Putting a combustion motorcycle in a deep wading is never a good idea if we are not very clear about how far we can go. Water and combustion engines don’t exactly mix well, but Horse Powertrain has decided to tackle that problem head on with its new HORSE B20.
It is a 2.0 turbo four-cylinder gasoline engine with direct injection and Miller cycle, developed specifically for electrified SUVs and pick-ups intended for demanding off-road use. What is striking is not only its performance, but the engine is prepared to continue working even submerged in up to more than one meter of water.
To achieve this, Horse has taken the protection up to the IPX8 standard. The electrical components are waterproofed, specific gaskets have been developed and the junction points between the engine and transmission have also been protected to prevent the entry of water.
Electronics also intervene when things get complicated. Different sensors detect when the engine is submerged and, at that moment, modify its operation by reducing power and softening the throttle response to facilitate passage through water.
As you know, combustion engines have a serious problem with water. They need air to function and, if this enters accompanied by water through the intake, we already have problems and, of course, the failure can be significant. The curious thing is that while all this is in full development, things are different on electric motorcycles.
As much as we have always been told, and with good judgment, that mixing water and electricity is dangerous, as long as the battery, connections and electronics are properly sealed, it can continue working even underwater. Although it may seem strange to combine electricity and water in the same sentence, it must be recognized that in this sense (at least), electricity companies have an advantage.
The engine can withstand 1.1 meters, but that does not make the vehicle a submarine
But returning to the development of this engine and its capabilities, Horse makes it clear that one thing is what the propeller can withstand and another is the fording capacity of the complete vehicle. The location of the intake (if water enters through this the party is over), the electrical installation and the rest of the components continue to set the limit.
A good example is precisely the first model that uses this engine. The HORSE B20 is already mounted in China on the Geely Galaxy Cruiser 700, a large plug-in hybrid SUV whose complete system exceeds 1,100 HP.
Although the engine supports those 1.1 meters of immersion, the vehicle has a fording capacity of approximately 800 mm. This is still a considerable number, but it shows that waterproofing the propellant does not eliminate all limitations because other factors come into play.
Technically, the B20 develops between 190 and 252 HP depending on the version and delivers between 300 and 380 Nm of torque. It weighs about 130 kg and Horse advertises a thermal efficiency of 48.4%, relying on solutions such as high-pressure injectors, optimized pistons or a variable displacement oil pump.
It is also prepared to work under strong inclinations and withstand slopes of 100%, approximately 45 degrees, something that fits with the type of vehicles for which it has been developed.
For now, no one has announced a version for motorcycles, but adapting all this technology does not seem easy or practical. At least, yes, while this progress arrives you can always do like the geniuses at Bikes and Beards, put a snorkel on the bike and get in the pool. But that’s another story…
