Changan Auto-backed Hunan Tianyan says it has successfully ignited its first self-developed Power Turbine Generator (PTG), a detachable auxiliary power module marketed as a way to ease EV range anxiety.
The company described the PTG as a fuel-to-electricity add-on that can be fitted without reworking a battery-electric vehicle’s main structure, then removed when it is not needed.
It aims at common BEV headaches, including cold-weather range loss, higher energy use at highway speeds, long charging times and busy charging periods.
Hunan Tianyan claimed the unit is more compact than conventional engine-based range extenders, with higher power density and stronger fuel adaptability.
On the gas-turbine side, it uses 3D turbulence simulations to optimise internal airflow, alongside a high-efficiency ball-bearing system, a vaned compressor and a fixed-guide-vane turbine. The firm said those changes lift turbine efficiency by more than 5%.
It also said it redesigned cooling and heat control for the electronic control unit to keep the system stable under high-temperature operation.
CarNewsChina noted the concept echoed DIY range-extender attempts by some Tesla owners, but positioned this as a production-grade version rather than a garage hack.
