Tag Archives: EV

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Future Hybrid Concept converts EVs into hybrids

Horse Powertrain, a company that produces ICE and hybrid systems, has unveiled an equipment kit that converts electric motors into hybrids. It is a Future Hybrid Concept that is the inverse of the one offered for the electrification of cars with internal combustion engines.

The Future Hybrid Concept can be installed on current BEV platforms, and the system works as a unit with extended range for the existing battery and provides all-wheel drive. The size of the powertrain is designed to replace the front electric drive and requires only minimal modifications and is fixed directly to the vehicle subframe. It should also be noted that this system is also compatible with combustion engine platforms.

The new powertrain represents a significant shift in manufacturing processes because by placing the complex components of the hybrid system in a single unit, a large part of unnecessary work is eliminated, which ultimately means lower costs.

The Future Hybrid Concept is equipped with a controller, inverter, DC/DC converter and on-board charger, and includes the ability to charge ultra-fast at 800 V. It can also be used for all types of fuel, from gasoline to synthetic fuels.

This powertrain is not yet in use, and the first cars equipped with the Future Hybrid Concept will reach the market in three years.

Source: Horse Powertrain

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Mini’s electric strategy failed

Mini is one of the manufacturers that advocated a rapid transition to fully electric cars, but the reduced demand for electric cars has brought them back to reality. Now the company is thinking more about combustion engines.

“We are not giving up on full electrification, but we will have to postpone it, because it is evident that the demand for cars powered by internal combustion engines is still high, much higher than the demand for electric cars,” the company said.

Along with the development of electric models, Mini will continue to offer hybrid models and there is already a lot of talk about a new model that will be positioned above the Countryman. This model should have significantly higher ground clearance, reinforced suspension and wheels for different surfaces.

It is still not known when the BMW Group will stop producing cars with combustion engines, but the latest information suggests that the end of the decade may be too ambitious. Last year, only 17.4 percent of the BMW Group’s offer was electric cars, which is still far from what they planned.

Source: Mini

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Willowbank Raceway bans EVs on track

EVs are some of the fastest cars in the world that we often see on race tracks. However, Willowbank Raceway has banned the racing and testing of all road-registered electric cars at the track.

This is not the first time that a track has banned electric vehicles, as Summit Point Raceway in West Virginia did so last year and Anglesey in Wales in early 2024. The only difference is that the ban on these tracks also includes hybrid vehicles.

Willowbank Raceway is a track in Queensland (Australia) built in 1985, and bases its ban on Australian Motorsport Agency (NEDRA) regulations and emergency response protocols. Some of the reasons are that electric vehicles pose a risk because the batteries release toxic and flammable gas after a crash, the inability to confirm that the fire on the car is extinguished, the danger of not being able to unlock the door from the outside after a crash, the danger to rescuers when trying to extract an unconscious driver from the car after a crash , the risk of not being able to push or tow an extinguished vehicle with available equipment, as well as the fact that cars need specific fire extinguishing systems.

The stated reasons may be valid, but some believe that the same reasons can be applied to other vehicles that have e.g. electric locks. Statistics show that electric vehicles are less likely to catch fire than ICE or hybrid cars, but batteries still present a special challenge. They suspect that Willowbank Raceway is not being honest in its claims, as they have allowed supercars with electric modes like the Ferrari SF90 Stradale, McLaren Artura and Lamborghini Revuelto to use the track.

Whether this decision is valid and whether it will be changed in the future remains to be seen.

Source: Drive