Chery, Ricardo Hybrids Debuting at Olympics

Hybrid-electric vehicles co-developed by Chery Automobile Co. Ltd. and Ricardo Inc. will debut at the Beijing Olympics, Ricardo says.

Both the two distinct HEV models are based on Chery’s A5 sedan, Ricardo says.

The first HEV, with a 1.6L gas engine and 5-speed manual transmission, has a stop-start system based on a 12-volt belt starter-generator (BSG).

The second vehicle is a mild hybrid but has a 1.3L gas engine and a 12-kW crankshaft-mounted 151-volt integrated starter generator (ISG), Ricardo says.

Ricardo counts its responsibilities as defining the full architecture, sub-system and component requirements, as well as designing the hybrid control-unit and developing the vehicle and communications interface, all for the BSG model.

For the ISG model, Ricardo had full system-design responsibility, which included specifying and integrating the ISG system and the high-voltage battery pack and battery-management system.

The supplier pegs the fuel savings of the BSG model over the baseline Chery A5 at more than 10% in “real-world urban driving.”

For the 1.3L ISG model, Ricardo says peak horsepower and torque are comparable with a 1.6L engine, and says a fuel savings of 15% over a gas-powered 1.6L model should be realized.

Ricardo says it worked in tandem with Chery engineers at its U.K.-based Cambridge Technical Centre.

Fifty units of the two HEVs will debut during the Olympics, with mass production commencing shortly, Ricardo says. The hybrids will be sold in both domestic and export markets.