Chinese automakers are racing to make hybrid cars that can run 2,000 km

BYD and Geely set a 2,000 km travel target for new plug-in hybrid models, thanks to the support of electric motors and gasoline engines.

Geely is the latest Chinese car company to reveal plans for a plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle (PHEV) powertrain with super long range. The company confirmed that engineers are finding ways to help gasoline-electric vehicles go up to 2,000 km before needing to charge and refuel.

This move is similar to fellow competitor BYD - the company also recently showed its intention to start selling PHEV cars with a similar journey by the end of 2024.

Geely's new PHEV system is already used on a number of current car models, according to sources from the company at its headquarters in Hangzhou, China. The system called NordThor combines a 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder turbo gasoline engine, 3-speed DHT transmission, electric motors, 19.1 kWh lithium-ion battery and a 192-liter fuel tank. The total capacity of the system is 358 horsepower.

Geely Galaxy L6 - PHEV model has a combined range of 1,370 km. Photo: Geely

In the Geely Galaxy L6 model - a 4,782 mm long sedan launched in China in 2023 - the car can run 126 km with only the electric motor, and the total distance with gasoline and electricity is 1,370 km according to China's CLTC standards.

Geely did not say how future PHEV models will achieve the 2,000 km target. However, WardsAuto - a famous automobile magazine in the US - said that Geely wants a combined fuel consumption of only 2 liters/100 km according to CLTC. At this time, Galaxy L6 has a fuel consumption of 4.5 liters/100 km.

Further improvement of the NordThor 8848 engine is also considered. Additionally, Geely's next-generation PHEV range will apparently use batteries with higher energy density, and possibly, larger fuel tanks.

Meanwhile, BYD also confirmed its plan to upgrade the DM (Dual Mode) PHEV powertrain system to give future models a range of up to 2,000 km. The Shenzhen-based automaker launched the DM system in 2008 and continues to upgrade with the advancement of technology.

BYD Song Plus 2024 DM-i version can run 1,151 km before needing to recharge and refuel. Photo: BYD

The 4th generation system is used for BYD's current PHEV models, including the latest generation of the best-selling SUV - Song Plus - with two versions: DM-i focusing on fuel efficiency, and DM -p focuses on performance.

Both versions use a 1.5-liter turbo engine, 4-cylinder Atkinson cycle, an electric motor and CVT transmission. Customers can choose between 8.32 kWh and 18.32 kWh batteries. Accordingly, the Song Plus DM-i can run up to 1,151 km when combined with a 60-liter fuel tank.

BYD says that the 5th generation PHEV system launched in 2025 will be based on the current DM-i platform. And although the fuel tank and battery capacity have not been disclosed, the company's future PHEV models will have a range of up to 2,000 km.

BYD's new PHEV system will also incorporate the new ePlatform. The current platform has been released since 2021 and is version 3.0, while the new version will be 4.0.

In 2023, more than half of BYD's total global sales of 3.01 million vehicles will be PHEVs. The company's plan to expand its PHEV range was announced after the approval of a new three-year business strategy, with the aim of consolidating its position as a global sales leader in electrified vehicles, including both PHEV and car lines. purely electric.