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GWM IS STUDYING THE VIABILITY OF PLUG-IN HYBRID VERSIONS OF ITS POPULAR 4X4S FOR THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET. WE GOT A CHANCE TO SAMPLE THEM ON TRACK

- MATT RAUDONIKIS

NOT content with just being the first manufacturer to bring a hybrid-powered 4x4 ute to the Australian market in the form of its Cannon Alpha Hybrid, GWM is now looking to double down on its offerings with the introduction of plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains for some key models.

Called Hi4T, GWM’s PHEV powertrain is fitted to the Cannon Alpha 4x4 ute and the Tank 500 4x4 wagon.

The advantage of PHEV over the existing hybrid powertrain is that charging a bigger battery pack from a charging station allows for a greater full-electric driving range. Our recent drives in both the Cannon Alpha and Tank 500 showed that they had plenty of power when driving with the petrol engine working in tandem with the electric motor, but driving under EV power alone was limited to short, low-speed manoeuvring and light-throttle applications.

The Hi4T PHEV system places a bigger 37.1kWh battery pack at the rear of the ladder chassis of the Tank 500 and Cannon Alpha, above the rear axle where it is positioned high and is well protected. This placement means that the Hi4T Tank 500 loses its two third-row seats and becomes a five-seat wagon, and fuel tank capacity is reduced by 10 litres to 70 litres.