Horse Powertrain, the global company owned by Geely, Renault Group, and Aramco, has revealed a new hybrid engine concept that runs on 100% renewable gasoline. The system achieves 44.2% thermal efficiency and cuts fuel use by 40% compared to average European cars .
The Horse Powertrain company announced its new H12 hybrid engine concept in February 2026. The system was developed jointly with Spanish energy company Repsol, and the first demonstrator vehicle is scheduled for early 2026.
Horse Powertrain was established in 2024 as a standalone supplier. It combined the internal combustion and hybrid operations of Geely and Renault Group. The company is owned 45% by Geely, 45% by Renault Group, and 10% by Aramco . It supplies engines and hybrid systems to Renault, Geely Auto, Volvo Cars, Nissan, Mitsubishi Motors, and Proton.
More than 97% of Europe’s current vehicles still use combustion engines . While electric vehicles are growing fast, hybrids offer a way to reduce emissions from the massive existing fleet without waiting for a full switch to battery power.
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Under WLTP testing, the system achieves fuel consumption below 3.3 liters per 100 kilometers . A mid-size vehicle driving 12,500 km per year would emit 1.77 tons less CO₂ than a conventional gasoline car when using Repsol’s renewable fuel .
The H12 concept uses a high 17:1 compression ratio and a redesigned exhaust gas recirculation system . It features an optimized turbocharger, high-energy ignition, and a hybrid-specific transmission with better energy management. New Repsol lubricants also reduce internal friction .
The engine is designed to run on Repsol’s fully renewable gasoline, which is produced from renewable feedstocks rather than fossil sources. Repsol began industrial-scale production at its Tarragona facility in October 2025, and the fuel is now available at 30 service stations in Spain under the Nexa 95 brand .
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However, renewable fuel availability remains limited today. Scaling production will require supportive regulation and investment. Luis Cabra, Executive Managing Director at Repsol, said: “Supporting clear and ambitious regulation that drives investment in renewable fuels and highly efficient engines is essential for Europe to reduce transport emissions faster” .
This project matters because it offers a near-term solution for cutting emissions without waiting for full electrification. Patrice Haettel, Chief Operating Officer at Horse Powertrain, stated: “We believe that relying on a single technology is not the fastest way to cut emissions. This is why we advocate a technology neutral approach that enables innovation across all solutions” . Two prototypes have already been built and tested, with the first demonstrator vehicle expected in early 2026 .
