Great Wall Motor’s new Hi4 plug-in hybrid system, debuting in the new Haval B07 SUV, will offer a choice of two engines and two batteries.
GWM has released further information on the Hi4 system, which it says offers industry-leading thermal efficiency.
19.94kWh and 27.5kWh batteries will be available, with a claimed range of over 100km.
GWM says they support fast charging, though doesn’t specify the charge rate other than to say in ambient temperatures they can be charged from 30 to 80 per cent in less than 30 minutes.
They’ll be mated with two different powertrains.
One is an Atkinson cycle 1.5-litre with a high 16:1 compression ratio and peak power and torque outputs of 80kW and 135Nm. It features intake variable valve timing (VVT), an electronic water pump and thermostat, and other friction-reducing technologies.
The other is a turbocharged Miller cycle 1.5-litre with peak outputs of 120kW and 240Nm, dual VVT and a 350 bar fuel injection system.
The engines are mated with 70kW front and 150kW rear electric motors and GWM says maximum system power, depending on the model, will be 340kW.
That results in a claimed 0-100km/h time of as little as 6.4 seconds, again depending on the model.
The front motor includes a two-speed hybrid transmission. The transmission system features two electromechanical coupling units.
GWM claims improved energy efficiency of around 8 per cent compared to traditional energy management systems, industry-leading efficiency for the electric motors, and overall the performance of a 4WD system with the energy efficiency of a 2WD system.
Models with the Hi4 system will feature GWM’s Intelligent Torque Vectoring Control, promising the distribution of torque between the front and rear axles in milliseconds to improve safety and stability.
GWM Haval B07
There’s a “smart system” that can switch between nine different driving modes based on real-time road conditions.
In city driving, it will switch between pure electric two-wheel drive, series hybrid mode, and first-gear direct drive mode to avoid using the petrol engine. At high speeds, it will use the second-gear direct drive mode to maximise efficiency.
Brake energy recuperation also features in the system.
Other than the Haval B07, GWM has yet to confirm what other vehicles will receive the Hi4 system.
