Horse Powertrain’s hybrid concept is an automaker-focused way to build hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or range-extended versions of vehicles designed around battery-electric platforms. It is not a retrofit kit for owners. Horse now presents related systems as its X-Range family: F15 Direct Drive, C15, and C15 Direct Drive.
What does “turn an electric car into a hybrid” mean here?
Horse Powertrain is an automotive supplier. Its concept is about adapting a vehicle platform designed for a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) so an automaker can also offer versions with an engine and electric powertrain components. The work would be integrated into vehicle design and production; it is not a practical home conversion for an existing EV.
Horse describes X-Range as a family of compact, integrated powertrains intended to support BEV, hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), and range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) lineups on BEV-native platforms, without significant changes to vehicle design or production environments. That is the manufacturer’s stated aim, not an independently demonstrated conversion result. Horse’s X-Range product overview and X-Range explainer describe the current portfolio.
How the three X-Range systems differ
The key distinction is whether the engine-generator package replaces an electric drive unit or mainly supplies electricity. Horse’s product materials describe three architectures:
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| System | Role in a BEV-based platform | Published specifications or configuration |
|---|---|---|
| F15 Direct Drive | Replaces the front electric drive unit. Horse lists front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations. | Horse’s 2026 specifications: 1.5-litre engine; naturally aspirated output up to 70 kW or turbocharged output up to 120 kW; generator up to 70 kW or 85 kW respectively; e-traction power above 200 kW; 800 V. |
| C15 | Engine-and-generator range extender, rather than a full drive-unit replacement. Horse says it can be installed in different orientations and locations. | Horse’s cited product materials do not state comparable output figures for this system. |
| C15 Direct Drive | Adds a transmission to the C15 architecture and is designed to replace a BEV rear electric drive unit. Horse describes rear-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive when paired with a front electric drive unit. | Horse’s 2026 specifications: 1.5-litre engine; naturally aspirated output up to 70 kW or turbocharged output up to 120 kW; generator up to 56 kW or 110 kW respectively; e-traction power above 200 kW; 800 V. |
The output and voltage figures are Horse Powertrain manufacturer specifications, not independent test results. Horse’s X-Range page lists the F15 and C15 Direct Drive figures. Its C15 Direct Drive explainer describes a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, transmission, power electronics, and two electric motors in one package. Depending on engine version, the P1 motor can act as a 70 kW or 110 kW generator; a P3 motor can drive the wheels on its own or alongside the engine.
Does it make the vehicle a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or range-extended EV?
The architecture alone does not settle that question. An HEV, PHEV, and REEV differ in how their batteries are charged and how the engine contributes to propulsion. Horse says X-Range can support lineups spanning all three, but the particular vehicle determines whether it plugs in, how large its battery is, and its fuel consumption, emissions, and market availability. Do not assume those details from the supplier’s powertrain description.
When comparing a proposed X-Range vehicle with a BEV or conventional hybrid, look for vehicle-specific information on whether the engine can drive the wheels or only generate electricity, which drive unit it replaces, plug-in capability, battery packaging and cabin or cargo-space effects, and published consumption, emissions, price, and mass. The cited Horse materials establish selected architectures and component specifications, but do not provide independent comparisons on those vehicle-level outcomes.
Is the system in production, and when might it reach the road?
New Atlas reported on April 17, 2025, that the original Future Hybrid Concept was intended for road-going vehicles as early as 2028. That was a reported target, not a confirmed launch date. Horse’s current X-Range materials describe products and intended configurations, but do not identify a production vehicle or confirm that schedule. The original concept was described as a compact drive unit capable of replacing a BEV front drive unit and combining an engine, electric motor, transmission, and power electronics. See the 2025 New Atlas report.
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Horse does supply powertrains for production hybrids, but that is separate evidence from the BEV-platform concept. For example, Horse announced the Dacia Bigster HYBRID 155 in October 2024 with a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine rated up to 107 bhp, a 50 bhp electric motor, a high-voltage starter/generator, a 1.4 kWh 230 V battery, and a clutchless gearbox. Those are figures in Horse’s announcement; the Bigster example does not establish that an X-Range BEV-conversion system is in production. See Horse Powertrain’s Bigster announcement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What can buyers conclude today?
For an individual car shopper, X-Range is best understood as a possible platform strategy rather than a vehicle available to order. Horse says its systems are designed to help automakers share BEV-native platforms across multiple powertrain types. Until a manufacturer names a model and publishes its specifications, there is no basis here to compare the concept’s real-world economy, emissions, price, added mass, or conversion time with a BEV or another hybrid.
Quick Recap
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