- The company has integrated an engine and electric motor into a single unit.
- This compact drivetrain has been designed to fit into a vehicle’s rear subframe.
- Horse will offer the C15 engine in naturally aspirated and turbo guises.
Horse Powertrain, the joint venture operated by Renault and Geely, is eager to keep the internal combustion engine alive for as long as possible, and to help make this happen, it’s developed a new hybrid powertrain known as the X-Range C15 Direct Drive.
Developed for use in traditional hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and range-extenders, it could be used in a wide variety of vehicles. The powertrain features a four-cylinder engine, a transmission, an electric motor, and the power electronics, all integrated into a single unit with a shared housing.
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The system has been designed to mount on a vehicle’s rear subframe and could replace the rear-mounted electric motors in many current EVs, bringing the added versatility and practicality of a hybrid. In base form, the engine is naturally aspirated and produces up to 94 hp (70 kW), while a turbocharged version with 161 hp (120 kW) is also possible, better suited for D-segment vehicles and LCVs.
The Future Of Combustion?
The engine can operate as a generator in both serial and parallel modes, while the electric motor provides extra power. The C15 Direct Drive system sends power through the rear wheels, but can also work alongside a front-mounted electric motor, enabling all-wheel drive.
Horse says that one of the key appeals of its system is that it can be easily and quickly developed to work with existing battery-electric platforms, perfect for car manufacturers backing away from EVs and eager to adopt more hybrids.
“The X-Range family of powertrains is about reflecting today’s market realities, allowing automakers to pivot from BEVs to hybrids and range extenders on a single platform, quickly and at scale,” Horse chief executive Matias Giannini said. “The X-Range C15 Direct Drive is an ‘all-in-one’ powertrain, allowing BEV platforms to be converted to HEVs, PHEVs, and REEVs with little redesign or tooling changes required, dramatically reducing time-to-market, amortizing BEV investments, and catering to the diverse array of mobility needs in today’s global market.”
