Hybrid-BEV: FEV adds hybrid solution to its platform family for electric vehicles

Aachen, Germany, January 2022 – While the European market is increasingly focusing on pure electromobility, China is experiencing a revival of hybrid technology with its range advantages: China’s currently best-selling so-called NEV- (New Energy Vehicle) SUV has a 40 kWh battery and an internal combustion engine as an energy conversion system in a serial hybrid configuration. The NEV category includes purely battery-electric cars as well as those with fuel cells, plug-in and serial hybrid vehicles. Automobile manufacturers thus face a particular challenge, because the parallel development of both a native BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) and a classic internal combustion engine platform for different market needs significantly increases development costs.

FEV, a leading global development service provider, now introduces as the latest member within its BEV platform family a solution that can do both: as a native state-of-the-art BEV platform, it is suitable for use in both pure battery electric vehicles and cars with a serial hybrid concept. For the latter, a highly efficient energy conversion system from FEV is used.
Hybrid-BEV adds hybrid solution to BEV platform family
Hybrid-BEV – the name of FEV’s latest development – is based on the company’s native BEV platform, but at the same time serves the demand for hybrid solutions for the Chinese market, for example. At the same time, this solution helps to significantly reduce vehicle platform development costs.

“Our hybrid BEV is an all-in-one solution that eliminates the need for additional platforms and associated development and manufacturing facilities for automakers. In this way, we create enormous cost advantages that are not only important for smaller OEMs or start-ups,” said Professor Stefan Pischinger, President and CEO of FEV Group.

Highly efficient energy conversion system
for lowest CO₂ emissions and high range

In addition to the great cost saving potential as well as weight and installation space advantages, Hybrid-BEV offers a high range with minimal CO2 emissions. Especially when FEV’s highly efficient energy conversion system – which in serial hybrid configuration is not connected to the drive wheels but directly supplies the power for electric propulsion and battery recharging – is powered by carbon neutral e-fuels.
“In addition to the roadmap to phase out coal, we also need clear regulations that lead to the reduction of fossil fuels while increasing the use of e-fuels,” said Pischinger. “The introduction of e-fuel quotas and planning guidelines for mineral oil suppliers and service station operators, including a complete ban on fossil fuels, creates legal and business certainty. Additionally, this provides the possibility of being able to operate hybrid vehicles in a CO₂-neutral manner.”

Hybrid-BEV also provides purchase incentives in terms of range, for example in the D/E (mid-range and upper mid-range) company car segment, which is important for automakers: here, an electric range of 130 to 170 kilometers (80 to 105 miles) is possible thanks to a battery capacity of approx. 30 to 40 kWh. Combined with a tank volume of around 40 liters (8.8 English gallons / 10.6 US gallons) for the energy conversion system, this results in a total range according to WLTP of around 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) without a stop. The overall efficiency of the concept also benefits from the reduced battery capacity. This results in a weight advantage of around 200 kg (440 pounds) compared with a pure BEV platform.

Compact packaging
– generous sense of space

FEV’s Hybrid-BEV platform also impresses with a particularly compact integration of the energy conversion system including generator and e-drive in the front of the vehicle. As a result, the long wheelbase of a typical BEV platform remains unchanged. The same applies to the seat height. The reduced battery capacity compared with a pure BEV and the positioning of the battery in the underbody mean that space is gained in the interior. In addition to the fully available trunk volume, rear passengers benefit from more generous footwells without compromising battery capacity: a so-called foot garage integrated into the floor assembly creates the corresponding space.
All the customization options for hybrid BEVs have only a minor impact on the BEV base platform.

In addition to the great cost saving potential as well as weight and installation space advantages, Hybrid-BEV offers a high range with minimal CO2 emissions. Source: FEV Group

About FEV

FEV has always pushed the limits.
FEV is a globally leading engineering provider in the automotive industry and internationally recognized leader of innovation across different sectors and industries. Professor Franz Pischinger laid the foundations by combining his background in academia and engineering with a great vision for continual progress. The company has supplied solutions and strategy consulting to the world’s largest automotive OEMs and has supported customers through the entire transportation and mobility ecosystem.

As the world continues to evolve, so does FEV.
That’s why FEV is unleashing its technological and strategic expertise into other areas, applying its forward thinking to the aerospace and energy sectors. Thanks to its software and system expertise, the company also leads the way making intelligent solutions available to everyone. FEV brings together the brightest minds from different backgrounds and specialties to find new solutions for both current and future challenges.

But FEV won’t stop there.
Looking ahead, FEV continues to push the limits of innovation. With its highly qualified 7,000 employees at more than 40 locations globally, FEV imagines solutions that don’t just meet today’s needs but tomorrow’s. Ultimately, FEV keeps evolving – to a better, cleaner future built on sustainable mobility, energy and software that drives everything. For the company’s partners, its people and the world.

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