Horse Powertrain’s Future Hybrid System: Turning EVs Back Into Hybrids
At the Munich show, Horse Powertrain unveiled its latest concept drivetrain, a compact module designed to transform battery-electric vehicles into hybrids, plug-in hybrids or even range extenders. Branded the “Future Hybrid System,” it packages a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine together with one or more electric motors, a gearbox and the hybrid control electronics into a single unit that slots directly onto the front axle of an EV, just like a conventional electric drive.
Two versions are currently on the table. The Performance unit measures 740 mm across, features a P1 plus P3 motor configuration and is capable of propelling the car independently as a front-drive hybrid. The Ultra-Compact version, at just 650 mm wide, uses a P2 layout for even greater packaging efficiency. Horse also points out that the same architecture lends itself to all-wheel-drive range extenders, pairing the Future Hybrid System on the front axle with a separate P4 motor on the rear.
For context, the “P” nomenclature refers to hybrid motor placement. P0 is the simplest form, a belt-driven starter-generator that cannot power the wheels. P1 motors attach directly to the crankshaft, assisting but unable to drive the vehicle alone. P2 sits between the engine and transmission, capable of propelling the car electrically with the clutch disengaged, making it the most common hybrid and plug-in hybrid setup today. P3 is mounted on the gearbox output shaft, able to drive the wheels directly. P4 is entirely separate, typically on the rear axle, as in many AWD hybrids such as Toyota’s RAV4 Hybrid.
Fuel flexibility is another highlight. The system supports petrol, E85, M100 methanol and synthetic fuels, a move Horse describes as key to ensuring global deployment in markets where fuel quality and infrastructure vary.
Why does this matter? Automakers have invested billions into pure-electric platforms, and this solution offers them a way to adapt those same architectures into hybrids without costly front-end redesigns. It could provide a quick and inexpensive path to broaden model lineups in regions where EVs are not yet viable for mainstream buyers.
From a technical standpoint it is clever. From a strategic one, it raises a bigger question: is this innovation a smart bridge for carmakers or a step backward in the transition to full electrification? Either way, Horse Powertrain has handed the industry a tempting tool—one that could reshape how quickly manufacturers are willing to leave combustion behind.
