Horse PowerTrain, the company of which the Dacia mechanical plant in Mioveni is part, will present two engines for the conversion of electric cars in Munich. The innovation developed by Horse engineers is extremely compact and can be a solution for electrical models, to be transformed into HEV, Reev or Phev cars.
A Range-Extender engine based on a combustion engine will be presented by Horse PowerTrac in Munich, within the car show. The innovative engine has been created to provide an enlargement of the uses of electric engines, especially for those with a low autonomy, as is the case with small class cars. Also, an engine that can replace the electric motor of an electric car will also be presented in Munich.
As the company made up of the Horse merger, from Renault, and Aurobay, from Geely, one of the two engineers is a variant derived from the engine presented in Shanghai earlier this year, which turns an electric car into a hybrid one.
The first engine is a completely new solution, baptized C15, is extremely compact and can be installed on an electric car to provide an increased autonomy. It can be mounted both in front and in the trunk, with dimensions of 50/55/27.5 cm, “as a briefcase” as the engine company says, being comparable to an electric generator, but capable of being integrated into the systems of an electric vehicle. It is based on a 1.5 -liter thermal engine, which can also be turbo, is Euro 7 compatible and can generate up to 70 kW, for class B and C cars, and 120 kW, for larger cars.
The second engine is called Future Hybrid System, and is a revolutionary hybrid propulsion system that combines the engine, transmission, electric and power electronics in a single, extremely compact system. Basically, the Horse engine will be able to replace the frontal electric motor vehicle (BEV) electric motor, transforming the car into a hybrid, PHEV or electric vehicle with Range Extender.
The procedure will be much less expensive for producers, who will not have to develop new platforms or models, if the market situation undergoes a radical change.
The engine will have two functional variants. One performance one, with a width of 74 cm, will use two engines in a P1 + P3 configuration (one at the engine output and another on the transmission shaft). The other, ultra -compact, will have a width of only 65 cm, with a single engine that can be connected in the P2 configuration (between the engine and the transmission).
Both variants also have a 1.5 -liter, four -cylinder engine, and a dedicated hybrid transmission. They also contain the complete electronics package needed for hybrid propulsion systems and can be perfectly integrated with systems such as a DC/DC converter, an integrated charger and an 800V charging amplifier to maximize low voltage performance.
Matias Giannini, Executive Director of Horse PowerTrain, says that the innovative engine will generate savings for car manufacturers. “The hybrid system of the future is a perfect representation of what we propose: the release of the resources of car manufacturers and of the manufacturers of original equipment (OEM) that would otherwise be spent to reinvent the categories of propulsion systems.
By offering a simple way to broaden their product ranges on existing architectures, we allow the manufacturers of original equipment to continue to dedicate all their resources to accelerate electric vehicles, while offering a way to maximize their investment in electric vehicle platforms, reducing their complexity and focusing on their market. full software and electrification. ”
Horse PowerTrain claims that it is researching the possibility of developing additional variants of the Future Hybrid System that could lead to smaller dimensions of the system. If three -cylinder engines were used, for example, it could reduce the width of the unit by another 7 cm.
From Electric, to hybrid
Mounted in an East/West orientation, the Future Hybrid system has a upper part of small dimensions, with a wider profile at the bottom, being adapted for the latest impact test requirements. The engine allows the front console to be reduced by up to 150 mm, compared to a conventional hybrid propulsion, due to the small size.
The architecture allows the installation directly on the car’s chassis, similar to the native electric motor, which reduces the assembly process and allows the reuse of components from the Bev engine.
The engine also allows the conversion of electric cars into vehicles with Range Extender Reev with full traction (AWD). This will be possible by using an additional engine located on the rear axle.
INGO Scholten, technical director at Horse PowerTrain: “Compared to traditional solutions, Future Hybrid System reaches an unprecedented degree of compaction: it is shorter and narrower than any equivalent system on the market. Essentially, this allows to include a complete hybrid group in spaces initially designed for electric units, the vehicle.
It also opens new opportunities for manufacturers of original equipment (OEM), such as electrical vehicles with full traction and extended autonomy in compact vehicles or the use of air conditioning systems. “
The engine used has been designed to be used in any corner of the world, with a wide range of fuels, from gasoline, ethanol E85, fuels with methanol M100 and syntentic fuel.
The engine will enter production in 2027, which means it could be used by brands within Renault Group for current electric models.
Horse PowerTrain was made up of the merger of the two divisions, Aurobay Technologies (Geely) and Horse Technologies (Renault), and operate 17 factories and 5 global research and development centers. Its main customers are the brands of the two companies, but also their partners: Renault Group, Geely Auto, Volvo Cars, Proton, Nissan and Mitsubish Motors Corporation. Horse PowerTrain is headquartered in London, UK, and has 19,000 employees globally. The three shareholders of the company are Renault Group (45%), Geely (45%) and Aramco (10%).
