The Tank lineup in Russia has long been associated with massive frame SUVs, but in recent years the brand has been actively promoting hybrid technologies. The growing interest is evident: according to Avtostat, over 73,000 gasoline-electric vehicles have already been registered in Russia, and Tank models are increasingly common among them. In the fall, a new plug-in hybrid joined them — the Tank 500 Hi-Charge, based on the well-known flagship. It doesn't just complement the range, but becomes its most technologically advanced and dynamic modification.
Tank buyers will surely remember the Urban version — a "mild" hybrid where the electric part is represented by a compact 54-horsepower electric motor integrated into a 9-speed automatic transmission and a small 1.75-kWh battery. This scheme made the ride smoother and added acceleration, allowing the heavy SUV to accelerate faster than the V6 version. However, the Urban did not provide full electric range — the battery was too small, and there was no need to charge it from a wall outlet.
Hi-Charge is radically different: it is a plug-in hybrid with a new generation powertrain. A massive 37-kWh battery is placed under the rear seats, allowing the SUV to travel up to 115 km on electric power alone. The electric motor here is significantly more powerful — 163 hp and 400 N·m. The gasoline 2.0-liter engine, on the other hand, is slightly detuned to 231 hp, but the total system output has grown to almost the level of sports models: 394 hp and 750 N·m. As a result, the Tank 500 Hi-Charge is the fastest of all modifications: it accelerates to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds. The maximum speed, like other versions, is limited to 180 km/h.
Despite the impressive dynamics, the power for calculating the transport tax is still the same 299 hp — as in the Urban version or the gasoline V6. This is due to classification rules, which take into account the 30-minute power, not the peak power. An important feature is the type of battery: Tank uses NMC batteries containing nickel, manganese, and cobalt. They provide higher energy density and better tolerate temperature changes, which is especially important for Russian winters.
Charging is possible in two ways. While driving, the battery can be charged forcibly from the ICE by selecting the appropriate mode in the menu. But for maximum efficiency, external charging is also provided. At fast DC stations, Hi-Charge accepts up to 53 kW, which allows you to restore the charge in less than an hour. Home charging is slower — the built-in device supports only 6.6 kW, so a full cycle will take up to 7 hours. For such cases, dealers offer a stationary Wall-E AC station from Pandora — from 7.5 to 22 kW depending on the connection.
The large battery did not worsen the geometric проходимость — it is located under the rear seats, which means it does not hang under the днищем. The trunk has become slightly smaller, its volume is now 445 liters, but the spare tire is located on the door, which is much more convenient when used off-road. Electric тяга allows you to finely dose the power at low speeds, which helps when overcoming difficult sections.
The only nuance is the weight. Hi-Charge is heavier than the V6 version by about 360 kg, its curb weight is 2895 kg. Therefore, in deep snow or in muddy ground, you will have to be more careful: there is energy, but the weight can play against the driver. On the other hand, no one has taken away the full off-road arsenal: a понижающий ряд in the transmission, блокировки of all three differentials, and a set of electronic modes for different types of покрытия.
Among the interesting features is the external power function. SUVs on the Hi4-T platform can отдавать energy to the outside: up to 3.3 kW is available through the charging connector, and the розетка in the trunk выдаёт up to 2.2 kW. This is enough for camping, lighting, tools, and even small household appliances.
Tank 500 Hi-Charge has become an important step in the development of the Tank hybrid lineup. It combines the power of a traditional frame SUV, the efficiency of a plug-in hybrid, and extended functionality on бездорожье. In the near future, it will undergo full-fledged winter tests, which will show how viable this approach is in real Russian conditions.
The model in Russia costs from 6 million rubles in the basic version.
