It’s been a significant week for internal combustion. It has seemed for a while like its fate had been sealed, only for legislation to be variously rolled back amid discontented murmurings about the timescales and a proportional lack of EV demand. In addition to news that some firms were delaying progress on additional electric advancements, some have gone even further: in just the past few days, five global manufacturers have underlined their commitment to the future of suck-squeeze-bang-blow in one form or another.
Earlier in the week Toyota, Subaru and Mazda came together to state that as part of a combined decarbonisation push - and driven ‘by a deep understanding of their customers’ diverse lifestyles’ - all three will continue to develop ‘signature engines’. Which essentially guarantees the development of a new generation of the Mazda rotary, the Subaru boxer and Toyota's inline-four. The newcomers will be much more efficient and smaller than we’re used to, boosted by the integration of electric drive units. But reduced cubic capacity means a lower bonnet, opening up new design possibilities as well as better aero performance.
Moreover, all the new units will be designed to run on e-fuel, biofuel and hydrogen. Toyota in particular has been keen to push the latter in motorsport of late, even if its adoption into the mainstream seems no closer to fruition. CEO Koji Sato noted: "In order to provide our customers with diverse options to achieve carbon neutrality, it is necessary to take on the challenge of evolving engines that are in tune with the energy environment of the future.”
For some, however, the future is too far away and statements like that too conservative. As of today, Horse Powertrain is to produce a ‘complete portfolio of state-of-the-art powertrain technologies for global partners including hybrid systems, internal combustion engines, transmissions, and battery solutions.’ Horse Powertrain (it’s meant to be written HORSE, but there’s no way we’ll be trotting that one out) is a joint venture between Renault Group and Geely, with each holding a 50 per cent share. The HQ will be in London, but more broadly (and because it assimilates existing resources) there are going to be in the region of 19,000 employees with the logic mirroring that of the Japanese trio: ‘Renault Group and Geely believe that a combination of various powertrain technologies is necessary, including highly efficient internal combustion engines (ICE), lower carbon e-fuels, and hydrogen, to achieve a successful decarbonization in a world where more than half of vehicles produced are expected to still rely on combustion engines by 2040.’
Horse Powertrain is galloping into the challenge at full tilt, with agreements already in place to supply Volvo, Nissan, Proton and Mitsubishi. To assert its position as a ‘worldwide leader in hybrid and combustion powertrain solutions from Day One’, the Horse Powertrain stable will include 17 global plants, five R&D centres plus nine customers from the get-go. Its expected €15bn of yearly revenues and five million or so powertrains will include engines that can be powered on ethanol, methanol, hydrogen, LPG, compressed natural gas and hydrogen, plus hybrids and PHEVs. Comprehensive, then.
At the reins will be Matias Gianni as CEO, who brings powertrain experience from Vitesco Technologies. The six-person board features senior bods from both Renault and Geely, including the former’s Chief Technology Officer Gilles Le Borgne, CEO of Geely Auto Group Jerry Gan and Dacia CEO Denis Le Vot. A huge undertaking? Yes.
We can expect the results to be similar: smaller and more efficient engines that reduce emissions still further while retaining the convenience (and perhaps enjoyment - you never know) of internal combustion. Anyone else wishing to join the party better move fast, because Horse Powertrain has big ambitions straight out of the gate; Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo says HP can help its parent company “achieve worldwide leadership and scale in a sector representing more than 80 per cent of its [Renault’s] business.” Geely Holding Chairman Eric Li suggested that it’s “crucial” for expertise to be shared and multiple technologies explored for the industry to reach net zero. He added: Horse Powertrain Limited will have the portfolio, scale and capacity to offer the low-emission solutions the automotive industry of tomorrow demands. Today’s launch marks a new chapter in sustainable mobility, and we at Geely are proud to play a part.”
For the moment, an exact date hasn’t been given for when the first Horse Powertrain engine will be complete and in a car. But the project has been racing along at quite a canter - an agreement was signed by Renault and Geely last July, and already Horse has the stamp of approval from authorities - so it seems unlikely we’ll be waiting furlong.
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