As the auto industry adjusts to a future likely dominated by hybrids, a company called Horse Powertrain has created a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) retrofit package that allows automakers to develop hybrids and electric cars on the same assembly lines. This new technology could usher in a new generation of hybrid electric vehicles featuring both a battery and a combustion engine, but in a different configuration from traditional PHEVs.
Designed as a drop-in replacement for front-wheel-drive electric vehicles, the hybridization system can be bolted directly onto a vehicle’s subframe and integrated into existing electrical systems with minimal modification. The innovative approach could offer automakers a more flexible, lower-cost pathway to electrification and help bridge the gap between full electrification and consumer practicality.
In 2024, declining electric vehicle (EV) demand and sluggish sales forced many automakers to revisit and revise their electrification strategies. With thousands of unsold EVs sitting idle in ports and dealerships across the globe, it became clear that going all-in on battery electric vehicles (BEVs) wasn’t financially sustainable for many carmakers.
Hybrids, by contrast, are less expensive, easier to maintain, and come with a shallower learning curve for consumers, making them a more practical alternative to fully electric cars. Horse Powertrain’s new PHEV retrofit package will reportedly enable manufacturers to assemble hybrids and electric vehicles on the same production lines, significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and costs.
Horse Powertrain, a business involving Aramco, Renault, and Geely, operates 17 manufacturing plants and five research and development (R&D) centers across three continents. The London-based company will showcase its Future Hybrid Concept during the Auto Shanghai 2025 show. According to Horse Powertrain, the system features a small battery and an ICE (internal combustion engine) capable of running on multiple fuels, including diesel, gasoline, synthetic fuels, and biofuels.
The internal battery is about half the size of a standard EV battery, while the engine functions as a generator, charging the battery, which in turn powers the electric motor that drives the car. This setup allows the vehicle to achieve approximately 124 miles (200 km) of electric-only range, which can be extended by another 373 miles (600 km) with the use of the onboard generator, bringing the total range to around 497 miles (800 km).
By using the engine solely to recharge the battery rather than to directly drive the wheels, the system reduces fuel consumption and emissions. The smaller battery also cuts costs, lowers vehicle weight, and reduces reliance on critical raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel.
Horse Powertrain’s retrofit hybrid system could revolutionize EV manufacturing by making hybrid production cheaper, cleaner, and more efficient, offering a critical lifeline to automakers navigating an uncertain electric future.
As the auto industry continues to evolve, actors like Massimo Group (NASDAQ: MAMO) may need to tweak their strategies and go with the flow, whether that leads to more hybrids or fully electric models.
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