This Startup Aims to Transform EVs into Hybrids for Automakers

Horse Powertrain has a clever solution to help automakers adapt their EV platforms

Even though sales numbers in major markets such as the United States and China suggest an increase in electric vehicle purchases, many automotive companies realize that not every potential buyer is rushing out to acquire these cars en masse. Data provided by Cox Automotive reveals that around 296,227 EVs were sold in the first quarter of 2025—a rise of 11.4% compared to the previous year’s fourth quarter. By contrast, Hyundai reported selling 203,554 units over this time frame.

However, as certain manufacturers such as Hyundai, GM, and Volkswagen gradually start producing hybrid variants of their popular car models, a startup supported by the Renault Group, Geely, and the major oil company Aramco has developed an offering aimed at making hybrid tech more accessible. This innovation provides auto companies with a straightforward plug-and-play option they can easily adopt.

A plug-and-play hybrid solution

During this year's Auto Shanghai show, UK-based Horse Powertrain is set to unveil the Future Hybrid Concept, a compact, modular, all-in-one hybrid powertrain system designed to retrofit electric vehicle platforms as well as combustion-engined cars with a hybrid-electric setup, aiming for the fewest hiccups and development costs possible.

The FHC’s comprehensive package closely mirrors the combined propulsion setup found in certain hybrid cars, which includes both a gasoline engine linked with an electric motor along with a gearbox. This component is engineered to attach directly to the subframe and take over as the frontal drivetrain element for an electric vehicle, positioned sideways rather than longitudinally.

The idea of the FHC is to reduce automakers' spending on development costs for hybrids and allow them to be built side-by-side with existing EVs. The integrated power unit comes with all the necessary electronics for a hybrid powertrain, including a controller, an inverter, a DC-to-DC converter, an onboard charger, and an 800V charging booster for fast charging. With this solution, automakers only need to adapt their desired cars with space for an exhaust system and a gas tank.

Nonetheless, Horse says that the FHC powertrain can be powered by various types of fuel, including ethanol flex fuels like E85, M100 methanol, modern synthetic fuel, and good ol' gasoline. The powertrain can also be used as a range extender when connected to an existing EV's high-voltage battery. At the same time, the transmission connected to the FHC can provide power to the front wheels or work together with an electrically powered rear axle for all-wheel drive applications.

"Horse Powertrain is focused on solving the biggest problems facing automotive OEMs," its CEO said in a statement. "For over a decade, it looked like Battery Electric Vehicles were the only path to net zero, and OEMs planned accordingly. However, we’re now shifting towards a technology-neutral world, with different markets and applications each pursuing their own sustainable mobility journey."

"Our Future Hybrid Concept helps OEMs solve this problem. Through our innovation, we can deliver a full hybrid powertrain system that seamlessly integrates onto a Battery Electric Vehicle platform. This compact, integrated powertrain concept allows OEMs to offer powertrain diversity with minimal disruption to the production process and resource expenditure."

Final thoughts

It is quite intriguing to observe that third-party companies are creating universal solutions for hybrid-electric technology, enabling Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to easily join the rapidly growing market with their vehicles. As per recent sales data from Honda, over fifty percent of Accords, Civics, and CR-Vs sold were hybrids, indicating that this tech is becoming increasingly common.

Horse Powertrain indicates that they aim to introduce the first vehicle fitted with the Future Hybrid Concept powertrain as soon as 2028. Should the proof of concept perform precisely as outlined, it’s likely that manufacturers throughout the automotive sector will incorporate this powertrain technology in various iterations into their popular models.