Suzuki Motors premiered its Swift plug-in hybrid during the
2009 Tokyo Motor Show. Since this debut, Suzuki representatives have been
lobbying the Japanese government to make the Swift plug-in available for sale.
Last week, the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and
Tourism approved this hybrid model for public use. This approval means that
Suzuki customers can register their Swift hybrids and order license plates through
local dealers. The Suzuki Swift plug-in has now cleared the red tape of the
Japanese government and taken a big step toward commercial availability.
The Suzuki Swift
plug-in hybrid is built around a 0.66-liter gas engine. This engine is used for
conventional power over long distances and doubles as an electrical generator. Suzuki’s
drive system is bolstered by a 55kW AC motor and a 2.66 kWh lithium-ion battery
pack. Suzuki worked with battery supplier Sanyo to develop a lightweight battery
that would be practical for day-to-day commuters. By combining a diminutive
engine with a small battery, Suzuki is hoping to keep down costs and reduce vehicle
weight to increase fuel economy.
The Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,
Transportation and Tourism quickly approved of the Swift due to its outstanding
performance metrics. Suzuki claims that its plug-in hybrid system can achieve a
combined fuel economy rating of 88.4 miles per gallon. The Swift plug-in can
travel up to nine miles per charge on all-battery power before the engine
starts. Due to the size of the battery pack, Suzuki projects a 1.5-hour
recharge time for the production version of the Swift. These projections should
make the Suzuki Swift plug-in a popular model among denizens of the country’s
condensed urban centers.
With government approval, Suzuki can now send Swift plug-in
units to dealers throughout Japan for road testing. The company will start with
a run of 60 test vehicles distributed to Japanese dealers by fall 2010. Based
on these tests, Suzuki may start to sell its first plug-in hybrid vehicle by
the end of 2012. This plug-in coupe may be successful in Japan but it will need
to be scaled up in terms of mileage if it is to be exported. In the near
future, the Suzuki Swift plug-in could be marketed as an urban mobility vehicle
marketed to residents of major cities in Europe and the United States.
