Highly efficient hybrid powertrain developed

Horse Powertrain, via its Horse Technologies division, and Repsol — a Spanish multi-national energy and petrochemical company based in Madrid — have unveiled ‘a next-generation hybrid powertrain that achieves ultra-high efficiency and low fuel consumption, operating on 100% renewable gasoline’.

The ‘Horse H12 Concept’s engine introduces enhancements to the combustion system and reductions in internal losses, achieving 44.2% peak brake thermal efficiency (BTE) while reducing vehicle fuel consumption by 40% (in comparison with 2023 average passenger car new registration in Europe); according to standardised European testing (WLTP), this consumption is below 3.3 litres per 100km.

Horse says that maximising efficiency results in lower fuel consumption and lower CO₂ emissions in equal proportions; and that when using the 100% renewable fuel, a mid-size car equipped with the Horse H12 Concept powertrain and driving an average of 12,500km per year, will emit 1.77 tons of CO₂ per year less than a vehicle with a traditional fuel and combustion engine.

Two prototypes produced
The project, led by teams from the Horse Technologies Division in Valladolid (Spain) and the Repsol Technology Lab in Madrid (Spain), has produced its first two prototypes and validated performance. The first demonstrator vehicle is expected to be presented in early 2026 and will be the first step towards the ‘industrial production of highly efficient hybrid engines’.

Luis Cabra, deputy CEO of Repsol, said: “This collaboration shows that decarbonisation can be accelerated through innovative and accessible technological solutions. The use of 100% renewable fuels is a zero-emission solution, complementary to electric vehicles, for decarbonising the transport sector. Supporting clear and ambitious regulation that drives investment in renewable fuels and highly efficient engines is essential for Europe to reduce transport emissions faster in a more competitive and effective manner.”

In October, Repsol achieved ‘a technological milestone’ by producing gasoline of 100% renewable origin at industrial scale at its Tarragona (Spain) facility. Moreover, this new product is compatible with existing gasoline vehicles, with no modifications required. Nexa 95, Repsol’s highest-quality 95-octane renewable gasoline, is already available at 30 service stations in Spain. The company also offers renewable diesel at close to 1,500 service stations in Spain and Portugal, making it the largest distribution network of renewable fuels in Europe.