Delphi steps up hybrid play in India

With local vehicle makers stepping up indigenous research and development for hybrid and pure electric vehicles, US-based Delphi Corp, a leading global supplier of automotive electronics and technology, has started devoting time and resources towards developing a fully capable design centre in India specifically for such vehicles. The Delphi Technical Centre in Bangalore already supports global programmes for developing hybrid vehicles.The company is now looking at quadrupling head count in Bangalore for the hybrid programme, which will specifically work in small car hybrids and pure electric vehicles. Besides doing all the analysis for hybrid vehicle batteries, the centre will do systems integration work and software development for Delphi’s clients globally.A hybrid vehicle uses two sources of energy, one of which is usually an electric motor. The government has so far done little to encourage indigenous development of such vehicles. However, many local automakers have started work in this direction. These include six car makers, two commercial vehicle makers and two two-wheeler companies. Among others, Mahindra & Mahindra (Scorpio hybrid) and TVS Motor Co (showcased scooter hybrid at the Auto Expo) have made some progress; General Motors India and Hyundai Motor have begun work on developing pure electric versions of the ‘Spark’ and the ‘i10’, respectively; Maruti Suzuki India has started work on a hybrid version of the ‘SX4’ sedan.Delphi offers several solutions in development of hybrid vehicles — it makes lithium-ion battery packs in China, power electronics such as invertors, converters and controllers in Singapore, etc. John Absmeier, director (Asia Pacific business development - hybrid and electric vehicle system), Delphi sees India’s indigenously developed hybrid small cars being launched by 2012.On its part, India could help Delphi reach its goal of reducing the costs of systems that go into making a hybrid vehicle by 50% over the next few years, says Absmeier. But will Delphi set up manufacturing facilities in India to benefit from this trend where OEMs are looking to export hybrid vehicles developed at a significant cost advantage to the overseas markets? “Not perhaps in the next 2-3 years, but we will set up a manufacturing footprint in India when volumes increase,” says Absmeier.