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From Porsche to BYD: The “Chinese Solution” for Horizontally Opposed Engines

Horizontally opposed engines (HOPs) have always maintained a unique technological charm in the history of fuel car development. This sophisticated machine, once the exclusive domain of Porsche and Subaru, is now blossoming in the laboratories of Chinese automakers. The 4-cylinder 2.0T horizontally-opposed engine of BYD U7 not only breaks the technical monopoly of foreign brands, but also demonstrates the breakthrough ability of Chinese automobile industry in the field of core technology.

Analyzed from the dimension of mechanical structure, internal combustion engines mainly exist in three layout forms: inline, V layout and horizontally opposed structure. Among them, the horizontally opposed engine has significant advantages in physical characteristics due to its unique symmetrical layout.
Horizontally opposed engine through the subtle cylinder layout and synchronous motion design, effectively eliminating the first-order and second-order vibration problems in the traditional engine; at the same time, the low center of gravity design and lightweight crankshaft to further enhance the vehicle’s maneuverability and power response speed.

However, this layout also poses engineering challenges, as the piston lateral movement triggers the problem of misalignment, which has long been a constraint to its large-scale application. Conventional solutions rely on high-precision machining and specialty coatings, resulting in high costs. In response to the bias wear problem of horizontally opposed engines, BYD optimizes lubrication through a five-link oil pump and active oil return system, combined with a laser-melted, three-layer alloy coating that reduces the wear rate to 0.003mm per 10,000km. The layered cooling system uses a combination of micro-channels and wide-area waterways, and its reliability has been verified by 12,000 cold and hot shocks and 2 million kilometers of real-world vehicle testing.

With the synergy of the Cloud Chariot-Z magneto-electric suspension and the 420mm ultra-thin engine, the dynamic handling of the whole vehicle is significantly improved, and the lateral acceleration in curves reaches 1.1G, and the lateral inclination suppression ability is improved by 30%.

Behind BYD’s technological breakthrough, reflecting the overall leap of China’s automobile industry chain, this “chain innovation” mode is reshaping the industrial pattern. As a member of the industry chain, Zhengheng Power cooperates with BYD and builds a new independent production line dedicated to the processing of BYD’s horizontally-opposed engine cylinder block. Zhengheng Power is equipped with industry-leading casting, machining and cylinder hole plasma spraying equipment, which can flexibly cope with the complex structure and shape of the cylinder block; at the same time, Zhengheng’s advanced automated testing equipment runs through the whole process, and carries out real-time monitoring of the quality of each process, realizing the quality upgrade of the whole process through systematic process innovation.

From internal combustion engine to new energy, Chinese automobile industry is experiencing epic technological transmutation. Zhengheng Power is willing to be a cluster of sparks, innovate and manufacture with more customers, and go forward hand in hand with the dawn! In the wave of intelligent manufacturing, Zhenhengheng Power takes technology as torch and service as sail, and empowers the transformation and upgrading of each partner. With one heart, let the innovation potential energy start a prairie fire on the road of industrial upgrading; lead the frontier intelligently, and help China manufacture to shine on the global stage!