HEVs Confirmed as Long-Term Tech Path, Not Interim Solution

On June 3, at a press conference in Beijing for the 33rd Annual Conference & Exhibition of the China Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE-China) and the AITX Automotive Innovation Technology Expo, Zheng Yali, Deputy Secretary-General of SAE-China and Executive Dean of the China Intelligent and Connected Vehicles Research Institute (CIICV), stated that HEVs (Hybrid Electric Vehicles) are not merely a transitional technology but a crucial technological pillar within the conventional internal combustion engine passenger vehicle ecosystem. Market data supports this assessment. From January to April this year, cumulative domestic HEV sales reached 300,000 units, up 4.5% year-on-year, making HEVs one of the few segments in the passenger vehicle market to achieve positive growth. Meanwhile, multiple Chinese自主品牌 brands are accelerating their HEV product rollouts: Changan has launched its Blue Whale Super Power Hybrid System, Geely unveiled its next-generation i-HEV Smart Dual-Motor Hybrid, and Great Wall is developing its Super Smart Hybrid HEV based on the Guiyuan platform. According to the "Energy Saving and New Energy Vehicle Technology Roadmap 3.0," by 2035 all conventional-fuel passenger vehicles will be fully hybridized, and by 2040, vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines will still account for approximately one-third of new vehicle sales—highlighting the long-term strategic importance of HEVs. Zheng Yali emphasized that, against the backdrop of continuously tightening fuel consumption regulations and evolving policy environments, the potential for further efficiency gains from conventional internal combustion engine technologies is diminishing. As such, HEVs have become a critical enabler for achieving interim energy-saving targets. Currently, high-capacity HEVs are emerging as a key development direction—they not only enhance power responsiveness and driving smoothness but also improve energy recuperation and management capabilities, while providing stable electrical power to support intelligent vehicle functions, thereby simultaneously advancing both vehicle energy efficiency and intelligent driving experiences.