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Changan Automobile is intensifying its focus on gasoline-powered vehicles, even as electric cars gain significant traction in China and oil prices continue to rise. The automaker recently introduced a new hybrid system designed to enhance fuel efficiency without the need for external charging.
On March 30, Changan revealed its innovative energy-saving solution for traditional fossil fuel vehicles, called the Blue Whale Super Engine Hybrid System. This system is highly electrified but does not require any external power sources. It features a 500 Bar ultra-high pressure direct injection hybrid engine, a high-magnetic flux, high-power hybrid electric drive system, a high-performance, high-security battery, and AI-powered cloud control.
The goal is to leverage electric technology to upgrade conventional gasoline cars, shifting away from hybrids that primarily depend on fuel and aiming for a more balanced “fuel + electricity” approach, the company announced from its headquarters in Chongqing.
The hybrid engine boasts nearly 45% thermal efficiency, with a fuel injection pressure about 42% higher than the industry average, according to General Manager Zhao Fei during the launch event. It is paired with a leading motor capable of reaching up to 98.1% efficiency, facilitating smoother engine operation and more complete fuel combustion.
Traditional gasoline-powered engines often waste energy and operate at limited efficiency. Typically, internal combustion engines convert only 35% to 40% of energy into usable power, with the rest lost as heat. In city traffic jams, fuel consumption can be 30% to 50% higher compared to highway driving, explained Cui Dongshu, Secretary-General of the China Passenger Car Association, in an earlier article.
Changan claims this new system can significantly improve performance. During testing, the fourth-generation EADO model equipped with this technology consumed roughly 2.98 liters per 100 kilometers in urban conditions, said Executive Vice President Yang Dayong. For comparison, similar conventional gasoline vehicles usually consume around 6 liters per 100 kilometers—nearly double.
“Electric vehicles are undeniably the future, but more than 70 million people still purchase gasoline-powered cars each year,” Yang remarked. As a global company, Changan Auto intends to provide a range of solutions suited to various scenarios, catering to a broad customer base.
Fossil fuel-powered vehicles continue to make up over half of Changan’s sales. The company’s strong foundation in traditional combustion engines and increasing sales underline the importance of ongoing innovation in this sector. In the first two months of this year, the company sold 286,623 vehicles, with 27.5%—or 78,816—being new energy vehicles, based on its production and sales reports.
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