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Horse Powertrain, a global leader in low-emission powertrain systems, has announced it will reveal its new Horse C15 family of ultra-compact range extender technologies at the IAA Mobility event in Munich, Germany. This innovative system is designed to convert existing battery electric vehicle (BEV) platforms into range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs) with minimal modifications, offering a cost-effective solution for automakers.
Key Highlights
- Ultra-Compact Design: The Horse C15 is a briefcase-sized system integrating a 1.5-liter engine, generator, inverter, and cooling package.
- Easy Integration: At just 500 x 550 x 275mm, it can be installed in the front or rear compartments of a BEV, either horizontally or vertically.
- BEV to REEV Conversion: The system allows original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to easily adapt their BEV platforms to create range-extended models.
- Fuel Flexibility: The C15 can run on various fuels, including gasoline, ethanol, methanol flex fuels, and synthetic fuels.
- Market Solution: This technology addresses the growing global demand for range-extended EVs by offering a flexible and efficient powertrain solution.
A Compact and Flexible Solution
The Horse C15 is a key offering within Horse Powertrain’s X-Range family, a series of solutions designed to enhance EV platforms with hybrid and combustion technology. The unit’s standout feature is its compact, briefcase-like form factor. This all-in-one system includes a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine, an integrated generator, an inverter, and a complete cooling package.
Its small dimensions are engineered for maximum flexibility, allowing it to be fitted into existing BEV architectures without significant redesign. This versatility enables placement in either the front compartment or the rear of a vehicle, giving automakers exceptional freedom in vehicle design and packaging.
Meeting Growing Market Demand
According to Matias Giannini, CEO of Horse Powertrain, range-extended EVs are the fastest-growing powertrain category in many international markets. “The Horse C15 range extender solution offers OEMs a straightforward and cost-effective way to tap into this opportunity,” Giannini stated. He added that the system allows manufacturers to “adapt their native BEV platforms into REEVs” and that demand is expected to continue growing.
The C15 positions itself as a critical component in this transition, providing one of the market’s most efficient and adaptable REEV solutions. By using this technology, automakers can reduce the size of the EV’s battery, which leads to significant savings in cost, weight, and pressure on the supply chain for critical minerals, all without negatively impacting the vehicle’s total range.
Efficient and Versatile Performance
The Horse C15 is engineered for Euro 7 compliance, including China 7 and SULEV20 standards. It will be available in two primary versions. A naturally aspirated form produces up to 70kW of power, ideal for B- and C-segment vehicles. For larger D-segment vehicles and light commercial vehicles (LCVs), a turbocharged version increases the power output to 120kW.
Unlike in a traditional hybrid vehicle, the combustion engine in a REEV powered by the C15 does not directly drive the wheels. Instead, its sole purpose is to act as a generator to maintain the charge level of the high-voltage battery. This allows the engine to consistently operate in its most efficient rev range, which minimizes fuel consumption, emissions, and noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH). Because an electric motor powers the wheels, the vehicle drives with the same smooth, responsive feel as a pure BEV.
More information is available on the official company website: https://horse-powertrain.com/.
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