Geely i-HEV hybrid system launched – as low as 2.22 l/100 km, 48.4% thermal efficiency; 1.5, 1.5TD or 2.0TD

Pic from Car News China

Geely has launched a hybrid system called i-HEV that will make its way to models such as the Preface (Xingrui), Monjaro (Xingyue L), Emgrand (the previous gen of which we know as the Proton S70) and Boyue (the previous gen of which spawned the Proton X70) starting this year, Car News China reports, citing Autohome and IThome.

i-HEV involves a dedicated hybrid engine (1.5, 1.5TD or 2.0TD from the BHE family; TD means turbo direct-injected) with a claimed 48.4% thermal efficiency (higher than the latest Galaxy Starship 7’s 47.26% and our Proton eMas 7 PHEV’s 46.5%) that Geely says is among the highest in mass production. The 11-in-1 electric drive unit gives you 313 PS, enabling a 1.8-second 0-30 km/h (yes, not 0-100 km/h) time.

Indeed, the focus appears to be more on efficiency than outright performance – Geely says AI-based energy management contributes towards a Guinness-certified 2.22 litres per 100 km (45 km per litre) combined, which was achieved with an Emgrand i-HEV in a highway test, Reuters reports. But the practical numbers are much less astronomical – 3.98 litres per 100 km (25 km per litre) for the Preface i-HEV and 4.75 (21 km per litre) for the Monjaro i-HEV, both WLTP.

Having conquered EVs and to a certain extent PHEVs, it seems Geely’s now setting its sights on the Japanese HEV establishment. Will we see Protons with this i-HEV system any time soon?

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