Suzuki are hard at work making sure you're covered with cars that are cleaner to drive.
It’s not science-fiction. Pretty soon we'll all be driving vehicles that are fully powered by electricity. But at this point, car owners are still considering whether electric vehicles (EVs) are right for them yet. Especially with concerns such as the distances they can cover per charge and the practicalities of how and where to charge. As EV's develop these concerns will be addressed and as more EV's are built the costs will reduce. In the meantime many people see Hybrid technology is a "stepping stone" towards full electric motoring.
There are several different electric and hybrid systems out there, and here we explain the benefits to help you make the choice that’s right for you.
All hybrids have a conventional petrol or diesel engine, as well as an electric motor that is powered by an additional battery. The electric motor works together with the petrol or diesel engine to help use less fuel. Suzuki only sell petrol hybrids.
Some hybrids have large batteries that you plug in to charge and can travel several miles using only the electric motor. These are known as plug-in hybrids. The Suzuki Across is a Plug-In Hybrid, often referred to as a PHEV.
Other hybrids have batteries that are charged only by recovering energy that would normally be lost during braking and deceleration, and do not need to be plugged in to charge. These are called self-charging hybrids.
Self-charging hybrid technology can work in different ways. A mild hybrid will use an additional battery to assist the vehicles in powering the vehicles additional electrical systems and some will assist the engine in certain circumstances. The Suzuki Ignis, Swift, Vitara and S-Cross are self-charging mild hybrids. Full Hybrids in addition provide power assistance when the car is accelerating, and even drive the vehicle using only electricity for short periods of time. The Suzuki Swace is a self-charging full hybrid.
Suzuki's mild hybrid system (SHVS), explained in this video, is light and compact incorporates an Integrated Starter Generator (known as ISG). Taking the place of a conventional alternator, the ISG enhances fuel efficiency by assisting the engine during acceleration – which means you’ll use less fuel during the most intensive parts of your journey.
The ISG also generates electricity by recovering energy from deceleration and braking. It detects as soon as you press the brake pedal and recharges both the lithium-ion battery and conventional 12-volt battery.
Put simply, this means our hybrid system helps improve fuel economy and reduce CO2 emissions.
With the 1.2 Ignis and 1.2 Swift models the self charging mild hybrid is a 12 Volt system that will work in the following way;
With the 1.4 Swift Sport, S-Cross and Vitara the self charging mild hybrid system gains some additional features that enhances engine responsiveness with increased torque output. This gives a more responsive driving feel during acceleration.
On the Suzuki Swace a powerful 207 Volt 53 kW battery is combined with a 1.8 litre petrol engine to provide a combined power output of 122HP. Being a self charging hybrid means there is no compromise to normal driving and owning. As a Full Hybrid the hybrid battery provides power assistance when the car is accelerating, and can even drive the vehicle using only electricity for short periods of time. Below you can see how the battery works with the petrol engine in the driving cycle
Technical Specifications | |
Engine type | 1.8 litre |
Transmission | CVT |
Engine max power output | 102 HP / 5200 rpm |
Max combined power output | 122 HP |
Max speed | 112 mph |
Acceleration 0-62mph | 11.1 seconds |
CO2 emissions | 99 g/km |
Fuel economy (WLTP combined) | 64.2 mpg |
Electric motor max power output | 53 kW |
Battery Type | 207V lithium ion |
Battery capacity | 0.746 kWh / 3.6 Ah |
A powerful front electric motor delivers smooth, quiet and torquey performance for comfortable everyday driving with an outstanding EV range of 46.6 miles. When more acceleration is needed, the petrol engine provides assistance. The petrol engine also gives peace of mind on long journeys, as stopping to charge the battery is not necessary. The high-capacity battery can then be easily charged at home or a charging station with a full charging time of around 5 hours, depending on the type of charger used.
The compact rear electric motor generates high torque for the rear wheels thanks to high reduction gears. Torque distribution can vary from 100:0 to 20:80 (front:rear) depending on driving conditions. This E-Four system provides rugged 4WD performance while maintaining high fuel efficiency.
Technical Specifications | |
Engine type | 2.5 litre |
Transmission | E-CVT |
Engine max power output | 182 HP / 6000 rpm |
Max combined power output | 306 HP |
Max speed | 112 mph |
Acceleration 0-62mph | 6.0 seconds |
CO2 emissions | 22 g/km |
Fuel economy (WLTP combined) | 282.4 mpg |
Electric range | 46.6 miles |
Front electric motor max power output | 179 HP |
Rear electric motor max power output | 53 HP |
Battery Type | 355V lithium ion |
Battery capacity | 18.1 kWh / 50.9 Ah |
Charging time (230V / 16A load) | 5 - 6 hours |