Chinese automakers are rolling towards the "multi-hybrid" technology route
With the global energy revolution and the concept of green development deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, the automotive industry is facing unprecedented transformation challenges. As the world's largest automobile market, Chinese automakers shoulder a great responsibility in terms of energy conservation and emission reduction. To this end, Chinese automakers are adopting a diversified "multi-hybrid" technology route in the field of hybrid vehicles, including plug-in hybrids, extended-range hybrids and traditional diesel-electric hybrid systems, to meet different market needs and promote green mobility.
Plug-in hybrids have become the main direction of attack
Plug-in hybrid technology is considered to be the main direction of Chinese automakers in the field of hybrid vehicles. According to relevant forecasts, the share of plug-in hybrid passenger car sales in China will rise to about 40% by 2025. Compared to conventional hybrid systems, plug-in hybrid vehicles are equipped with larger battery packs and charging equipment, which can make greater use of electric drive, resulting in significantly lower fuel consumption and emissions.
Many Chinese automakers are actively deploying plug-in hybrid technology. Taking GAC Group as an example, its self-developed "hybrid drive" system can be compatible with both plug-in and extended range modes. The system runs on battery power and uses engine power to charge the battery pack when the battery is low, enabling efficient electric and fuel hybridization. GAC's technical route is considered to be a "dimensionality reduction attack" to the traditional gasoline-electric hybrid, which can bypass the competitive advantage of established car companies such as Toyota from the side.
In addition to GAC, other Chinese automakers such as Changan Automobile and Geely Automobile are also accelerating the development and industrialization of plug-in hybrid technology. Changan's plug-in hybrid system "Blue Whale" has obtained a number of national patents and has been mass-produced and applied in a variety of models. The rapid development of plug-in hybrid technology is expected to help Chinese automakers occupy a favorable position in the future tide of energy conservation and emission reduction.
Extended-range hybrid has become an important technical route
In addition to plug-in hybrids, extended-range hybrid technology is also regarded as one of the key development directions of Chinese automakers. According to forecasts, the share of range-extender hybrid passenger car sales in China will also reach about 40% by 2025. The difference between a range-extended hybrid and a plug-in hybrid is that it relies on a gasoline generator to charge the battery pack and has a relatively short all-electric range.
The advantage of extended-range hybrid technology is that it can achieve efficient electric and fuel hybrids through the rational configuration of electric motors and fuel generators. Since there is no need for external charging, extended-range hybrid vehicles are also more convenient to use. However, this technology also encountered some problems in the early development, such as high fuel consumption and high noise, which led to poor sales performance.
With the continuous advancement of technology, extended-range hybrid is expected to become another important energy-saving technology route for Chinese car companies. GAC has launched a range-extender model, and although sales were sluggish for a while, the performance of the range-extender hybrid has been greatly improved by optimizing the engine, motor, and battery systems. In addition, some emerging car companies such as Xpeng Motors are also actively deploying extended-range hybrid technology. In the future, extended-range hybrid will become an indispensable part of the "multi-hybrid" technology route of Chinese car companies.
Traditional diesel-electric hybrids still have certain applications
In addition to plug-in hybrids and extended-range hybrids, traditional series/parallel diesel-electric hybrid systems are still used in Chinese automakers. According to relevant data, series-parallel hybrid is still the main technical route in China's hybrid market, accounting for more than 60%.
The advantages of traditional diesel-electric hybrid systems are that the technology is relatively mature, the cost is low, and it is suitable for large-scale mass production. However, compared with plug-in hybrids, their energy saving and emission reduction effects are relatively limited. With the continuous improvement of the country's requirements for energy conservation and emission reduction, the development prospects of traditional diesel-electric hybrid systems in the future may be affected to a certain extent.
In the short term, traditional diesel-electric hybrid systems will continue to play an important role in Chinese automakers. Some domestic brands, such as Great Wall Motor and Changan Automobile, are continuously optimizing their own gasoline-electric hybrid systems to meet the needs of different market segments. Traditional diesel-electric hybrid will serve as an important supplement to the "multi-hybrid" technology route of Chinese car companies, providing consumers with more diversified choices.
The diversified technology route is in line with the national development policy
Chinese automakers are comprehensively deploying "multi-hybrid" technology routes such as plug-in hybrids, extended-range hybrids, and traditional diesel-electric hybrids to meet the needs of different market segments. This diversified technical route is in line with the overall policy of the national energy revolution and green development.
From the national level, the development of new energy and energy-saving and environmentally friendly vehicles is the general trend. In 2020, the "New Energy Vehicle Industry Development Plan (2021-2035)" issued by the State Council clearly stated that by 2025, the proportion of new energy vehicle sales in mainland China should reach about 20%. In this context, Chinese car companies will undoubtedly make important contributions to the realization of national energy conservation and emission reduction goals through the comprehensive layout of the "multi-hybrid" technology route.
The diversified "multi-hybrid" technology route is also conducive to Chinese automakers to have an advantage in the future market competition. Different consumers have different preferences for mileage and ease of use, and by providing a variety of technology routes such as plug-in hybrid, extended-range hybrid, and traditional diesel-electric hybrid, Chinese automakers will be able to meet the needs of different market segments and gain a larger market share.