Geely’s new 1.5-liter 4-cylinder hybrid engine registers 44.26% thermal efficiency

Geely has officially started producing its new 1.5-liter 4-cylinder hybrid gasoline engine that boasts 44.26%  thermal efficiency.

Thermal efficiency is the energy an engine can extract from its fuel source.  A regular internal combustion engine (ICE) has about 20% to 30% thermal efficiency, though some automakers such as Hyundai, Toyota, and GAC motors have registered higher figures well into the 40% range.

For comparison, a current Formula 1 power unit registers 52% efficiency while a battery electric vehicle is 80-90% efficient in terms of converting stored energy into forward motion.

The new Geely engine, codenamed BHE15 Plus, uses the miller cycle, which leaves the intake valves open longer. Leaving the intake valves open for longer creates two discrete combustion cycles during the compression stroke of an engine. 

Now, we won’t get into the details of how Geely did it, but what we can say is the engine is very efficient for what it does. The high thermal efficiency is attributed to technologies such as enhanced tumble ratios, high compression ratios, increased height-to-diameter ratios, and a 350-bar high-pressure fuel injection system.

The new engine is based on the BHE15 line of motors; this lineup of engines has seen use in the updated Geely Coolray, where it ditched its 1.5-liter 3-cylinder powerplant for this 4-cylinder version. 

The new model is also available in the just unveiled Galaxy L7 model. No, it's not a Samsung device but a premium sub-brand of Geely that focuses on electrified and hybrid vehicles. 

Power figures have yet to be released as Geely has not put the new motor into its mainstream lineup of vehicles. However, based on the L7, it can rocket the car from 0 to 100 km/h in about 7.5 seconds with a top speed of 200 km/h. 

As for its claimed fuel economy, the hybrid motor can do around 19.12 km/l, according to factory testing. 

According to reports, the new motor will see use in the other Geely Group sub-brands, including Lynk & Co.

Should Geely Philippines bring this hybrid engine in for the next generation Coolray?