It has been 2 years since Toyota launched the Urban Cruiser Hyryder and the strong hybrid system is just one of the many things that make it a perfect city car. But how does this complex electric-petrol system work? We are here to explain
The Urban Cruiser Hyryder’s 1.5L petrol motor generates 92PS and 122 Nm of torque. Paired with an 24PS electric motor via a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the combined output reaches 116PS. The electric motor draws power from a 0.8 kWh battery pack, which charges through regenerative braking and engine assistance. The Urban Cruiser Hyryder always starts in EV mode, operating silently at low speeds during parking or crawling traffic. As you demand more power, the petrol engine seamlessly kicks in, supporting the electric motor and simultaneously replenishing the battery.
A power control unit and power split device work harmoniously to optimize energy usage. With this system, the car can work solely on battery power at crawling speeds while also using the electric motor to give you a boost during spirited highway runs. The power split device intelligently makes use of the best combination based on the throttle input and road conditions for the most optimal and responsive behaviour making the car run electric, on petrol power or a blend of both. You can also see the current status of where the power is coming from in the MID in the instrument cluster.
Remarkably, the engine can even shut off at highway speeds when the drivetrain experiences less load. Toyota claims that up to 60% of driving time can be electric-only, translating to impressive fuel efficiency. The Urban Cruiser Hyryder achieves an impressive ARAI-rated 27.47 kmpl mileage to be light on your pockets and the environment as well!