China-made hybrid powertrain saves fuel by 40 percent at most

TIANJIN – China Automotive Technology & Research Center (CATARC) has launched in early September a newly-developed hybrid powertrain which can achieve a fuel-saving ratio of 40 percent at most, reported Auto Weekly.

The CATARC hybrid powertrain, which takes eight years to develop, is said to have made breakthroughs in cost, power density and reliability. When applied to a SUV, it can save up fuels by 40 percent in urban driving conditions and 28 percent in comprehensive conditions. If it is applied to a 12-meter bus, it can reduce manufacturing cost by 80,000 yuan ($12,384) compared to the current powertrain system.

All parts of the powertrain can be made domestically as it is developed based on domestic industrial supporting capacity and manufacturing level, said CATARC director Zhao Hang.

CATARC also launched a new product Li(NiCoMn)O2 battery which boasts specific energy density of 170 Wh/kg, a 30 percent increase over lithium iron phosphate battery. The new battery will be produced by Shanghai CENAT New Energy Company, a JV between CATARC and Japan ENAX, Inc. The company is expected to have an annual battery capacity of 100 million ampere-hour.