized in terms of driving experience, ride comfort, safety performance, fuel consumption and emission indicators. It is not only a matter of changing the platform, but also a concentrated embodiment of Toyota's new car-making concept in its core products. It can be said to be the most noteworthy hybrid model this year.

Under the guidance of the new generation TNGA concept, the 12th generation Corolla is more dynamic while learning from the calm temperament of the Avalon. The overall appearance has a lower and more downward posture. Although the height of the car body is reduced by 25mm, the internal riding space is not sacrificed. At the same time, the driving control is enhanced, the interior design is also upgraded, and the high-end version is equipped with a 12-inch vertical screen to cater to the trend. In terms of body structure, by applying more high-strength steel, strengthening the chassis, and upgrading the rear suspension to a double wishbone independent rear suspension, it not only improves safety, but also brings a new driving texture and driving pleasure.

In terms of the three-electric system, the 12th generation Corolla uses Toyota's new generation THS II hybrid system. Compared with the previous generation, four key components have been optimized, including: 1.8-liter Atkinson engine (lower energy consumption, more comfortable start-stop), E-CVT dual-motor gearbox (smaller size, higher efficiency), PCU power control unit (higher frequency conversion efficiency, more efficient power distribution) and nickel-metal hydride battery (improved motor material, improved charging performance). In addition, the comprehensive operating fuel consumption is only 4.0L/100km. And the trunk space is no longer affected by the battery-the new battery layout is very different from the previous generation. The battery pack is installed under the rear seat, so it finally gets the same trunk space as the fuel version.

Guided by the TNGA concept, Toyota's ultimate goal is to create a high-value sense of "A-class car price, B-class car experience" for users. The new 12th-generation Corolla Hybrid, born under the TNGA architecture, is the best in history in terms of practical configuration, mechanical adjustment that affects driving quality, and ensuring the safety of users' travel. As a pioneer in the popularization of hybrid technology, Corolla Hybrid will lead the era of universal hybrid power, allowing more Chinese consumers to experience the perfect fusion of oil and electricity in the future, and promoting environmental protection and energy saving in automobile products on a larger scale and more efficiently.

■ Conclusion

Today, as new energy is advancing rapidly, the pure electric route is the unswerving direction of the development of the automobile industry, but which model is the most suitable for the transition stage has always been the focus of debate in the industry. Hybrid vehicles combine the advantages of fuel vehicles and electric vehicles. In fact, from the perspective of energy conservation and emission reduction, they have always been the most valuable solution for promotion. As the most solid promoter of hybrid technology, Toyota is finally expected to see the light of day after years of dedicated research and development and heavy investment. The new 12th generation Corolla is Toyota's sincere work for users. Whether in terms of technical system or product price, it is a hybrid model that can truly enter the "homes of ordinary people". With the gradual popularization of this model, it is believed that it will build more confidence for consumers in hybrid technology.