Geely puts first mass-production methanol hybrid sedan to the test in -40-degree weather
Jerrica · Mar 20, 2022 12:00 PM
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Geely tests world’s first methanol-electric hybrid mass-production sedan
Geely Auto’s NordThor Power hybrid technology eliminates cold start issues
70% reduction in CO2 emissions
Geely is proud to announce that the testing for the world’s first methanol-electric hybrid sedan in frigid sub -40-degree Arctic condition is a success. The Methanol Hybrid Emgrand even combat the issue of cold starts thanks to Geely’s latest hybrid technology.
Geely’s Methanol Hybrid Emgrand is based on the fourth-generation B-segment Geely Emgrand sedan launched last year. The sedan is built on Geely Auto’s B-segment Modular Architecture (BMA) similar to the Proton X50.
The methanol powered Emgrand is the latest product to come out from Geely’s decade-long RMB 3 billion investment into methanol vehicle development.
Previously, researchers had hit a snag when it comes to cold starts however, the problem has now been solved thanks to Geely Auto’s NordThor Power (we previously know it as the Leishen Power) hybrid technology.
The Methanol Hybrid Emgrand is powered by a 1.8-litre naturally-aspirated methanol engine that provides 132 PS and 175 Nm. Paired with an electric motor that produces 136 PS and 320 Nm, the sedan can produce a combined output of 370 PS and 495 Nm.
The powertrain is mated to a 3-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) which Geely claims provides increased efficiency at low speeds by utilising only the electric motor. Meanwhile, the engine works as a range-extender.
The century sprint is completed in 8.8 seconds but power and how fast the car can reach 100 km/h is not the main story. It is how much fuel the car consumes.
Geely claims that the car consumes roughly 9-litres of clean methanol per 100 km based on the WLTP standard.
With methanol price at Chinese pumps around RMB 3 per litre (~RM 2) fuel costs per 100 km is roughly around RMB 27 (~RM 18).
Geely claims that their methanol vehicles allow for a 70 percent reduction in CO2 emissions compared to models that run on petrol.
Previous demonstration trials of the non-hybrid Geely Emgrand methanol sedans in Iceland achieved an average well to wheel emissions of 46g of CO2 per km. This is even lower than electric vehicles in most countries.
Geely has plans to put their methanol vehicles through EU certification to be able to promote methanol powertrains to European markets as part of its goal to reach carbon neutrality.
There isn’t a time in memory that doesn’t involve staring at cars. After discovering the excitement of watching Schumacher vs Hakkinen, Formula 1 became a major part of life. The love for cars and F1 ultimately led to a job with CAR Magazine. The untimely death of the magazine meant a hiatus from cars at lifestyle women’s magazine Marie Claire before another opportunity came knocking again.
