This Powerful Plug-In-Hybrid Setup Could Make Off-Roading Easier

Horse Powertrain's new PHEV setup makes a whopping 3,164 pound-feet of torque at the wheels and promises improved off-road capability.

Horse Powertrain PHEV Off-Roading Engine

Photo by: Geely

Jeff Perez

By: Jeff Perez

Sep 3, at 12:30pm ET

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Horse Powertrains debuted its new 3DHT200 powertrain for off-road SUVs.
The setup makes a whopping 3,164 pound-feet (4,920 Newton-meters) of torque at the wheels.
It should help off-road SUVs climb slopes as steep as 45 degrees.

Plug-in hybrids aren't usually known for their hardcore off-road abilities, but Horse Powertrain wants to change that. As part of a joint venture with Geely-Renault, the Spanish-based engine builder has unveiled its new 3DHT200 (rolls right off the tongue).

Horse says its "13-in-1" plug-in-hybrid powertrain is designed specifically for vehicles that need to get off the beaten path. The system can deliver a whopping 3,164 pound-feet (4,920 Newton-meters) of torque at the wheels, which should allow off-road SUVs to climb slopes as steep as 45 degrees.

The system will reportedly make its debut on the upcoming Geely Galaxy Cruiser 700. The boxy, off-road-oriented SUV is expected to push out as much as 1,113 horsepower (830 kilowatts) when it goes on sale in China and other regions outside of the US later this year.

Horse Powertrain 3DHT200 PHEV

Horse Powertrain 3DHT200 PHEV

Photo by: Horse Powertrain

Thirteen Components, One Powertrain

So, what makes this a 13-in-1 powertrain?

Horse says the 13-in-1 designation refers to the number of major components integrated into the system. That includes the two motors and their controllers, an onboard charger, a DC-DC converter, a power distribution unit, a transmission control unit, thermal-management hardware, the three-speed gearbox, and the motor gearbox.

The 3DHT200 is the third system in Horse Powertrain's 3DHT family, but it's the first designed specifically with off-road applications in mind. It combines the company's three-speed dedicated hybrid transmission with two electric motors.

The 148-hp (110-kW) P1 motor is primarily responsible for starting the combustion engine and generating electricity, while the more powerful 308-hp (230-kW) P3 motor handles traction duties. According to the Horse, consolidating everything into one unit reduces its volume by about 10 percent.

The setup can operate in pure-electric, series-hybrid, and parallel-hybrid modes. At lower speeds, it will even operate more like a range extender, using the combustion engine to generate electricity. At higher speeds, the system connects the engine directly to the wheels through the three-speed transmission.

Geely Galaxy Cruiser 700

Geely Galaxy Cruiser 700

Photo by: Geely

Powering A Very Serious Off-Road SUV

The first application will be the upcoming Geely Galaxy Cruiser 700, as mentioned. The SUV will use the 3DHT200 at the front, paired with a separate rear electric motor to create a clever e-4WD system.

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Horse also claims the powertrain could allow a large SUV like the Galaxy Cruiser 700 to return fuel consumption of around 5 liters per 100 kilometers (or around 47 miles per gallon). That said, the final specifics have yet to be released.

Motor1’s Take: While we shouldn’t expect to see this powertrain in America, the fact that Horse developed a plug-in-hybrid system specifically for off-roaders is pretty interesting. The instant torque, combined with all-wheel drive, could give SUVs like the Galaxy Cruiser 700 some serious off-road chops.

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Source: Horse Powertrains via CarNewsChina

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