New hybrid engine increases autonomy by 40% and uses completely renewable fuel

The engine was tested with a fuel made from organic, non-fossil sources such as used cooking oils and agricultural waste.

A new hybrid engine concept developed by Horse Powertrain promises to significantly improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions by combining an advanced engine design with 100% renewable fuel.

The British company claims that the technology can increase vehicle autonomy by up to 40% and reduce emissions by up to 1.77 tonnes per car per year compared to conventional fossil fuel vehicles.

Horse Powertrain, which emerged in 2023 as a specialist in propulsion systems following a joint venture between Renault and Geely, has focused on providing ready-to-use solutions for both hybrid and internal combustion engines to car manufacturers, explains .

The company’s latest prototype, the engine H12 Concept Engineis based on the HR12 three-cylinder platform but introduces several engineering improvements, including a revised exhaust gas recirculation system, an optimized gearbox and a high-energy ignition system. The result is a hybrid engine with a high compression ratio and a maximum braking thermal efficiency of 44.2%, providing fuel consumption well below the typical average for internal combustion engines.

Crucially, the H12 concept was tested using a fully renewable gasoline supplied by Repsol. The fuel, marketed as Nexa-95, is produced from non-fossil organic sourcessuch as agricultural and forestry residues and used cooking oils instead of petroleum. According to Repsol, the fuel can be used in existing combustion engines without any modifications, being compatible with current vehicle fleets.

When combined with the H12 engine, the renewable fuel is expected to reduce the annual emissions of a mid-size vehicle up to 1.77 tons compared to using conventional gasoline. Horse Powertrain executives argue that this approach demonstrates how significant emissions reductions can be achieved immediately and without waiting for the complete electrification of transportation systems.