Horse Powertrain Launches Innovative HR18 HEV Hybrid Drive

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Horse Technologies, the powertrain division of Horse Powertrain, today launched the HR18 HEV integrated hybrid drive unit, the brand’s first entirely in-house powertrain. Engineers in Romania and Spain designed and developed the system, while teams in Bursa, Türkiye, and Valladolid, Spain, will produce it. The compact, low-emission hybrid powertrain combines a combustion engine, electric motor, transmission, and power electronics into a single, efficient solution for global OEMs.

At the heart of the unit lies the new HR18 petrol engine, a 1.8-litre, four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle design engineered for hybrid duty. Weighing only 100 kg, the Euro 7-compliant engine generates 80 kW (108 PS) and 172 Nm, accepts up to 10% ethanol fuel, and delivers the responsiveness drivers expect. Horse Technologies developed the engine in Bucharest and will cast, machine and assemble it in Valladolid and Bursa.

The HR18 HEV couples the engine to the clutchless DB45S gearbox from Seville, which handles 436 Nm with minimal losses, and the 5DH electric motor built in Aveiro, Portugal, which supplies 50 kW and 212 Nm for swift electric assistance. A 36 kg BTA Gen2 lithium-ion battery, devised in Valladolid, stores 1.4 kWh at 150–279 V within two cooled 34-cell modules, ensuring consistent performance and rapid regeneration.

“The HR18 HEV is designed directly to address challenges facing OEMs in today’s market. HEVs are becoming the most in-demand powertrain category in many markets, requiring many brands and OEMs to make significant investments in bolstering their HEV offering, all while they face unprecedented commercial pressures. By solving the major challenges involved in producing and integrating such a high-performance system, we’re freeing up our OEM partners to focus on their priority innovations and areas of differentiation,” said Matias Giannini, Chief Executive Officer of Horse Powertrain.

Patrice Haettel, Chief Executive Officer of Horse Technologies, added: “The HR18 HEV is the culmination of work by teams across Horse Technologies’ European network of plants and R&D centres, who have developed the key technologies for this project. It further strengthens our transition into a fully integrated powertrain partner for the automotive industry and reflects our team’s unwavering commitment to delivering a complete range of propulsion solutions”.

Horse Technologies created the HR18 HEV as a versatile and scalable hybrid foundation that helps manufacturers accelerate decarbonization and meet customer demand for efficient mobility. By delivering an integrated, ready-to-install system, the company enables carmakers to reduce development time, control costs, and launch Euro 7-ready hybrid vehicles at a rapid pace.

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