Automotive supplier Horse Powertrain continues to push the next generation of plug-and-play range-extended hybrid solutions. Sized "no larger than a briefcase," the all-new C15 four-cylinder engine-generator is designed to slide into all-electric vehicle platforms with little to no modification necessary, bringing an immediate high-efficiency range boost with or without turbo.

Horse has always struck us as a company just over the right side of the thin wire fence dividing genius from insanity. Had it debuted a couple of years earlier, when the automotive world had its head down toward going 110% all-in on electric vehicles, it would have struck us as a bit insane, or at least "too little, too late." But having ramped up at a time when governments and automakers worldwide are rethinking those EV plans and timelines, it seems to be perfectly positioned for a renaissance in hybrid technology. For now, at least.

Regardless of what anyone else thinks, though, Horse remains convinced that the future of electrified vehicles is hybrid, and it continues expanding its lineup of range extender solutions engineered to support that future. At the start of the year, it began production on a compact electric motor meant to fit to ICE-powered vehicles for improved efficiency and emissions performance. Now it presents something of an opposite counterpart: an ultra-compact ICE designed to slide into all-electric models to boost range and add refueling capability to complement battery charging.