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

Full hybrid E-TECH: Renault’s hybrid technology praised by customers

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. Customers will soon be able to do just that. Already on the market, these two models will be available in dealerships in July.

Renault’s full hybrid E-Tech powertrain is gaining momentum in the family car segment, with the introduction of a new 160 ch version for Symbioz and an upgraded 200 ch version for NewEspace and New Austral.

Renault’s full hybrid E-Tech engines use a unique technology that combines a combustion engine with two electric motors, a well-sized 2 kWh 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. New Renault Symbioz consumes just 4.3 L/100 km on the WLTP cycle.

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” hybrid architecture. Born thanks to over 150 patents, this choice combines the advantages of ‘serie hybrid’ (where only the electric motor drives the wheels and the combustion engine recharges the battery) and those of ‘parallel hybrid’ (where the two types of motor can operate alone or at the same time).

Balancing driving enjoyment and efficiency, this type of architecture is nevertheless more complex and needs to be orchestrated by an intelligent gearbox

Inspired by Formula 1 technologies, 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 five modes:

• 100% electric (only the electric motor drives the wheels). This traction is activated at low speeds in town and when manoeuvring.
• Dynamic hybrid (both the combustion and electric motors drive the wheels). Full torque and power are available for overtaking or climbing hills, for example.
• E-drive (the electric motor drives the wheels while the combustion engine charges the battery). Activatable manually, this mode is on automatically at a steady speed, for example on the motorway.
• Combustion (only the combustion engine drives the wheels and/or charges the battery). This mode is activated when the battery is empty.
• Energy recovery (the wheels drive the electric motor to recharge the battery) operate when braking or decelerating and can considerably increase battery autonomy while saving brake use.

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

The new 1.8L 160 ch 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 lithium-ion battery, and a optimized smart, clutchless multi-mode dog clutch gearbox.

The E-TECH 4-cylinder combustion engine of 1.6L launched in 2020 on Clio 5 has been upgraded from to 1.8Lto deliver 109 ch 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 also includes a gasoline particulate filter and complies with the upcoming Euro 7 emissions standard.

The 160 ch full hybrid E-Tech system includes two electric motors: a 36 kW/50 ch “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 ch 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.

With E-Tech technology, 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. New Espace has a full range up to 1100 km with on a single tank.

Managed by a sophisticated ECU that is constantly updated by the brand's engineers, thedog clutch gearbox allows for faster, smoother gear changes, reduces power loss, and is mechanically simpler and more reliable. Used in Formula One, the dog clutch replaces both a gear and a synchronizer ring in a clutchless system, improving efficiency by reducing friction. Lastrefinement has 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 New Symbioz an ideal hybrid family car. As for the full hybrid E-Tech 200 ch engine, it has been optimized for even smoother performance in  NewEspace.

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 the best power / fuel efficiency / ride comfort ratio on the market and the benefits of electric driving instantstarts, silent and smooth low-speed electric driving while manoeuvring, battery regeneration through deceleration, braking, and the combustion engine while maintaining excellent driving quality and efficiency. The best of the two world.