/// Another automaker joins the extended-range race.

Editor: Xiao Ying

On August 21, AVATR, a joint venture of Changan, Huawei, and CATL, announced its entry into the extended-range market by unveiling its Kunlun extended-range technology. This system will debut in the previously announced AVATR 07, with three additional extended-range models set to be released by the end of the year.

Explaining the rationale behind AVATR's decision to venture into extended-range vehicles, Hu Chengtai, Vice President of AVATR Technology, said:

"Since 2018, 30 extended-range models have been launched in the Chinese market, with 17 of them being high-end models priced above 200,000 yuan, accounting for 42% of the total. In terms of sales, extended-range models saw a year-on-year growth of 124% in 2023."

The ability to produce high-end vehicles with strong sales performance is a key factor in AVATR's decision to enter the extended-range market.

Given the competition from established players like Lixiang and Wenjie, as well as numerous other extended-range models, what sets AVATR's technology apart?

"We believe that a good extended-range vehicle should offer an experience as close to a pure electric vehicle as possible, without any range anxiety," said Hu Chengtai. Extended-range vehicles offer unique advantages, effectively combining the strengths of both gasoline and electric vehicles.

However, there are three major technical challenges: power degradation in low battery conditions, noise and vibration from the range extender, and slow charging speeds.

To address these issues, AVATR has undertaken a series of in-house, full-stack R&D efforts to create an extended-range solution that delivers an experience as close to a pure electric vehicle as possible.

01

In-house battery development for a 5.8-second 0-100km/h acceleration even in low battery conditions

Extended-range vehicles are notorious for their reduced power performance in low battery conditions, leading to jokes like "with power, it's a dragon; without power, it's a worm."

Previous extended-range models offered strong power when fully charged but experienced significant power degradation in low battery conditions, affecting driving experiences in high-demand scenarios like high speeds and uphill climbs.

The core issue lies in the battery's reduced discharge capacity in low battery conditions.

To tackle this challenge, AVATR has partnered with CATL to develop the Shenxing Super Hybrid Battery with a capacity of 39kWh. This battery boasts a peak discharge rate of 9C when fully charged and maintains a peak discharge rate of 7.7C even in low battery conditions.

According to AVATR's demonstration of the AVATR 07 extended-range AWD model, it achieved a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 4.9 seconds when fully charged and 5.8 seconds in low battery conditions, with a mere 0.9-second difference and a 15.5% degradation rate. The FWD model fared even better, with a 6.6-second acceleration time when fully charged and 7.3 seconds in low battery conditions, representing a degradation rate of less than 10%. Additionally, the AVATR 07 can reach a top speed of 190km/h even in low battery conditions, matching its performance when fully charged.

Moreover, extended-range vehicles typically reduce motor output to protect the motor and prevent overheating of the permanent magnets within. This often leads to power degradation after continuous acceleration.

"If the motor's internal temperature reaches 180°C, it can cause irreversible damage to the permanent magnets on the rotor. Therefore, the motor usually limits its output power when the rotor temperature reaches 140°C," explained Hu Chengtai on-site.

Traditionally, the rotor temperature is estimated based on the oil temperature of the electric drive, but this method is inaccurate, with errors potentially reaching 30°C. This means the system may start limiting power when the actual temperature is only 110°C.

AVATR has addressed this issue through a combination of hardware and software. By integrating oil-cooling technology with AI-powered software models, AVATR has improved the accuracy of rotor temperature estimation by nearly fourfold, reducing the error margin from the industry average of 30°C to just 8°C. As a result, the AVATR motor can withstand 25 consecutive 0-100km/h accelerations without experiencing thermal failure.

In comparison to the fast-charging and ultra-fast-charging systems developed for pure electric vehicles, extended-range vehicles have lagged behind, with slow charging speeds and small battery capacities requiring frequent charging. This not only degrades the user experience but also exacerbates tensions between extended-range and pure electric vehicle owners due to prolonged charging times, particularly on highways.

AVATR has addressed this issue in two ways: by increasing battery capacity and enhancing charging efficiency. The Kunlun extended-range Shenxing Super Hybrid Battery can charge from 30% to 80% in just 15 minutes.

AVATR plans to introduce an even larger battery with a capacity of 52.4kWh next year, offering a peak charging rate of 4C that can charge the battery from 30% to 80% in just 10 minutes. With a full charge, this battery can provide a pure electric range of up to 325km.

As for the combined driving range, AVATR has opted for a more practical figure of 1,220km, recognizing that excessively long ranges can be burdensome for users in terms of additional weight and space requirements.

Hu Chengtai explained that while some competitors have achieved driving ranges exceeding 1,600km, AVATR believes that ranges beyond 1,000km are unnecessary and impractical for most users.

02

In-house developed extended-range generator with noise levels as low as 35.7dB during idle charging

While extended-range vehicles combine the advantages of gasoline and electric vehicles, their engines can generate significant noise during low battery conditions, particularly at low speeds or during idle charging, which has been a source of complaint among users.

The industry's traditional approach to addressing this issue has been to add sound insulation materials for physical isolation. However, AVATR has opted for a technical solution.

Through the development of its in-house Kunlun extended-range HE 1.5T supercharged dedicated engine, equipped with electronic oil pump technology and active control technology for the stop-start piston, AVATR has successfully reduced in-cabin sound pressure during idle charging to just 35.7dB. "Honestly, this performance is already the best in its class," said Hu Chengtai, "but we believe we can do better."

AVATR's solution revolves around three key technologies: the HE 1.5T engine, electronic oil pump technology, and active control technology for the stop-start piston.

Unlike traditional oil pumps, the electronic oil pump used in this technology pre-establishes oil pressure, providing instant lubrication upon engine startup, thereby reducing noise, improving efficiency, and extending engine life.

Traditional oil pumps rely on the engine to pump oil to the lubrication points, which inherently leads to lubrication delays and increased noise and vibration during engine startup. This is particularly problematic for extended-range vehicles, where engines may remain idle for extended periods, resulting in insufficient lubrication and increased wear upon startup.

The Kunlun extended-range system's electronic oil pump, driven by an independent motor, offers more flexible control and faster response times. By pre-establishing oil pressure before each drive, the pump ensures instant lubrication upon engine startup, resulting in quieter operation. Hu Chengtai aptly describes the electronic oil pump as the "perfect match" for extended-range vehicles.

Additionally, AVATR's unique active control technology for the stop-start piston addresses another critical issue. Hu Chengtai likened it to adjusting the pedals on a bicycle before and after riding, emphasizing the importance of finding the optimal piston position for smoother engine startups.

Through extensive testing, AVATR identified the optimal piston position that minimizes cylinder pressure, resistance, and vibration during engine startups. After the engine shuts down, the generator converts into a motor, rotating the crankshaft in reverse to adjust the piston to this optimal position.

Furthermore, the Kunlun extended-range intelligent energy management system integrates driving and cabin domains, intelligently planning engine intervention times based on in-vehicle navigation data.

When the system determines that the vehicle's current battery level is insufficient to traverse congested sections of the preset navigation route, it will pre-emptively start the engine, prioritizing fuel usage in uncongested areas to conserve electricity for congested sections, thereby optimizing energy allocation.

03

One more thing

In addition to its extended-range technology, AVATR also unveiled a new high-end pure electric vehicle: the AVATR 012.

This limited-edition collaboration with Kim Jones, Artistic Director of Dior Men and Fendi Women's and Couture, carries a pre-sale price of 700,000 yuan and a global limited production run of 700 units.

Based on the AVATR 12, the AVATR 012 maintains the same dimensions, measuring 5020*1999*1469mm in length, width, and height, with a wheelbase of 3020mm.

Its unique liquid silver body color exudes a futuristic elegance, complemented by 21-inch exclusive forged mirror-finish alloy wheels. The interior boasts an artistic redesign, featuring premium materials, a stunning starry sky ceiling, and contemporary amenities like a refrigerator and television.

Powered by Huawei's DriveONE dual-motor system, the AVATR 012 delivers a total power of 578 horsepower and a CLTC driving range of 650km. The single-motor variant offers a maximum power of 313 horsepower and a CLTC driving range of 700km.

The vehicle employs CATL's Qilin battery with a custom dual-energy well design, increasing heat exchange area by 400%, heating rate in low temperatures by 150%, and peak charging current and power by over 700A and 480kW, respectively, enabling an 80% SOC in just 10 minutes.

In terms of intelligence, the AVATR 012 integrates Huawei's HarmonyOS Smart Cockpit 4.0 and is equipped with three lidar sensors, powered by Huawei's Qiankun Intelligent Driving ADS 3.0, enabling end-to-end autonomous driving capabilities.

Since its inception, AVATR, backed by the powerful trio of Huawei, Changan, and CATL, has been highly anticipated by the market. However, its sales performance has been underwhelming.

Data indicates that in 2023, AVATR's two models, the AVATR 11 and 12, sold a combined total of only 27,000 units, falling short of the ambitious sales target of 100,000 units. In 2024, sales remain sluggish.

The pressure to boost sales may have been a key factor behind AVATR's decision to enter the extended-range market. However, competition in this segment is fierce, with over 30 brands already vying for market share. Standing out among established players like Lixiang and Wenjie and achieving significant sales growth will undoubtedly be a challenging task for AVATR.