Horse Powertrain launches upgraded HORSE V20 engine for mild- and plug-in hybrid vehicles
Horse Powertrain has launched the latest generation of its HORSE V20 4-cylinder 2.0-liter gasoline engine, available in 400-volt plug-in hybrid and 48-volt mild hybrid variants, with production started in Skövde, Sweden.
- 7%
- 2.0 L
- 4
- 400V PHEV and 48V mild hybrid
What Happened
Horse Powertrain has launched the upgraded HORSE V20 engine, a 4-cylinder 2.0-liter gasoline unit designed for mild and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The engine comes in 400-volt plug-in hybrid and 48-volt mild hybrid variants sharing a single architecture. Production has begun at the company's Skövde plant in Sweden, with exports to customers across Europe, the US, and Asia.
7%
compared to the previous plug-in hybrid engine
- New multi-injection fuel system
- New engine management system
- Redesigned air induction system
- Modifications to crankshaft-mounted starter-generator
- High-position mechanical water pump
- Re-routed cooling system
“Designing one engine to meet three different regulatory regimes is harder than designing three separate engines. As the regulatory map is fragmenting, one engine that meets all three sets of rules delivers greater value to our customers, ensuring we can offer greater economies of scale. Pulling that off requires serious engineering. Further, the Skövde team also successfully changed production lin”
The Skövde plant retained the base assembly line from the previous generation and installed a straight final assembly line to improve material flow. The transition was completed without stopping production. Horse Powertrain plans to increase HORSE V20 output through 2026 and 2027 as customer demand grows.
Why this matters
The new engine reduces fuel consumption by 7% for plug-in hybrids and meets stricter emissions rules in the U.S., Europe, and China. By offering a single architecture for both variants, automakers can save on material costs and achieve economies of scale, potentially making hybrid vehicles more affordable. The production line upgrade in Skövde ensures steady supply as demand grows.
Terms in This Story
- Plug-in hybrid
- A vehicle that can be recharged from an external power source and operates on both electric power and a gasoline engine.
- Mild hybrid
- A vehicle with a small electric motor that assists the internal combustion engine but cannot be plugged in to recharge.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.