Mileage is never the first thing that comes to mind when someone says Skoda. But this will soon change. Skoda has just announced a new hybrid petrol engine that can drive from Mumbai to Bengaluru (about 950-1,000 km) on a single tank! Surprised? Here’s a look.
Skoda Octavia Hybrid Is Here
The Skoda Octavia Hybrid comes with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine, two electric motors (a 147.5 bhp generator and a 168 bhp traction motor), a 1.6 kWh NMC battery and a new single-speed AT designed specifically for a series-parallel hybrid powertrain. The Octavia Hybrid is available with two output options: 134 bhp and 168 bhp.
How Does The Hybrid System Work?
The hybrid system switches between series and parallel operation based on the driving conditions to maximise efficiency. The Octavia has two traction motors; the smaller one acts as a generator and also helps start the engine. The larger and more powerful motor drives the front wheels and generates energy during braking.
In parallel hybrid mode, the combustion engine connects to the front wheels via the clutch. It is used only at speeds above 60 km/h during steady driving. In series mode, the engine powers only the generator, which produces electricity to drive the car.
It also has an all-electric mode, where the traction motor powers the wheels using energy stored in the traction battery, allowing up to two kilometres of electric-only range, up to 60 km/h. The traction motor also enables regenerative braking to generate power and store it in the traction battery for later use in propulsion.
The system ensures the 1.6 kWh battery stays between 40% and 90% charge.
Skoda Octavia Hybrid Mileage
The Octavia Hybrid claims 23.26 km/l mileage, an impressive figure for a premium sedan. Paired with the 40-litre tank, you can expect about 930 kilometres of range – enough to drive from Mumbai to Bengaluru (approx.) on one tank!
Will It Come To India?
There is no official confirmation; however, we expect Skoda to consider it for India if the upcoming Superb generates enough demand. The brand has already brought the Octavia RS in limited numbers, so launching the standard Octavia with the full-hybrid powertrain doesn’t seem far-fetched.
In a recent interview, Skoda India’s Head, Mr Ashish Gupta, said: “Unfortunately, people have been losing interest because there is not much offering available. So somehow the onus is also on us to keep this conversation about sedans going,” conveying Skoda’s commitment to keep offering sedans for their markets.