Chinese automaker Chery is making a bold statement at the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition with its third-generation plug-in hybrid electric vehicle platform. Unveiling the engineering innovations that make the new PHEV platform possible just 12 months after first announcing it.
Chery’s interactive display showcases the design of the drivetrain, the underlying platform, and the intelligent programming that make the system so efficient.
The new PHEV platform boasts Chery’s proprietary three-speed Dual Hybrid Transmission, which features nine different operating modes and 11 combined gear steps for great fuel economy and ultra-smooth travel. The platform also includes the fifth-generation ACTECO engine, designed specifically for use in a hybrid petrol-electric application. This engine has a deep Miller-cycle combustion system that recycles exhaust gasses for a second pass through the combustion chamber, cleaning emissions and burning injected fuels for greater efficiency.
Additionally, the ACTECO engine uses intelligent, immediately adaptable i-HEC combustion management and a high-efficiency turbocharger to offer a thermal efficiency of over 44,5%, making it the most efficient engine on the Chinese market. This showcase is an important step in Chery’s Technology program, which highlights the company’s unique expertise and technology in efficient internal combustion, hybrid management technology, electric vehicle systems, and hydrogen propulsion.
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To emphasize the speed and scope of its technological advancements, Chery invited international dealers and media to visit its Chery Intelligent Connected Mega Factory near the Auto Show venue. Covering over 830 000 square meters, the facility manufactures ten different vehicles and 200 000 automotive parts annually, with an annual production capacity of over 300 000 units.
Chery has invested in the development of manufacturing robots and equipment that uses artificial intelligence to control quality and speed up production, with over 300 robots used in the manufacturing facility. The Mega Factory is also one of the largest crash testing and noise, vibration, and harshness testing centres in Asia, responsible for the five-star crash test rating of modern Chery Group vehicles and their record of only 34 decibels at idle speed on some models.
Chery’s commitment to green technology, recycling, and intelligent production management to reach zero emission status has been commended by visitors to the Mega Factory. The future looks bright for Chery and its ongoing pursuit of engineering innovation and environmental responsibility.
