HORSE Powertrain Forges Milestone Deal to Propel Brazil's First Home-Grown EREV, the Lecar 459 Hybrid
HORSE, a pioneer in innovative and low-emission powertrain systems, has signed its inaugural agreement to manufacture Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) engines for the Lecar 459 Hybrid passenger vehicle.
Scheduled for a 2026 launch, the Lecar 459 Hybrid represents Brazilian newcomer Lecar's first foray into the electric vehicle (EV) market. Flávio Figueiredo Assis, a Brazilian entrepreneur, established Lecar to launch a new line of sophisticated yet affordable EVs for the domestic market.
Initially, HORSE will provide Lecar with 12,000 units of its 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder 'HR10' engines each year, potentially increasing supply as demand grows. These engines, designed to operate on low-emission gasoline and ethanol flex fuels prevalent in Brazil, will power the Lecar 459 Hybrid’s Range Extender powertrain, building on the HR10’s proven success in HORSE’s solutions for light commercial vehicles.
Matias Giannini, CEO of HORSE Powertrain Limited, commented, "This agreement presents a tremendous opportunity for HORSE, Lecar, and Brazilian motorists. It allows Lecar to utilise our proven HR10 engine in a passenger EREV, expanding on its successful application in light commercial vehicles’ Range Extender solutions."
"For HORSE, this agreement marks a significant first step into providing combustion engines for passenger vehicle Range Extenders. It underscores our commitment to Brazil, a vibrant automotive market, and reaffirms our dedication to leading innovation in EREVs, a rapidly growing vehicle segment globally. We are poised to support brands and OEMs in developing EVs and combustion engine vehicles."
Unlike traditional Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), the combustion engine in an EREV never directly drives the vehicle’s wheels but instead charges the vehicle’s battery via an onboard electric generator. This configuration allows the engine to operate at peak efficiency, minimising fuel consumption and emissions. The EREV's engine automatically shuts off when the battery is fully charged.
The battery can also be charged using public chargers or domestic power supplies. When combined with low-carbon fuels like Brazil’s popular flex fuels, the EREV's cradle-to-grave environmental footprint rivals that of a long-range EV.
Patrice Haettel, CEO at HORSE, stated, "HORSE was the natural choice for Lecar’s new hybrid passenger vehicle. Our HR10 range extender engine, already a core component of a light commercial vehicle, represents proven technology in the market."
"Our significant presence made us the ideal supplier for Lecar’s vision of pioneering a Brazilian EV. This partnership is a significant milestone as HORSE continues to deliver tailor-made solutions for each market. Our technology and industry leadership are evident, and I am immensely proud of the global HORSE teams contributing to this engineering and commercial success."
This partnership follows the debut of the first Lecar 459 Hybrid prototype in August, during which the company acquired its first HR10 unit for testing in the prototype vehicle.
Produced in HORSE’s Curitiba facility, the HR10 engine delivers up to 85kW of power and 200Nm of torque thanks to its direct fuel injection, double overhead camshafts, and turbocharger. Alongside HORSE’s HR10 engine, the Lecar 459 Hybrid will also feature an electric generator from WEG, HORSE’s electric component partner.
Flávio Figueiredo Assis, Founder and CEO at Lecar, remarked, "Our team is ambitiously planning to develop and deliver the Lecar 459 Hybrid, Brazil’s first home-grown EV. With HORSE as our partner, known for its world-class combustion engines and significant Brazilian production footprint, we are set to revolutionise the Brazilian car market with domestically-produced solutions."
