IndyCar Moves Forward With Hybrid Assist Unit In 2024

Two weeks after announcing it was “pausing” any development of a 2.4-liter engine and keeping with the current 2.2-liter engine architecture, IndyCar announced on Monday it is continuing development with its Hybrid Assist unit.

The rechargeable unit will give the IndyCar engines an extra boost of horsepower, while testing technology for its two engine manufacturers, Chevrolet, and Honda.

IndyCar has been working with Mahle Powertrain to design and test the Hybrid Assist unit that will begin competition in 2024. Mahle and IndyCar have worked on the project for the first two years to create a “first-of-a-kind” hybrid assist system for IndyCar.

The result will be “on-demand” acceleration at the driver’s request.

“We appreciate the innovative solution initiated by Mahle Powertrain and their hard work in the development of our new hybrid system,” said IndyCar President Jay Frye. “We are also grateful for Chevrolet and HPD, as well as the IndyCar team, for their close collaboration in this important project and continued work as we proceed toward implementation for the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series season.”

Mahle Powertrain has worked in collaboration with Chevrolet and HondaPerformance Development and will provide continued development and production of the hybrid system in time for the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series season, according to IndyCar.

“We are delighted to have supported the NTT IndyCar Series to develop the new push-to- pass hybrid system,” said Mahle Powertrain Managing Director Hugh Blaxill. “We’re particularly appreciative of the expertise and support we have received from IndyCar, HPD and Chevrolet during the system’s development,much of which took place during the significant global supply chain issues that demanded even closer collaboration between ourselves, the entire IndyCar team, and our suppliers to help resolve.

“I would like to thank the Mahle Powertrain team for their hard work anddedication to reaching this milestone, and we look forward to watching the hybrid system perform on track to deliver the exciting racing that IndyCar fans enjoy.”

The new hybrid system is an important extension of the IndyCar’s objective to be the most sustainable motorsports series in the world.

In 2023, the series will use 100 percent renewable race fuel in its race cars, while the teams’ support transporters will use 100 percent renewable diesel fuel as they move from their race shops to the event circuits.

IndyCar believes the hybrid system developed by Mahle Powertrain demonstrates how innovative technology can also help the wider transportation and industrial sectors achieve their decarbonization goals.

Mahle Powertrain is a specialist in providing engineering services for the design,development and integration of advanced internal combustion engines andelectrified powertrain systems. As a recognized expert in these fields, Mahle Powertrain is engaged in the extensive research, development, and application of new traditional and advanced drivelines into cost-effective, production feasible solutions for enhanced efficiency, improved fuel economy and lower emissions.

As a services subsidiary of the Mahle Group, Mahle Powertrain has six technicalcenters strategically located in the UK, Germany, USA, and China and is well-placed to provide solutions around the globe. It operates independently of the main group when considering choice of components or technologies.

Mahle is a leading international development partner and supplier to the automotive industry with customers in the passenger car and commercial vehicle sectors. The technology group, which was founded in 1920, is working on the climate-neutral mobility of tomorrow with a focus on the strategic fields of electromobility and thermal management as well as other technology fields toreduce CO2 emissions, for example fuel cells or highly efficient combustionengines that run on e-fuels or hydrogen.

Currently the share of its sales earned independently from the internal combustion engine for passenger cars amounts to more than 60 percent and is to increase to 75 per cent by 2030.

Half of all the vehicles in the world now contain Mahle components.

In 2021, Mahle generated sales of EUR 10.9 billion and is represented in over 30countries with more than 71,000 employees in 160 production locations and 12 major research and development centers.