Horse Powertrain took the wraps off its B15 methanol range extender at the Beijing Auto Show in April 2026, coupling a 1.5-litre four-cylinder methanol engine with the company’s EG50 electric generator—a technical milestone that bridges battery-electric vehicles and renewable methanol as a scalable, drop-in liquid fuel for decarbonised mobility.
1.5 L
Four-cylinder displacement
B15
Methanol engine designation
EG50
Electric generator model
April 24, 2026
Beijing Auto Show debut
- Four-cylinder methanol combustion architecture
The B15 engine is configured as a 1.5-litre four-cylinder unit optimised for methanol fuel, enabling direct integration of renewable or e-methanol feedstocks. This displacement strikes a balance between compact packaging and sufficient power output for series-hybrid applications, where the engine runs at optimal load points to charge batteries rather than directly driving wheels. - EG50 generator pairing and system integration
Horse Powertrain matched the B15 with its EG50 electric generator, creating a cohesive range-extender module. The generator converts mechanical torque into electrical energy, feeding the battery pack and extending vehicle range beyond pure battery-electric operation—critical for commercial fleets and heavy-duty use cases where charging infrastructure remains sparse. - Methanol as a liquid energy carrier
Methanol’s high volumetric energy density and ease of storage at ambient conditions make it an attractive alternative to compressed hydrogen or battery-only solutions. When synthesised via Power-to-Liquid routes using renewable electricity and captured CO₂, e-methanol delivers near-zero lifecycle emissions while leveraging established fuel-handling infrastructure and engine combustion technology. - Range-extender efficiency and emissions pathway
Series-hybrid range extenders decouple engine speed from vehicle speed, allowing the combustion unit to operate in a narrow, efficient window that minimises fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions. Pairing methanol combustion with catalytic after-treatment can deliver NOₓ and particulate emissions well below Euro 7 thresholds, positioning the technology as a bridge solution during the energy transition. - Production scale-up and automotive adoption outlook
Horse Powertrain’s Beijing showcase signals growing OEM interest in methanol drivetrains, particularly in markets with emerging e-fuel ecosystems. Commercial production timelines, tooling investment, and supply-chain readiness for both the B15 engine and EG50 generator will determine how quickly the technology scales from prototype to fleet deployment across passenger and light-commercial vehicle segments.
Bottom Line
Horse Powertrain’s B15 methanol range extender—combining a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine with the EG50 generator—demonstrates the engineering viability of liquid e-fuels in series-hybrid architectures, offering automakers a practical pathway to decarbonise mobility without relying solely on battery capacity or nascent hydrogen infrastructure, provided renewable methanol production ramps at pace.
Sources
- Hyoffwind, Belgium’s first green hydrogen production plant: John Cockerill and BESIX confirmed as first-class industrial
- Belgium | European Hydrogen Observatory
Featured image via Unsplash.
