Changan subsidiary develops detachable range extender

Until now, solutions in this area have largely taken the form of DIY concepts, such as generators mounted on tow hitches that can charge electric vehicles independently of the grid. A similar approach to a detachable range extender is now being pursued by Hunan Tianyan, a subsidiary of Changan, according to a recent company announcement.While many technical details and performance specifications have not yet been disclosed, the company says it has combined a compact gas turbine with a generator and the required power electronics. The resulting Power Turbine Generator (PTG) is intended to address challenges that battery-electric vehicles can face, such as reduced range in low temperatures, higher energy consumption at motorway speeds and limited charging convenience.According to the company, the PTG is designed as a modular auxiliary power system. Thanks to its flexible and detachable design, it is intended to provide a rapid supply of energy and thus extend the overall range of the electric vehicle.However, Hunan Tianyan has not yet presented a final, production-ready product. So far, the company has only released an image of the PTG on a test bench via Weibo. It remains unclear how the system will later be integrated into battery-electric cars. While other suppliers now offer small range extender modules as ‘drop-in’ solutions—designed to be retrofitted into battery-electric vehicles with minimal platform modifications to enable an EREV version alongside the BEV drivetrain—the key differentiator for Changan’s subsidiary appears to be the word ‘detachable.’In its announcement, the company also highlighted several technical challenges encountered during development. For example, engineers developed a ‘a high-efficiency ball bearing system, a high-efficiency bladed compressor, and a turbine with fixed guide vanes,’ which reportedly increased efficiency by more than five per cent.The control electronics also had to be designed to withstand the high thermal loads generated by the gas turbine within the compact unit. According to Hunan Tianyan, an ‘innovative high-efficiency cooling channel structure,’ was developed to ensure optimal integration into the vehicle. Combined with a heat management strategy based on precise thermal flow simulations, the company says stability issues under high-temperature conditions were effectively addressed.Development appears to be nearing completion, as the company’s next goal is to bring ‘a freer, more convenient and sustainable travel experience to new energy vehicle users, accelerating the industrialisation of PTG, and contributing to the high-quality development of China’s high-end equipment manufacturing industry.’carnewschina.com, weixin.qq.com (Weibo post)