Geely has presented the Galaxy Star 6 EF in China, describing it as the brand’s first mass-produced hybrid sedan with a powertrain designed to use electricity, methanol and gasoline. Its system combines a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine developed for methanol with an electric motor and an LFP battery. Geely rates the engine at 93 kW (125 hp) and says its thermal efficiency reaches 48.15 percent.
The engine uses high-pressure direct methanol injection, at pressures of up to 350 bar. A sensor detects the methanol concentration in the fuel tank so the car can adjust injection and ignition settings. Geely says methanol and gasoline can be mixed in the same tank in any proportion, rather than requiring separate tanks. The system is also claimed to start reliably at temperatures near -40°C.
Depending on the version, electric-only range is quoted at 130–230 km under China’s CLTC test cycle. Geely gives combined range as up to 1,250 km with a full methanol tank and charged battery, or 1,880 km when using gasoline. The tank holds 70 liters. The company says it has invested more than 10 billion yuan (about US$1.5 billion) in methanol technology over nearly two decades and has accumulated experience from more than 60,000 methanol-powered vehicles. The article notes that the fuel’s overall emissions impact depends on how the methanol is produced and distributed.