Does the 48V Mild Hybrid System Belong to New Energy?
3 Answers
48V mild hybrid vehicles are not classified as new energy vehicles. Below are relevant extended contents: Introduction to 48V Mild Hybrid Vehicles: 48V mild hybrid vehicles cannot operate purely on electric power. They function by increasing the standard voltage of vehicle equipment to 48V, enabling the support of higher-power onboard systems. This allows better integration with other vehicle systems and optimizes engine start-stop, acceleration, and braking conditions. Introduction to New Energy Vehicles: These are vehicles that use fuel sources other than gasoline or diesel as their power source. They are categorized into: hybrid electric vehicles, which use both conventional and unconventional fuel sources; pure electric vehicles, which rely solely on electric motors for power; and fuel cell electric vehicles, which use hydrogen fuel as their power source.
When it comes to the 48V mild hybrid system, I have to speak from a technical perspective. It really doesn't qualify as new energy—it's just a transitional technology. Having worked in the automotive industry for years, I can say the 48V system is essentially a modified version of a traditional fuel-powered vehicle, adding a small battery and motor to assist the engine during startup, acceleration, or braking to save fuel. The key issue is that it can't power the vehicle purely on electricity—the battery capacity is too small, typically 0.5 to 1 kWh, making pure electric driving range practically zero. New energy vehicles, like pure electric or plug-in hybrids, must be capable of running independently on electricity for dozens of kilometers or more while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The 48V system doesn't meet this standard; it merely improves efficiency and slightly reduces emissions. In actual tests, it can lower fuel consumption by 5-10% and cut emissions a bit, but it's far from zero emissions. National policies, such as China's new energy catalog, don't include 48V systems because they fail to meet the range threshold. To put it bluntly, it's a decent improvement but still far from being new energy.
From a policy perspective, 48V mild hybrid systems are not considered new energy vehicles. I've carefully studied China's new energy vehicle standards, which primarily target pure electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and fuel cell vehicles. The definition includes requirements like pure electric range exceeding 50 kilometers and eligibility for subsidies. As for 48V systems? They merely assist the engine in saving fuel at low speeds and recover some energy, but cannot truly drive on pure electric power. I've reviewed MIIT documents which clearly state they're not included in the catalog, thus ineligible for green license plates or purchase tax exemptions. Automakers promote 48V systems to comply with environmental regulations by reducing emissions, as they're relatively low-cost and easy to mass-produce - but at best, this is an energy-saving technology rather than revolutionary change. Currently, more fuel-powered vehicles adopt 48V systems because they're simple, cost-effective solutions for short-term performance improvements; whereas new energy targets are more ambitious, aiming to replace traditional energy sources. Long-term, 48V serves as a transitional technology, but doesn't meet the standards to join the new energy vehicle category.
