On November 6, XPeng Motors released the "Kunpeng Super Electric System", in which "Kun" represents the extended-range system and "Peng" represents the pure electric system. This system marks XPeng's official entry into the extended-range market. He Xiaopeng mentioned, "It is no longer meaningful to make another ordinary extended-range vehicle." XPeng hopes to provide better support for different market demands through more flexible energy replenishment solutions.

In November 2023, Li Xiang, the founder of NIO, a major practitioner of the extended-range route, also tweeted that "automakers that are still adhering to multi-speed PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) will switch to the extended-range (REEV) technology route in the next one to two years. This prediction can be verified by 2025." In addition, new force automakers such as Xiaomi Automobile, Zeekr, IM Motors, Aion, and AITO have also announced their plans for extended-range vehicles. Some traditional multinational brands such as Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, and Hyundai have also set their sights on this market. Why are more and more automakers deploying extended-range electric vehicles? Is pure electric no longer attractive?

Is pure electric anxiety unavoidable?

As Tesla's pure electric vehicles quickly captured the market, Chinese automakers have also aimed at pure electric vehicles, designing and developing them. Although the market for pure electric vehicles is relatively stable, with a market share that increases year by year, issues such as charging anxiety and range anxiety still exist.

To address the issue of charging anxiety, the construction of charging facilities has also significantly accelerated. According to statistics, as of the end of July 2024, the total number of charging piles nationwide reached 10.604 million, a year-on-year increase of 53%. Among them, there were 3.209 million public charging piles and 7.394 million private charging piles. Despite the vigorous construction of charging facilities, they still cannot meet the growing market demand for electric vehicles in the short term. Long charging times remain an issue that pure electric vehicles have to face, especially during periods of increased travel demand during long holidays. Reports of electric vehicle owners being stranded in service areas waiting to charge are common. Additionally, for long-distance travel or in remote areas, the lack of charging infrastructure makes charging inconvenient for pure electric vehicles, which remains a pressing issue.

Compared to charging anxiety, the range anxiety of pure electric vehicles may be more pronounced. Since pure electric vehicles use batteries as the main power source for all vehicle equipment, the issue of reduced range in winter is common. "I dare not turn on the air conditioner when there are no passengers in winter," "The driving range can be reduced by about 2/3 in winter. It seems like it can run far, but it's all virtual power," "When going out to work in winter, I have to bring a blanket to cover my legs and reduce the use of air conditioning, otherwise the range will only be lower." Many drivers who use pure electric vehicles for ride-hailing complained to the forefront of intelligent driving. The disadvantages of pure electric vehicles are obvious, which is why more and more new automakers are optimistic about the hybrid and extended-range markets, especially those with more intelligent driving layouts, who are very optimistic about extended-range electric vehicles.

What is an extended-range electric vehicle?

What is an extended-range electric vehicle? According to the national standard (GB/T 19596-2017 "Electric Vehicle Terminology"), it is defined as an electric vehicle that can achieve all its dynamic performance in pure electric mode. When the on-board rechargeable energy storage system cannot meet the range requirements, the on-board auxiliary power supply device is turned on to provide electrical energy to the power system, thereby extending the driving range. This on-board auxiliary power supply device is not connected to the drive system via a drive shaft (belt) or other transmission connections. Although both extended-range electric vehicles (EREV) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) provide a transitional solution between fuel vehicles and pure electric vehicles, their working principles and design concepts differ. Extended-range electric vehicles usually rely on electric drive, with the internal combustion engine only used for power generation and not directly driving the vehicle; while hybrid vehicles switch between electric and internal combustion drive, with the internal combustion engine driving the wheels. In short, the main power source of extended-range electric vehicles is still the electric system.

The core of the extended-range system lies in the "range extender," a power generation system consisting of a small-displacement engine and a generator. Its working principle is that when the battery is depleted or low on power, the range extender starts generating electricity to provide power to the battery, thereby extending the driving range. The vehicle still operates mainly in electric mode during daily driving and can obtain additional power support from the range extender during long-distance travel, thereby increasing the driving range. Compared to pure electric vehicles, extended-range electric vehicles have a significant advantage in range. Since they can extend their range through fuel, they significantly reduce the frequency of charging, support longer long-distance travel, and have both electrification and long-range capabilities, making them an effective solution to address range anxiety in pure electric vehicles.

Is extended range a compromise for intelligent driving?

Many people may have noticed that as smart cars develop, the most popular type of automaker researching intelligent driving systems are new forces in the automotive industry focused on electric vehicles. Traditional automakers whose main products are fuel vehicles seem to be being left behind by intelligence. Why do many new automakers favor extended-range electric vehicles? Are electric vehicles the best choice under the trend of intelligent driving?

In fact, China has already provided a clear roadmap for the development of intelligence. The new four modernizations of the automotive industry—electrification, intelligence, networking, and sharing—are the perfect path for the development of intelligent driving, with electrification being the first step in the development of intelligence.

Intelligent driving requires vehicles to have fast and precise response capabilities. Compared to fuel vehicles, the power system of electric vehicles is relatively controllable. Unlike the complex structure of fuel vehicle engines, which often experience detonation, cylinder misfire, and other issues, the power system of electric vehicles has a simpler structure. Vehicles driven by motors have faster response speeds and higher control accuracy. Their acceleration and deceleration control are more linear and stable, making them more suitable for the safety and comfort requirements of intelligent driving. This also gives electric vehicles an inherent advantage in the trend of intelligent development.

Furthermore, intelligent driving technology updates frequently, and electric vehicles have more sophisticated OTA (Over-The-Air) upgrade capabilities, facilitating rapid iteration and optimization of system software. Compared to traditional fuel vehicles, electric vehicles can be continuously updated at the software and algorithm levels, providing sustainable development space for intelligent driving technology. At the same time, electric vehicles have a higher degree of electrification, facilitating the integration and functional expansion of intelligent driving systems.

China has already taken the first step towards electrification, so more and more automakers are beginning to deploy intelligence, namely single-vehicle intelligence. To achieve single-vehicle intelligence, it is necessary to install numerous sensing hardware on the vehicle, such as LiDAR, millimeter-wave radar, ultrasonic radar, and in-vehicle cameras. High-precision maps are also required for support. To ensure that these sensing hardware and intelligent driving systems can operate normally, it is necessary to provide them with a stable power supply, which also places higher requirements on the power system of electric vehicles. At this stage, pure electric vehicles may not be the best choice for the development of intelligent driving.

Among the many power carriers, fuel vehicles are completely out of the question. If pure electric vehicles are used, their range anxiety may further deepen, making them not the optimal solution either. Hybrid vehicles, with their two systems, are also not the perfect carrier for the development of intelligent systems. After a series of eliminations, hybrid vehicles stand out, which may be one of the reasons why more and more new automakers are developing extended-range vehicles.

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