It is the first ethanol hybrid minibus to use its Range Extender solution.
Horse, the Renault Group engine manufacturer, has teamed up with Brazilian bus manufacturer Marcopolo and WEG, the Brazilian multinational electronics manufacturer, to develop the new hybrid minibus called the Volare Attack 9, the companies said in a statement on Friday.
The Horse Powertrain Limited division, focused on low-emission propulsion systems, explains that this new vehicle is the first ethanol hybrid minibus to use the Range Extender solution and was presented at the Marcopolo stand at Expo Lat.Bus 2024 in Sao Paulo.
The Volare Attack 9, scheduled for launch in 2026, will offer a maximum range of 450 km, and, like most new vehicles in Brazil, the combustion engine will be fueled with sustainable, domestically produced bioethanol, meaning it will offer carbon-neutral mobility for customers and operators.
RAGE EXTENDERS
Horse, a company created in May 2024, with Renault Group and Geely as majority shareholders (each with a 45% stake), and Aramco with an additional 10%, explains that the success of this project has led the company and WEG to plan the launch of a standardized Range Extender architecture for light and heavy commercial vehicles.
Horse Range Extenders use WEG components for the electric generators, electric motors, electric inverters and battery packs of the propulsion system.
For the Range Extender's combustion engine, the powertrain will use the 85kW Horse turbo 1.0-litre three-cylinder 'HR10' unit. This engine is adapted to run on clean, carbon-neutral bioethanol.
It also details that its Range Extender technology offers the benefits of decarbonised mobility on a large scale. These propulsion systems, such as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), use both combustion engines and batteries to provide flexible, low-emission transport.
However, unlike PHEVs, the combustion engine in Range Extenders never directly drives the vehicle's wheels, but only serves as an internal charging source for the vehicle's battery.
LESS FUEL CONSUMPTION AND LESS EMISSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ENGINE
This means that the combustion engine of a Range Extender vehicle, unlike a traditional PHEV, can operate constantly in its highly efficient operating window and rev range. This minimises fuel consumption and emissions associated with the combustion engine of the powertrain.
So, just like a traditional PHEV, the Range Extender's combustion engine can be turned on or off depending on the remaining battery charge and location, and the battery can be charged using any public charger or home power supply.
Finally, Horse explains that due to the efficiency of the architecture, the Range Extender's high-voltage battery is about half the size of a pure electric vehicle battery.
"This means significant cost and weight savings, while offering greater packaging flexibility for increased efficiency," he concludes.
