Say hi to Hi4: New hybrid system to feature in all electrified Haval and GWM products by 2024

China’s GWM, the company to which brands like Haval, Ora and Tank belong, has further detailed its new hybrid system that it says will make its cars efficient enough to use less than 2.0 litres per 100km of driving.

Dubbed Hi4, which stands for Hybrid Intelligent 4WD, GWM’s new system features dual-motors that connect to both the front and rear axles, allowing the car to switch between two- and four-wheel drive where it’s most efficient.

Hi4 works in a similar manner to Honda’s relatively new e:HEV hybrid system, in which the engine can power the wheels alone, the electric motor can power the wheels alone or both can directly power the wheels. 

In addition, the engine is able to run as a generator for the battery without powering the wheels, while regenerative braking also charges the battery during slowing or coasting.

It’s a system designed to implement the benefits of both parallel and series hybrids, allowing an intelligent motor to decide what will use the least fuel to achieve the best performance.

In the case of the first model to use the Hi4 system from Haval, the brand says its Xiaolong MAX SUV will be able to achieve fuel efficiency as good as 1.78L/100km, which it says was conducted under WLTC conditions (Worldwide harmonised Light-duty vehicle Test Cycles - part of the same WLTP used for Australian market cars).

The Hi4 allows a car to switch between two- and four-wheel drive where it’s most efficient.

A promise of “more efficiency, more range and more safety” from GWM President Mu Feng was made on the announcement that the Hi4 hybrid system would make its way into all of GWM’s ‘new energy’ products by 2024.

"GWM has always been adhering to an intelligent new energy strategy,” Feng said.

“In the future, GWM will apply core technology to provide more advanced intelligent new energy products to meet the global users' demand for cleaner and safer mobility life."

In Australia, there are three hybrid offerings from GWM: the Haval Jolion small SUV and the H6 medium SUV, plus the Tank 300 4x4.