In the current commercial vehicle market, the penetration rate of new energy heavy-duty trucks continues to rise.Despite the positive overall data trend, the market still shows distinct characteristics: new energy heavy trucks are mostly confined to short-distance shuttle scenarios such as ports and mines, while they remain rarely seen on long-haul trunk routes.
As transportation distance increases, new energy heavy trucks require larger battery capacity, heavier battery packs and higher curb weight, which in turn leads to declining transport efficiency. In this trade-off between battery capacity and driving range, there is ultimately no perfect winner.
Against this industry backdrop, leading manufacturers are striving to find optimized solutions. Entering 2026, ultra-large-battery new energy heavy trucks are no longer the hottest topic. Instead, manufacturers with lower energy consumption and higher system efficiency are standing out from the competition.
Meanwhile, another viable solution has emerged within the industry: hybrid power.
On April 25, Foton Motor grandly held its 2026 Q1 Business Conference and New Product Launch at the China National Convention Center in Beijing. The Auman Galaxus 9 Plug-in Hybrid Tractor made a stunning debut.
As China’s first high-end hybrid heavy-duty truck, it precisely addresses the pain points of high energy consumption and high operating costs in long-haul trunk transportation.
From a technical perspective, this article interprets the core highlights of the model.
Before diving in, let’s clarify a basic concept: What is a PHEV plug-in hybrid?
Simply put, a plug-in hybrid sits between a pure electric vehicle and a conventional fuel vehicle. Compared with traditional HEV hybrids, PHEVs feature larger batteries, longer pure-electric range, wider motor operating range, and support external charging via charging piles, delivering superior overall energy efficiency.
The Auman Galaxus 9 Plug-in Hybrid Tractor is equipped with a self-developed dedicated high-capacity lithium iron phosphate hybrid battery, supporting 2C–6C charge and discharge rates. Multiple battery options from 58.73 kWh to 109 kWh allow users to flexibly match configurations according to transport needs.
Analogically, battery capacity is like a water tank: the larger the capacity, the more energy it can store, the stronger the sustained output of the electric motor, and the higher the availability of energy recovery — making it better suited for complex road conditions such as mountainous areas.
In terms of power, the Auman Galaxus 9 is fitted with a Foton Cummins 13L 620 hp hybrid-specific engine. Its thermal efficiency exceeds 50%, with a minimum specific fuel consumption as low as 169 g/kW·h, delivering up to 5% fuel savings solely from the engine itself.
Assisted by the electric drive system, the vehicle automatically switches to pure electric mode at low speeds, reducing engine start-stop frequency and idle fuel consumption for smoother, more economical long-distance cruising.
Thanks to efficient hybrid system coordination, the HCU keeps the engine operating within its optimal fuel combustion range at all times, lowering fuel consumption while maintaining stable output and enabling more energy-saving, reliable trunk transportation.
For electric drive, the Galaxus 9 adopts an industry-leading high-efficiency electro-mechanical coupling drive system, delivering a system output torque of 42,000 N·m and transmission efficiency up to 99.8%.
Paired with a high-power 8-layer flat-wire oil-cooled motor with a peak output of 220 kW (approximately 300 hp), the total combined system power reaches 920 hp.
Benefiting from the motor’s instant torque response, the vehicle achieves lighter startup, smoother acceleration, stronger power and quicker response during long climbs, realizing dual breakthroughs in fuel economy and driving performance.
Beyond robust hardware, the Auman Galaxus 9 is equipped with an ultra-hybrid HCU brain.
Supported by 162 sensors, 256 scenario-specific calibrations and over 30 dedicated control strategies, it makes optimal decisions within milliseconds to maximize operational efficiency.
The system intelligently manages the powertrain, vehicle torque coordination, driving mode switching, full-vehicle thermal management, predictive cruise control, remote OTA updates and fault diagnosis, embedding intelligent capability for full-scenario adaption and efficient operation.
The real-shot Auman Galaxus 9 adopts a 6×4 drive layout with excellent traction and load-bearing capacity.
Aluminum alloy wheels reduce curb weight and lower maintenance frequency, further improving overall operational efficiency.
An airbag rear suspension delivers superior shock absorption, ideal for transporting precision and fragile cargo. It also supports height adjustment to adapt to diverse working conditions.
Notably, the model adopts X-shaped reaction rods — a relatively rare configuration among domestic heavy trucks.
Compared with conventional V-shaped rods, the X-shaped structure provides better rear axle positioning stability, delivering steadier and more solid driving performance. Such detailed configurations fully reflect the Galaxus 9’s flagship positioning.
A large-capacity lightweight aluminum fuel tank is mounted on the right chassis side, balancing light weight and space utilization.
A millimeter-wave radar installed behind the tank detects lateral surroundings, enhancing safety during lane changes and cornering, reaching world-class active safety standards.
The urea tank is positioned behind the cab, stacked above the exhaust aftertreatment system. This layout saves chassis side space and utilizes residual system heat to warm the urea solution, effectively reducing urea crystallization.
A lightweight large-sized aluminum air reservoir is mounted at the rear of the frame.
With powertrain covered, we move on to exterior and interior design.
As the flagship 9-series model of the Auman Galaxus family, the plug-in hybrid Galaxus 9 features an elegant, streamlined exterior designed strictly following the 1:0.618 golden ratio, integrating technological aesthetics and premium styling.
The front face centers on a distinctive U-shaped “Star Gathering Ring” enclosing a closed grille. The closed design lowers wind resistance while creating a minimalist, futuristic visual effect. The Foton emblem positioned in the grille delivers strong brand recognition.
Vertical LED headlamps with lens modules greatly improve illumination performance and night driving safety. A millimeter-wave radar integrated on the side of the headlamp works in tandem with rear radars to reduce blind spots during lane changes and turns.
The vehicle is also equipped with electronic rearview mirrors, combining traditional rear-facing cameras with wide-angle side cameras. Together with front and side lower-view mirrors, it provides a full 360° panoramic view, minimizing visual blind areas and enhancing driving safety.
The displayed unit features subtle official customization, including an integrated bull bar with auxiliary lamps for a fuller front-end appearance.
A roof lamp rack with five LED searchlights enhances both visual layering and off-road practicality.
Transformers-style large graphic decals run along the side body, serving as one of Foton Auman’s iconic design elements.
Inside, the Galaxus 9 adopts a living cabin design philosophy. The interior is wrapped in premium leather and decorative panels, creating a warm, comfortable living and driving environment.
Both driver and co-driver seats are leather-upholstered, with the driver’s seat supplied by Grammer of Germany, ensuring premium quality and ride comfort.
The four-spoke multifunctional steering wheel blends black and silver trim for a high-end feel. The cockpit features a full LCD instrument cluster plus a large central multimedia screen, with an original factory phone bracket on the dashboard — balancing technology and practicality.
Electronic parking brake and core vehicle function buttons are neatly arranged below the multimedia screen.
A column-mounted gearshift lever is positioned on the right side of the steering column for effortless operation.
Following the living-cabin concept, the interior adopts light-toned trim, an enlarged sleeper bunk, and ample overhead storage cabinets to accommodate daily supplies, truly functioning as a mobile home.
A Hisense air conditioner installed above the co-driver seat maintains a comfortable cabin temperature, enabling quality rest even in hot summer conditions.
Summary
Amid the industry involution between battery capacity and range for new energy heavy trucks, the Auman Galaxus 9 Plug-in Hybrid Tractor offers an innovative dual fuel-electric intelligent coordinated solution, opening a path of high efficiency and low cost for long-haul trunk transportation.
It avoids the dilemma of pure electric heavy trucks — growing heavier and more energy-consuming with longer distances — while breaking the dual bottlenecks of high carbon emissions and high operating costs of traditional diesel trucks.
Equipped with a high-power hybrid system, intelligent HCU control, flagship chassis tuning and human-centered living cabin design, the Auman Galaxus 9 represents the pinnacle of Foton’s technological strength and marks China’s entry into world-class levels in the hybrid heavy-duty truck sector.
原创文章，作者：ctinsa，如若转载，请注明出处：https://ctinsa.com/truew/8578
