Ten years ago, people thought hybrid technology was only for eco-friendly cars and in no way shape or form could be used on a performance car. In 2020 though things are a bit different. Since the dawn of the McLaren P1 and the BMW I8, hybrid power seems the way forwards for performance cars. The instant torque from the electric motor combined with the power from the gas engine to produce monumental performance.
Most new performance cars today are hybrid. Whether they are mild hybrids or plug-in-hybrids. It just seems so logical to do so, since it saves manufacturers a lot on emissions tests. Key performance car companies such as Ferrari and Lamborghini also recently launched their hybrid supercars. Furthermore, companies like Porche have been doing this for years and have found great success.
Having that hybrid powertrain boosts MPG and makes performance cars a lot easier to live with. Some hybrid performance cars also reduce greenhouse gasses within congestion zones. This is because they have the ability to run fully electric for a certain amount of miles, making it great for city driving. It’s a complete win-win scenario for everyone since performance cars are getting more environmentally friendly yet faster. The environmentalists are happy and so are the petrolheads.
Hybrid technology is also quite popular in F1. The cars use a hybrid system to capture wasted energy from braking and deceleration. After it has been captured, the wasted power is turned into useful power. This useful power increases acceleration and performance. A similar system is seen on the Ferarri LaFerrari.
Why Has Hybrid Technology Taken so Long to Reach Performance Cars?
Nowadays hybrid power terrains are favored both in performance cars and within F1. It gives the cars such a boost of power when they need it. Gas engines don’t have the instant torque electric motors have. The first hybrid car ever was actually designed by early Dr. Ferdinand Porsche in 1898. It was a prototype coach powered by an electric motor and a combustion engine. However, mainly due to oil hybrid cars and electric cars were pulled off the table for many years.
It’s only now with lower oil reserves and global warming that hybrid and electric technology has become very popular. The first hybrid performance car ever made is the Honda CR-Z back in 2010. At the time it received insane reception from media sources. It had Prius technology but drove nothing like one. Maybe the future looked bright?
Most car manufacturers then were not convinced at the time. However, Porsche in 2010 did launch a Cayenne hybrid which suggested a way forward for hybrid tech. In 2013 there was a major breakthrough though. McLaren, Porsche, and Ferrari all launched hybrid hypercars. The 918 spyder, LaFerrari, and the P1 have gone on to form the “holy trinity.” These cars have since gone on to inspire other car manufacturers to get involved.
It is expensive to develop hybrid technology, especially when you have to start fresh. Research centers have to be built and many people have to be hired. That before one battery has been made. Performance cars don’t sell as well compared to normal cars. So why should car companies bother with hybrid performance cars, when there is a higher demand for normal cars?
Does Hybrid Technology Even Make a Performance Car More Environmentally Friendly?
This depends on the car itself. The Lamborghini Sian is powered by a V12 and an electric motor, so it’s probably not the most friendly. However, cars such as the Honda NSX which is powered by a 3.0 V6 and an electric motor are. Most hybrid performance cars are much friendlier than their gas-only equivalents or predecessors. The main aim however for hybrid technology in performance cars is not to be friendlier. Its to be faster. The better MPG and environmental benefits are a side-effect of this.
Most hybrid performance cars use a 48v mild-hybrid battery. This gives the car the power boost it needs. It fills in the power-delays you get from a gas engine. It works well with turbocharged engines since it eliminates turbo-lag. However, some use larger batteries which means they can run solely on electricity. Mercedes plan to have their full performance AMG lineup using hybrid technology.
It’s a complete no-brainer for car companies to use hybrid powertrains then for performance cars. Or is it? You could probably get the same emissions and performance from a conventional gas-engine. Why do you need a costly heavy battery on board too? To pass the emissions tests car manufacturers have to go at ridiculously low-speeds. This is completely unrealistic then. Therefore, a petrol gas-guzzler could be better for the environment than a small-engined hybrid.
Only real-world tests will determine whether hybrid performance cars are more environmentally friendly. Some may have better MPG but others could be worse-off. Furthermore, a battery becomes very costly to maintain as it gets older resulting in lower reliability levels.
But with governments and tests becoming harsher on gas, hybrid technology is the future to have fun. Car companies can’t just rely on gas-only power anymore for their performance vehicles. It becomes a lot harder and costlier for them and the customer.
Should I Buy a Hybrid Performance Car?
Yes, you should. It is logical since government costs and taxes will be less. Of course, the car itself may be expensive, but some come with grants. In terms of speed, most are faster than gas-only cars. The instant torque will shock you and there is power in every gear. If you are after a more practical performance car then you should look into hybrid tech. Cars such as the Bentley Bentayga Hybrid are just as fast as its petrol equivalent, yet cheaper to run.
The hybrid technology gives the gas-engine a power boost. This means the car can accelerate faster and power can be more balanced resulting in better dynamics. Cars such as the Polestar 1 really show what’s possible when hybrid technology and gas-motors combine. That car produces more than 600hp from a 2.0 engine and an electric motor.
Furthermore, most hybrid performance cars are a lot easier to live with. Better MPG and no congestion charges. Meaning, you can drive your car into the city hassle-free. If you have a plug-in car then you can use the electric car park spots to your advantage. A guaranteed parking spot then!
Hybrid technology is saving the combustion engine for the moment. Without it, the combustion engine would face severe extinction. Petrolheads should be thankful for hybrid technology since it still keeps performance cars fun as well as striking to government and state guidelines.
Featured image credits via: autoevolution.com