Horse Powertrain Unveils Future Hybrid Concept at Auto Shanghai 2025

London, United Kingdom- Horse Powertrain Ltd., an innovative low-emission powertrain systems, is set to reveal its revolutionary Future Hybrid Concept at Auto Shanghai 2025. This cutting-edge hybrid powertrain is designed to accelerate the automotive industry's transition to net-zero emissions, integrating an internal combustion engine (ICE), electric motor, and transmission into a single, compact unit.

The Future Hybrid Concept is a versatile powertrain that allows automakers to hybridize Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) platforms, addressing evolving customer demands while eliminating the need for multiple production platforms and lines. Its lightweight, modular design fits seamlessly into existing BEV platforms and acts as a range extender for the battery. The system also supports all-wheel drive (AWD) functionality in both electric and parallel modes, with compatibility across a range of fuel types including gasoline, ethanol flex fuels, pure methanol, and synthetic fuels.

Horse Powertrain will debut the Future Hybrid Concept during a press conference at Auto Shanghai 2025 on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 10:00 AM China Standard Time at booth 8A17 in Hall 8.1H. The company plans to launch the first vehicles featuring this technology as early as 2028.

This new powertrain represents a significant shift in powertrain production. By consolidating the complex hybrid powertrain components into a single, compact unit, it achieves major efficiency improvements in system integration. The concept reduces the need for specialized tools and unique assembly processes, resulting in significant resource savings for OEMs producing vehicles with mixed propulsion systems on the same production line.

Designed to replace the front electric drive unit of a BEV with minimal modifications, the Future Hybrid Concept can be directly mounted to a vehicle's subframe, allowing OEMs to offer hybrid variants of existing BEV platforms without major redesigns. Additionally, it can be adapted to traditional combustion vehicle platforms.

The Future Hybrid Concept features a compact, slimline design with a wider bottom profile to comply with global safety and crash standards. It includes integrated power electronics, such as a controller, inverter, DC/DC converter, and an onboard charger. An 800V charging booster ensures fast charging capabilities.

Designed for global use, the Future Hybrid Concept incorporates a pre-chamber ignition system that supports a variety of fuels, including gasoline, E85 ethanol flex fuels (commonly used in South America), M100 methanol fuel (a growing alternative fuel in China, India, and sub-Saharan Africa), and synthetic fuels. The design also meets environmental and product design standards, with space for next-gen automotive heat pumps and the use of R290 refrigerants.

Mr. Matias Giannini, CEO at Horse Powertrain, said, “Horse Powertrain focuses on solving key challenges for OEMs. While BEVs were once seen as the sole path to net zero, the industry is now embracing a technology-neutral approach. Our Future Hybrid Concept offers a compact hybrid powertrain that seamlessly integrates onto BEV platforms, providing powertrain diversity with minimal production disruption and resource use.”

Mr. Ragnar Burenius, Chief Engineer of xHEV systems at Horse Powertrain, said, “The Future Hybrid Concept is designing as a single-piece combustion engine, motor, and transmission unit, reducing the complexity of a hybrid powertrain. This allows more flexibility for its packaging, allowing for it to be integrated in existing BEV platforms with minimal modifications to the vehicle.”