On October 31st, Geely held a release event at the Hangzhou Bay Research Institute under the theme “Intelligent Geely 2025 – Geely Longwan Technology Expo and Global Power Technology Brand Release”.
During the event, Geely not only announced its power brand, “Thunder Power”, but also provided detailed plans for its development path beyond 2025.
Thunder Power
In fact, speculation about Geely’s hybrid system had been brewing online for some time. During the event, Geely directly elevated its power system to a brand, encompassing hybrid-specific engines, gearboxes, electric motors, and even platforms.
Within the Thunder Power Hi·X modular intelligent hybrid platform, the 1.5TD/2.0TD hybrid-specific engine and DHT (1st gear transmission)/DHT Pro (3rd gear transmission) hybrid-specific transmission cover A0-C level models and are compatible with technologies such as HEV, PHEV, and REEV.
Engine
This 1.5 L engine, with a code name of DH15, can provide a maximum output of 225 N·m and 110 kW.
Geely uses high-pressure direct injection, mid-boost, Miller cycle, low-pressure EGR technology, and has also developed the “Aeolus·Yufeng” system for hybrid-specific airflow control. The overall thermal efficiency of the engine is up to 43.32%.
Transmission
The DHT Pro is a three-speed hybrid transmission that integrates components such as dual motors, transmission, and control modules. However, the overall weight is controlled at 120 kg, and it can withstand 4,920 N·m.
The axial length of the whole transmission is 354 mm, which is the smallest in the world for axial length of a hybrid transmission.
The transmission has three parallel gears, and can work at speeds as low as 20 km/h. When starting, the 3rd gear DHT Pro matches the 1st gear’s large gear ratio through clutch slip, achieving a leap-effect start.In collaboration with the entire system, up to 20 driving modes can be achieved, and NEDC fuel consumption can be as low as 3.6 L/100 km. Additionally, for NVH, Geely claims that the in-cabin sound pressure can be as low as 58 decibels at a speed of 30 km/h (Japanese competitors’ results are around 70 decibels).
Over the next three years, more than 20 models equipped with the Thor hybrid system will be launched, and Geely expects to achieve the top sales volume in the hybrid mainstream market.
Intelligent Geely Technology Ecosystem (iGeeTech)
After the initial introduction of the Thor Powertrain, Geely Auto Group CEO An Conghui took to the stage to launch the most exciting part of the press conference: the Intelligent Geely Technology Ecosystem (iGeeTech).
“iGeeTech” refers to the self-developed end-to-end systems and ecological alliances, driven by chips, software operating systems, data, and satellite networks, to continuously evolve users’ experiences in the fields of intelligent driving and smart cabins.
Geely Electrical and Electronic Architecture (GEEA)
During the event, Geely stated that BMA, CMA, SPA, and SEA are all “architectures,” while GEEA is the electrical and electronic architecture. GEEA 2.0 is planned to be applied first in Geely, Lynk&Co., and Geometry’s new models, and the goal is to evolve towards more centralized domain control. In GEEA 3.0’s central computing platform architecture, the evolution will shift from “domain control” to “central superbrain.”
SE1000
Geely’s self-developed intelligent in-cabin chip, SE1000, uses a 7nm process, which has passed the qualification for vehicle specifications and is set to enter mass production next year, making it the first 7nm vehicle-process SOC chip in China.
## Geely plans to launch 5nm chip for integrated supercomputing platform and high-performance ADAS chip in 2024 or 2025, with the goal of achieving “scalable computing power” to meet the needs of higher-level autonomous driving on the basis of L3 intelligent driving.
Geely’s self-built ground-to-orbit high-precision navigation system has completed the deployment of 305 high-precision space-time reference stations. By 2026, Geely plans to complete the deployment of IoT communication satellites and navigation-enhanced low-orbit constellations to achieve “global no-blind-zone” communication and centimeter-level high-precision positioning coverage.
High-precision maps collected by Geely’s mapping and surveying will be available nationwide by 2023.
In terms of batteries, Geely WeiRui has fully mastered module and pack technology and realized mass production. At the same time, it also has the ability to design battery cells and establish joint venture battery factories such as Time Geely with strategic partners.
In terms of electric drive, Geely will build controllers and high-efficiency oil-cooled motors based on the 800 V platform and silicon carbide power devices to achieve a comprehensive efficiency of over 92% and a maximum power of more than 475 kW. Geely’s self-developed silicon carbide power chips will also be mass-produced in 2023.
Geely has already owned thousands of technical patents in the field of “battery swap technology, swap stations, and swap vehicles” and has participated in the development of national battery swap standards. Based on the exclusive battery swap architecture, Geely will also launch the all-new “battery swap transportation brand”. By 2025, it aims to achieve the layout of 5,000 speedy battery swap stations in 100 core cities to meet the demand for battery swaps of one million vehicles.
In addition, Geely is exploring methanol-powered vehicles.Geely has been deeply involved in methanol vehicles for 16 years, leading in the field of methanol energy with over 200 core technology patents. With 27,000 vehicles in operation in Xi’an, Jinzhong, Guiyang and other places, the total mileage has reached 8 billion kilometers.
In 2022, Geely will launch the “Lingyun IMng Methanol Hybrid” model, which consumes about 9 liters of methanol per 100 kilometers, with a travel cost of less than three cents per kilometer. By 2025, the methanol consumption per 100 kilometers will be reduced to 7.6 liters, equivalent to fuel consumption of 3.5 liters per 100 kilometers, with a travel cost of two cents per kilometer.
In terms of intelligent manufacturing systems, Geely has created the world’s first “Geely Industrial Internet Platform Geega” originating from the automotive industry, serving the whole industry. After the implementation of the platform, production efficiency will increase by 22%. As a representative of “Intelligent Geely 2025,” the Xi’an manufacturing base is a globally recognized “lighthouse factory,” which can not only accomplish efficient and flexible production across structures, categories, and models, but also achieve zero wastewater discharge, zero landfill of waste, and zero discharge of hazardous substances during the manufacturing cycle, targeting to become a carbon-neutral factory.
Geely will build over 2,000 digital smart stores centered on user experience, with a mobile app user base of over 10 million.
At the end of the event, Geely also announced the “Nine Dragons Bay Action,” which clarifies the development path and goals.
- R&D investment of 150 billion yuan will be made in the next five years;
- In 2025, commercialization of L4 autonomous driving technology will be achieved, with full mastery of L5 autonomous driving technology;
- More than 25 new intelligent new energy products will be launched in five years;
- Geely plans to develop more than 10 models (PHEV pure electric range of up to 200km);
- Geometry brand will gradually launch more than 5 models (including the Matrix architecture) from 2022;
- Lynk & Co brand plans to launch more than 5 models, and the first electric SUV product will be launched in Europe in 2023;
- Based on an exclusive platform, the new technology new energy and swappable battery travel brand will sequentially launch 5 intelligent pure electric products with swappable battery technology.
- By 2025, the total sales of the group will reach 3.65 million vehicles;
- Zeekr Technology: 650,000 vehicles; Geely Group: 3 million vehicles.In the domestic market, Geely brand sold 1.3 million vehicles; Geometry brand sold 300,000 vehicles; Lynk & Co brand sold 600,000 vehicles; the new technology and battery-swapping brand sold 200,000 vehicles. The overall overseas sales volume of the Group reached 600,000 vehicles. By 2025, Geely Auto Group’s sales of new energy vehicles will reach 900,000 units, accounting for 30%. With the addition of the Zeekr brand, the overall sales of Geely’s new energy vehicles will exceed 40%. By 2025, the overseas sales volume will reach 600,000 vehicles.
Geely brand will focus on laying out in the countries along the “Belt and Road,” such as Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America, and establish over 600 overseas sales outlets worldwide to enter the European and Asia-Pacific new energy vehicle markets.
Lynk & Co brand will deepen the “European Strategy” and “Asia-Pacific Strategy,” and make layouts in countries such as Russia, Malaysia, and Australia and New Zealand, from being born globally to moving towards being a global brand.
Geely will also create the systemized “Proton Model” for outputting, and become a sample for leading the global industry revolution of Chinese automobiles, making Proton Malaysia’s top and one of the top three automobile brands in ASEAN.
By formulating all supply chain emission reduction measures through the Geely Industrial Internet Platform, intelligent technology collaboration, and other methods, and by improving the market share of new energy sources and reducing carbon emissions during product use, Geely will reduce the total emission by 25% across the entire chain by 2025, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.
By 2025, the three major brands of Geely, Geometry, and Lynk & Co will realize more than 2,000 digital smart stores, with over 10 million App users, ensuring 100% user feedback within 24 hours. Geely will also achieve at least 1-2 whole-car OTA upgrades every quarter.
By increasing sales volume scale by 2 times, taking the first place in the domestic brand market share, and achieving a 30% increase in average revenue per car, Geely will realize an EBIT of over 8% by 2025.
Geely will use 350 million shares of equity to incentivize the first batch of 10,000 employees.
In conclusion, Geely not only released the hybrid power system, but also marked the targets and development path for the next five years. The constantly evolving talent and technology are the driving forces behind Geely’s development, as mentioned by Gan Jiayue at the end of the event. Talent absorption and technology selection are becoming more and more important in the current competition. We can only wait and see what Geely’s next move will be, and what the market’s feedback will be. The final answer to this press conference will only be revealed in 2025.
Information source: Geely Official Website
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.