Suzuki to develop lean-battery EVs as part of 10-year tech strategy

MANILA: Suzuki Motor Corporation will be developing lean-battery electric vehicles (EV) as part of its 10-year technology strategy.

Per the Japanese carmaker, the electric cars it plans to produce aims to minimize energy consumption by combining components that embody “Sho-Sho-Kei-Tan-Bi” such as a small and efficient electric unit, and a small and light battery.

Doing so will help the Hamamatsu-headquartered firm provide its customers with the most energy-efficient EVs based on the renewal energy ratio and usage conditions in each country and region.

To date, Suzuki has not yet produced a full EV and has only teased a supposed all-electric model in the form of the eVX sport utility vehicle. However, the company has dabbled in manufacturing plenty of hybrid vehicles.

In the Philippines, Suzuki’s new-energy offerings include the Ertiga Hybrid and XL7 Hybrid.

Suzuki’s 10-year technology plan

The goal of developing lean-battery EVs is just a piece of the puzzle in Suzuki’s technological plan, which the marque aims to implement in the coming decade.

Another component of the said strategy is the use of lightweight and safe bodies. Per the small car specialist, compact and light vehicles not only reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions during use, but also reduce the resources and CO2 emissions in production, thus contributing to resource conservation and CO2 reduction.

“We will further evolve the light-weight and safety body ‘HEARTECT,’ and also work to minimize energy consumption through weight reduction technology,” the company wrote in a press release.

In addition, Suzuki will equip its next-generation hybrids with a highly-efficient internal combustion engine with a carbon neutral fuel.

Last year, the brand made the Z12E Engine, which pursues improved combustion and has achieved a maximum thermal efficiency of 40 percent. In the future — Suzuki pointed out — it will “extend this high-efficiency engine worldwide and achieve to minimize energy consumption by carbon-neutral fuel and next-generation hybrids.”

Looking into the future, Suzuki will also develop software-defined vehicles (SDV) that are affordable and create value by embodying minimization of energy consumption with “Sho-Sho-Kei-Tan-Bi.”

“We will make it easier to use when updating its software, with the best mix of wired and wireless (OTA) updates. We will develop the SDV that makes customers feel ‘This is fine, this is what I want’ by sharing hardware to reduce component costs and reusing software to reduce development costs,” Suzuki said.

Finally, its future vehicles will be designed in a way that they can be easily disassembled and recycled.

Traditionally-built automobiles require mass consumption of energy, resource depletion and environmental destruction.

The vehicles that Suzuki plan to design will achieve minimal energy consumption to save the total use of resources.

Also read:

SPH retails Ertiga Hybrid with 1-month amortization under latest promo

Suzuki PH displays Eeco nameplate

Suzuki PH highlights commercial vehicle roster at 2024 PCVS