Proton’s very first production hybrid car will be launched this year, according to reports by research houses based on an analyst briefing by Proton’s majority shareholder DRB-HICOM on March 2. According to these reports, the Proton X90 will be a mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV).
The MHEV hybrid system is expected to be a 1.5 litre three-cylinder 48V engine+motor combo producing 190 PS at 5,500 rpm and 300 Nm of torque from 1,500-4,000 rpm, which is higher than the 177 PS, 255 Nm non-hybrid version of the engine.
We had already speculated that this would happen based on two reasons. Firstly, Proton has already exhibited this engine at Proton’s Centre of Excellence showroom in Shah Alam back in November 2021. Secondly, this engine is already being used by the Proton X90’s ‘sibling’, the Geely Okavango in the left hand drive Philippines market.
How does the Proton X90’s 48V hybrid system work?
The system takes the regular 3-cylinder 1.5 litre turbocharged engine and adds a number of components to it. The hybrid system can provide 13 horsepower and 45 Nm of assist, which is what brings the 177 PS, 255 Nm numbers of the non-hybrid up to 190 PS and 300 Nm in the hybrid.
The electric assist in this system is provided by a BSG, or Belt-driven Starter Generator. It’s basically an extremely beefed up alternator that can be used to provide some power to the engine.
Unlike other more elaborate hybrid systems which sandwiches a motor between the engine and the gearbox, the BSG provides power through the belt, which is connected to the crank. It runs on a 48V power system, provided by a 48V battery.
The BSG will also be able to charge this 48V battery by recuperating braking energy and turning it into electricity. This is the only way to charge the battery, as there’s no socket for external charging.
There is also a 48V to 12V DC to DC converter in the system, so the 48V system can provide power to the car’s usual 12V system, which runs everything else like the aircond and lights.
Since it’s called a ‘mild’ hybrid system, the capabilities are also ‘mild’. The Proton X90’s hybrid BSG motor will not be able to power the car on pure electric drive mode like other more advanced systems like Honda’s e:HEV system or Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive systems.
What it will be able to do is allow the Proton X90 hybrid to have extended engine shutdown at speeds of below 15 km/h, such as when coasting to a stop. The 13 hp and 45 Nm also kicks in when you are accelerating from a stop or even during overtaking moves, providing extra torque when you need it the most. The Proton X90 can also coast at highway speeds with the engine shut off and the gearbox disconnected.
48V hybrid systems are on the uptrend these days and they are actually more prevalent in the showrooms than you think, but they’re just not marketed as hybrids anymore especially with premium brands and/or first world countries as the industry has transitioned to using the term only for more complex hybrid systems.
For example, both the Malaysian market W206 Mercedes-Benz C200 and C300’s M254 engines use 48V hybrid systems with BSG.
Are you excited for Proton’s first 48V hybrid to hit the showrooms? Or are you more adventurous and are waiting for a plug-in hybrid like Volvo’s T8 hybrids instead? Let us know in the comments.
GALLERY: 2023 Proton X90 spyshots
GALLERY: Geely Haoyue/Okavango
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Ada aku kesah?
Tak kisah tak kisah pun hang p baca dgn komen. Koyak ka
Lah bukan kau blh beli pun
Ada aku kesah dengan statement kau?
Apa aku peduli? Proton tetap low class. Kualiti sama dengan kereta half cut. Ahaha.
Habeslah P2 Alza & Aruz ku!!!!!
Lupa nk bgtau, saya suka hisap btg yummy yum yum.
Tiruan ..ahaha serupa dengan kereta pujaan kau. Ahaha
Truthfully, what percentage of X70 and Proton’s upcoming three row SUV customers will perfectly suffice with a Myvi or Iriz?
If its like that then how many bungalow or penthouse owners can do with a studio or two bedder? How many madam kwan or padi customers can eat mamak instead? Resources are portioned to the highest bidder in capitalism sir.
You do know that not everyone is a b40 dude…what kinda lame question is this? U do well if you actually think before you type
I was hoping the electric part would power the rear tyres while Ice power the front wheel
The tyre brand is from Linglong Atlas or not?
The right question is, when hybrid system rosak, can the car drive without it? Cannot right?
Same like C200 48V mild hybrid.
Still makan minyak daily KL drive, lagi worrying rosak maintenance cost.
But if without this 48V, it would be more makan minyak and also still worrying about rosak maintenance cost after 5 years warranty ending.
you do know the 48v motor is only there to act as a starter and run the air conditioner compressor and assist the engine for little bit but it can’t move on full electic mode
Introduce new car but spare parts not available. What for? If it breaks down, buy a new car?
All the car manufacturers face the same spare parts shortage.
Volvo? don’t think Malaysians are that well off.
Did some research on Philippine’s Okavango city consumption. 8km/l is not that bad for its size & weight (Fortuner/Innova), although there are many anectodal reports from urban Filipinos that the FC can get as bad as 5.5-7km/L in pure city drive & super heavy traffic jams.
https://philcarprice.com/car-review/geely-okavango-fuel-consumption-id406
https://www.google.com/amp/s/philkotse.com/car-buying-and-selling/geely-okavango-fuel-consumption-12555/amp
Kereta lembu belakang rumah aku jauh berkualiti dari semua kereta proton. Chit. Poorah!
Tapi yg duduk dalam rumah kau tu memang lembu kan…
Kereta lembu itu jauh lebih berkualiti dari kereta pujaan kau tu serta tidak menyusahkan sebab tiada masalah spare part macam kereta pujaan kau nanti. Ahaha.
Lembu tu tak menyemak macam kereta pujaan kau breakdown atas jalanraya sebab tak ada spare part.ahaha…
Patut ah kritik proton…hanya mampu kereta lembu shj
I wanna know if the system can crawl the car in stop-start traffic like at tolls, while keeping the main engine off.
Unlikely, the battery size here is too small to move the Hippo.
The electric motor is also a small ball at 13 hp and 45 Nm.
normal car cannot fix properly want introduce hybrid? gila sial ni
P2 first Hybrid: Rocky convert Ativa
P2 first Hybrid: Okavango convert X90
When will we have our own homegrown Hybrid???
P1 & P2 step up your game!
Me secretly hoping P2 will take the toyohatsu tank/thor, put the rocky hybrid system inside in place of the 1L turbo, and call it the Tupai or something.
From what I see, this is great. But can’t say more or criticise before it launched or after a year of sales. Let’s see how well it serves before making any comments.
Holy shieeetttttt 48V system ahahahahahah gone case lah all the best in terms of reliability.
Eager to see proton next small vehicle with the hybrid.