Fuelling a change: Automakers offer a range of engine and fuel technologies; here’s a look at them

Even as the electric vehicle (EV) industry is finding its feet in India, automakers are offering a range of engine and fuel technologies. As gas prices soar, consumers are also thinking differently about the cars they drive and the fuels they use. ET takes a look at the pros and cons of various engine technologies that are being offered by automakers — battery-operated electric vehicles (BEV), mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEV), hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) and hydrogen powered fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).

The country’s largest car maker Maruti Suzuki says it will be technology-neutral and focus on a range of engine options to reduce CO2 emissions. For Tata Motors, EVs account for 7% of their portfolio, which is expected to go up to 25% in the next five years. Mahindra & Mahindra, which is betting big on EVs, will achieve 20% penetration in the passenger EV space in 2025-27. Auto companies like Toyota and Hyundai have started developing FCEVs, which not only give zero emissions but are more efficient than gas-powered vehicles.

Though epitaphs are being written for the internal combustion engine (ICE), it is still the dominant choice for cars in FY2022, with more than 90% market share, followed by MHEV at 8.5% and BEVs at 0.7%, according Jato Dynamics. As per industry estimates, EV penetration in India will be 8-10% by 2030. Electric technologies and alternative fuel will all play a role in India’s mobility future.