Although China leads the global electric vehicle (EV) market, it is not putting all its eggs in the battery basket. A growing trend in the country is the use of range extenders powered by alternative fuels, including methanol. Meanwhile, Horse Powertrain (part of the Renault Group) has revealed a hydrogen-powered engine.
While Europe—France in particular—continues to push battery electric vehicles as the only viable solution, Chinese manufacturers are taking a more pragmatic route.
Take BYD, for instance. Now surpassing Tesla in global sales, the company is positioning itself as the world’s future number one carmaker. It still produces combustion engines and recently signed a deal with Saudi Aramco to develop low-carbon fuels (e-fuels) and innovative engine technologies.
Another standout example is the Geely Group, owner of Volvo. At the show, Geely had an entire section dedicated to methanol. The company showcased a racing car, a minivan (SV REV), and a truck (Homtruck REV), which boasts a claimed range of 1,500 km—under its new “Methanol REV” brand. Geely has long championed a roadmap based on methanol and range extenders, and it is now actively developing a green methanol logistics system.
Horse Powertrain (Renault Group) Unveils a Hydrogen Engine
At the Shanghai Motor Show, Horse Powertrain—an alliance between Renault, China’s Geely, and oil giant Saudi Aramco—unveiled seven new internal combustion engines designed for hybrid configurations. These include 2-, 3-, and 4-cylinder engines optimised for energy efficiency and compatible with various fuels: petrol, methanol, and hydrogen.
Among them was a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder hydrogen engine, delivering 107 kW (145 hp) and 230 Nm of torque. Thanks to a stratified combustion system, it offers outstanding efficiency and zero emissions.
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