Hybrid drive from Horse Powertrain: opportunity or step backwards?

The article " New compact drive converts electric cars into everyday hybrid models " presents the innovative power of Horse Powertrain: A compact range extender module is designed to flexibly and cost-effectively convert pure electric cars into hybrids. This is generating lively discussion, particularly in the context of increasing electromobility, range anxiety, and raw material crises. The majority of commentators remain skeptical—particularly regarding costs, complexity, and sustainability. At the same time, there is a pragmatic willingness to address range problems with interim solutions. The mood in the discourse is characterized by factual doubts, but also by some open and constructive impulses for debate.

Skeptical voices dominate at 26 percent, rating range extenders and hybrid drives as expensive, technologically overloaded, and not a viable solution due to the lack of sustainable benefits. Readers doubt their suitability for everyday use and fundamentally question the concept's merit.

"A good joke. You buy an electric car and simply convert it to a combustion engine. Why not just buy a combustion engine for half the price?" Original comment

"This concept was called the Opel Ampera and wasn't very successful. I often drove it as a company car; it was a complete failure. Supposedly, it consumed 2.99 liters of gasoline, but realistically, it was 7-11 liters. It was a four-seater, but because of the heavy mechanicals, it only had a payload of 300 kg." Original comment

"Anyone who buys something like this will probably go all-electric with their next car anyway. If it takes away your range anxiety, that's fine, but it's not the solution, and unfortunately, it combines the disadvantages of both worlds. Too small a battery, low recuperation, and expensive inspection costs." Original comment

Some readers take a flexible and open-minded view, viewing range extenders as a temporary solution to battery shortages, costs, and charging infrastructure. Commuters and families, in particular, want affordable, everyday alternatives to pure electric cars.

"The conflicting objectives for BEVs are an expensive, heavy battery on the one hand, and the long-distance/range/winter/charging time issue on the other. So, either a heavy, expensive car with so-so medium/long-distance capability, or a compact, not-so-heavy, and affordable car with a significant long-distance problem. Anyone looking for the electric equivalent of a compact station wagon with 140 hp for under €30,000, which you can take on vacation with the kids, will have a hard time. Despite all the cross-subsidies already provided by the manufacturer. Range extenders actually mean the possibility of extensive electric driving without having to carry an unnecessarily large, heavy, and expensive battery around most of the time, while still maintaining unrestricted everyday usability. A pragmatic solution." Original comment

"I find this technology exciting. I think it could temporarily address the range issue until the next or next-but-one battery generation is launched." Original comment

"Interesting ideas are slowly emerging. The dependence on charging stations and charging times is being reduced." Original comment

Some commentators (13 percent) controversially debate whether electric cars without range extenders are already suitable for everyday use. Positive practical reports contrast with criticism regarding costs, model variety, and range; many users see a need to catch up in the market.

"It's funny, I just drove my "non-everyday" BEV from Northern Franconia to Provence and back home via Genoa. I've been driving electric for over two years now. Am I doing something wrong?" To the original comment

"Nonsensical article, the electric car has long been suitable for everyday use. What consumers need is an electric car for every budget in every vehicle class. There's still a huge amount of catching up to do." Original comment

"Now I'm really glad I didn't buy a BEV or a plug-in. Porsche was definitely way ahead of its time. The "Lohner-Porsche System" was developed as early as 1900, and only now are people thinking about further developing it for mass production. A BEV with a PV system at home might be quite good for short distances, but only when combined with a combustion engine does a vehicle emerge that is also comfortable for a longer vacation trip." Original comment

Some readers take a critical look at technological developments. They discuss whether range extenders are already obsolete, doubt further efficiency improvements through combustion engine technology, or warn of increasing complexity and maintenance requirements.

"BMW discontinued its i3 with a range extender years ago because it no longer made sense with the larger batteries. Batteries are getting smaller, lighter, and more powerful. Why add another range extender when it's already certain to be obsolete in a few years?" Original comment

"Technology complexity: Why simple and cheap when you can also make it complicated and expensive?" Read the original comment.

"Hybrid technology and marketing: I also believe the trend will be toward the serial hybrid, which is foolishly marketed as a range extender. Properly dimensioned, you get the best of both worlds. In this C 15, the engine is still much too large, which is probably just for marketing purposes, because such a unit with only 30 kW, which is perfectly sufficient for a mid-size car, would probably be difficult to sell." Original comment

Nine percent of contributors compare progress abroad with debates about technology and mentality in Germany. They criticize backward-looking combustion engine nostalgia and see China as a pioneer in electric drive systems.

"One can only feel pity for how the Germans are so attached to the noisy, smelly, carcinogenic combustion engine. One article follows the next. And then the writers are surprised when the Chinese speed past in the fast lane with one awesome innovation after the next!" Original comment

"Opel had already introduced this innovative principle in the Ampera in 2009. Unfortunately, the time wasn't yet ripe for it. In the meantime, the EU has discovered the planned economy. Now, innovations are only being developed in China." Original comment

"Technology history and CO2 arguments: What's being touted here as new was already available at Opel about 10 years ago. Demand was very modest. Since there are already electric cars with decent ranges, this doesn't make sense. Gasoline is still burned, and the technical effort, as well as the subsequent maintenance and repair costs, are as great as for a combustion engine and an electric car combined. From this perspective, it also makes no sense. The "low-CO2" fuels mentioned in the article are only available in tiny quantities. This is merely a specious argument." Original comment

Some focus on details such as the size and integration of the drive system, as well as practical space considerations. The focus is on understandable technology, everyday usability, and comparison with previous solutions.

"I didn't know that a briefcase is a good 1/2 x 1/2 meter and just under 30 cm high. Otherwise, I think the approach is very good. Why haven't the Germans taken this approach yet?" Original comment

"It's good to know how big a typical briefcase is: 50 x 55 x 27. My previous ones were smaller. And you can easily fit it in any car, which is also good to know. You could probably store other things there as well." Original comment

"So if the small unit delivers 70 kW of power, why do I need a battery?" Original comment

The remaining percentage falls into a diverse group. Here, political aspects and technological setbacks are ironically addressed, but safety concerns about electric cars and alternative uses for hybrid technology are also expressed.

"I still don't want a burning coffin. In the event of an accident, we're at a disadvantage." Original comment

"It would be best to use only the combustion engine, because then there are no losses and you can save the entire electrical component. The price will certainly be cheaper. But somehow you're no further ahead than you are today with the conventional solution." Original comment

"Ingenious! What's the next step, replacing the electric motor from an electric car completely with a large combustion engine? I'm looking forward to the headline: new module converts your old electric car into a fully-fledged combustion engine... I don't understand this world anymore." Original comment

Readers' opinions on the new range extender concept are divided on technology, practicality, and cost: A majority are skeptical or reject the hybrid solution as a long-term model, but the search for pragmatic transitional technologies and affordable alternatives is also evident. Join the discussion: Do you consider range extenders a sensible bridging technology?