Hybrid family cars: Renault leads the way with Symbioz and Espace Full Hybrid E-Tech powertrains

Full hybrid: Renault’s hybrid technology praised by customers

The Renault Symbioz and Espace full hybrid E-Tech models were recently tested by 170 journalists from 17 European countries around the Mortefontaine circuit near Paris. These journalists praised the family-friendly features and fuel efficiency of these hybrid SUVs.
Renault’s full hybrid E-Tech powertrain is gaining momentum in the family car segment, with the introduction of a new 160 hp version for the Symbioz and an upgraded 200 hp version for the Espace.

Renault’s full hybrid E-Tech engines use a unique technology that combines a combustion engine with two electric motors, a well-sized battery, and a smart, clutchless multi-mode dog clutch gearbox. This setup offers one of the best performance-to-efficiency ratios on the market.

The latest advancements in full hybrid E-Tech technology further improve efficiency, setting new benchmarks in their category while enhancing driving pleasure and performance. This success has helped Renault become the top seller of hybrid models in France and is expected to surpass one million full hybrid E-Tech units sold in the coming weeks.

What is full hybrid E-Tech technology in a family hybrid car?

The full hybrid E-Tech engines use a “series-parallel” architecture, protected by over 150 patents, that perfectly balances driving enjoyment and efficiency. They consist of a combustion engine, two electric motors powered by a battery, and a smart, clutchless multi-mode dog clutch gearbox.
Inspired by F1 technology, this gearbox features two gears for the main electric motor and four for the combustion engine. The 15 possible combinations between the electric and combustion motors allow for optimal driving comfort, fuel consumption, and CO₂ emissions depending on usage. The system automatically selects from the following modes:

• 100% electric (only the electric motor drives the wheels)
• Dynamic hybrid (both the combustion and electric motors drive the wheels)
• E-drive (the electric motor drives the wheels while the combustion engine charges the battery)
• Combustion (only the combustion engine drives the wheels and/or charges the battery)
• Energy recovery (the wheels drive the electric motor to recharge the battery)

Electric engine, regenerative braking… What’s new in the latest full hybrid E-Tech engines?

The new 1.8L 160 hp full hybrid E-Tech engine in the Symbioz has been thoroughly redesigned for more power and lower fuel consumption. It includes a new 1.8L combustion engine, two electric motors powered by a new 1.4 kWh battery, and a new smart, clutchless multi-mode dog clutch gearbox.

The 4-cylinder combustion engine has been upgraded from 1.6L to 1.8L, now delivering 80 kW (109 hp) and 25% more torque. It features a high-pressure direct injection system (350 bars) for better fuel atomization, improving combustion, performance, emissions, and fuel economy. It operates on the Atkinson cycle, which reduces fuel consumption by keeping the intake valves open longer during compression. It also includes a gasoline particulate filter and complies with the upcoming Euro 7 emissions standard.

The 160 hp full hybrid E-Tech system includes two electric motors: a 36 kW/50 hp “e-motor” with 205 Nm of torque that can drive the wheels and recharge the battery during braking and deceleration, and a 15 kW/20 hp high-voltage starter generator (HSG) that assists with gear changes. They are powered by a new 1.4 kWh battery with about 20% more usable capacity, improving electric range.
The car starts in 100% electric mode and can drive up to 80% of the time in electric mode in urban and suburban areas (up to 105 km/h), without needing to recharge. This can lead to fuel savings of up to 40% compared to a traditional combustion engine.

The updated dog clutch gearbox allows for faster, smoother gear changes, reduces power loss, and is mechanically simpler and more reliable. The dog clutch replaces both a gear and a synchronizer ring in a clutchless system, improving efficiency by reducing friction. Several refinements have been made to the gearbox for quicker and smoother shifts, enhancing driving comfort by reducing vibrations and engine noise.

A new gear ratio better suited for highway driving has been added, along with a new electronic gear selector (e-shifter) that improves ergonomics and allows switching from D to B mode to maximize regenerative braking—making it an ideal hybrid family car. As for the 200 hp full hybrid E-Tech engine, it has been optimized for even smoother performance in the Espace.

It now features a new gearbox software that ensures constant responsiveness and eliminates any lag, especially during downshifts or acceleration phases. As a result, driving is smoother, more dynamic, and more enjoyable, particularly during acceleration between 40 and 80 km/h.

Why choose full hybrid today?

Full hybrid E-Tech engines are an ideal and economical transitional solution for customers not yet ready to switch to fully electric vehicles. They offer the benefits of electric driving—silent starts, low-speed electric driving in urban and suburban areas, battery regeneration through deceleration, braking, and the combustion engine—while maintaining excellent driving quality and efficiency.