The researchers from Moscow Polytechnical University proposed a concept of a new hybrid C vehicle designed specifically for Russian operational environment. It is a compact, economical and eco-friendly electric motor car with a small gasoline-driven generator, which may be fully assembled from domestic components.
Russia signed Paris Climate Agreement and committed to decrease the greenhouse gases emissions, hence, it cannot stay away from the global trend of transport decarbonization. However, high cost of batteries, cold climate, shortage of charging stations and long distances between residential communities are the factors that impede the mass-scale transition to e-vehicles. For example, even in the capital, there is only one charging station per 14 e-vehicles, while the recommended ration is 1 to 8. Many regions are still in the early stages of building this infrastructure. On top of that, the efficiency of lithium-ion batteries drastically falls in the winter season, and a big portion of energy is spent to heat-up the driver/passengers’ cabin. All these factors lead to the situation, when pure e-vehicles so far are not equal substitution to cars equipped with internal combustion engines (ICE).
The scientists quite logically concluded that a hybrid car may be a realistic interim milestone. The number of such cars is steadily growing: as per July 2025, there were about 72 thousand hybrids and 65 thousand e-vehicles in Russia. However, traditional hybrids are still expensive and complicated to manufacture, they require reduction units, gear boxes and powerful electronics. The growing transport taxes and fees charged depending on the aggregate power of ICE and electric motor also need to be taken into account.
The researchers believe the series hybrid to be the most practical alternative in this situation. In such vehicle ICE is not directly connected with the wheels, but is used only as a generator for boost charge of the battery. The propulsion is driven solely by e-motor. Such configuration is simpler, lighter and more economical: the motor operates in the optimal mode, the car gets substantial drive range, and the design itself does not require clutch and gear box.
To understand, which parameters are the most important ones for potential buyers, the team made a survey of 1,168 people from different regions of Russia. 52% respondents chose a classic hybrid, 41% – a series hybrid, and only 7% – a pure e-vehicle. The car with 200-250 CV, with front-wheel drive, acceleration up to 100 km/h in eight seconds, 800-1000 km drive range and the possibility to use ordinary socket for recharging was of the highest demand.
On the next stage the researchers performed a computer simulation in Siemens Amesim environment providing for the possibility to calculate the interaction of all the nodes of the car – motor, generator, battery, electric drive, fuel supply system and aerodynamics. Domestic components were used in the calculations: VAZ-21129 motor (1.6 l, 4 cylinders), TVEL electric drive (“Three-In-One” set – a motor, invertor and reduction unit of 150 KW capacity) and Renera (NMC-811) batteries with the capacity from 20 to 60 KW*h. A standard C vehicle weighing 2.1 tons and aerodynamic factor of 0.22.
Overall, the researchers tested 11 combinations of battery and fuel tank to find the optimal ratio between the drive range, dynamics, mass and CO₂ emissions. The configuration with 40 KW*h battery and 20-litre fuel tank demonstrated the best result. Such hybrid is capable of covering 667 km without fueling and recharging, of accelerating up to 100 km/h in 9.4 seconds, and its carbon dioxide emissions are 70 g/km.
This series hybrid is in line with rigid environmental standards and may be almost fully assembled from domestic components. Its design allows for further upgrade – e.g., installation of gas-powered engine or transition to economical Atkinson cycle.
