Ground-breaking range-extender hybrid engine using methanol fuel developed by Horse

A new game-changing hybrid engine is coming. 

The D20 Methanol is a range-extender engine made by global automotive engineering firm Horse Powertrain, a joint venture between Renault and Geely. 

Horse makes a range of engines, electric motors and transmissions for Renault Group, Geely, Volvo, Proton, Nissan and Mitsubishi. 

Shop Geely Cars

Search all cars

Search all cars

Its latest engine burns 100 per cent methanol fuel, opposed to ethanol alternatives in current mainstream petrol engines. 

The disk-shaped electric motor lies flat, meaning it is 46 per cent shorter than vertically-mounted alternatives.

It is said to have 63 per cent better power density, but Horse has not revealed the engine's total power output yet.

Horse claims a 40kWh battery can be recharged using less than 20L of methanol fuel, making it one of the most efficient electrified set-ups on the market.  

The set-up generates 1kWh of electricity for every 2.1kWh of methanol burned, and can perform cold starts in temperatures as low as -35-degrees. 

The engine also has less emissions output. It complies with the European Union’s Euro 7 standard, which will become the benchmark later this year. 
What will the D20 Methanol engine be used in? 

It is unclear what this new engine will be used for, with Horse remaining coy on which of its carmaker clients will receive it. 

Range-extenders have become increasingly popular in China, especially in large SUVs, and the D20 could be the latest example of this. 

Geely might be looking to gain an advantage over other range-extender competition, the Leapmotor D19 and Volkswagen ID. Era 9X.

China produces the majority of the world’s production of methanol, and is now heavily investing in renewable ethanol as opposed to coal-based.

A low-emissions methanol-fueled car could be ahead of the curve in China for Geely.  

There is potential for models featuring this new range-extender set-up to come to Australia in the coming years, but nothing is confirmed at this stage.