With the rapid development of electric vehicles in China, they have gradually occupied most of the world's electric vehicle market. In recent years, some high-end luxury electric vehicles have also been launched accordingly, such as BYD's Yangwang brand, NIO, Xiaomi, Porsche and Huawei Harmony's related MAEXTRO S800. However, the current luxury new energy vehicle brands generally prefer extended-range electric vehicles (REEV) rather than plug-in hybrids (PHEV). Next, we will analyze from multiple aspects why the current luxury electric vehicles have gradually turned from plug-in hybrids to range extender models.
The extended-range model is completely driven by the motor, the power output is linear and there is no setback, and the quietness is close to that of pure electric vehicles, which meets the ultimate requirements of high-end users for driving quality. However, the plug-in hybrid model is prone to power fluctuations and noise when switching between oil and electricity or the engine is involved, which affects the sense of luxury. For example, models such as the M9 and Ideal L series have achieved a balance of "pure electric driving experience + no mileage anxiety" through extended-range technology.
Mechanical simplification
The extended-range system only includes the range extender (generator) and the motor, and does not require the complex multi-speed gearbox and power coupling device of the plug-in hybrid, which reduces the failure rate and maintenance cost.
Space optimization
After the mechanical drive shaft is eliminated, the interior space layout is more flexible (such as a flat platform and an extra-large trunk), which improves the space utilization and design freedom of luxury models.
Cost control
The saved mechanical structure cost can be invested in configurations with stronger user perception, such as smart cockpits and high-end intelligent driving, such as the intelligent interactive system of Hongmeng Intelligent Driving models.
The extended-range power system has a single structure, which facilitates the automatic driving system to accurately control the vehicle status; while the plug-in hybrid engine intervention logic is complex, which affects the stability and response speed of the intelligent driving algorithm. Public data shows that the high-end intelligent driving functions of some brands are only available in pure electric or extended-range versions, and the plug-in hybrid version cannot be realized due to technical limitations.
High-end extended-range vehicles are generally equipped with battery packs of more than 40kWh, with a pure electric range of more than 200 kilometers (such as Xpeng's super extended range of 430 kilometers), covering 90% of daily commuting scenarios. Users only need to occasionally enable the range extender to replenish energy, and the fuel consumption disadvantage has little impact in low-frequency long-distance use. In contrast, the battery capacity of plug-in hybrid models is smaller (generally ≤25kWh), and the frequency of forced charging is higher.
Lixiang, AITO, Voyah and other high-end new energy vehicles with a price of more than 300,000 yuan have fully adopted the extended-range route; new forces such as Xpeng and Xiaomi have also accelerated the layout of extended-range models; traditional luxury car brands (such as MAEXTRO S800) even use extended-range as a power option for super luxury models. Models that insist on multi-speed plug-in hybrids are mostly concentrated in the mid-range market, which confirms the adaptability of extended-range technology in the high-end field.
Range-extended technology, through the minimalist logic of "pure electric drive + efficient energy replenishment", is more in line with the pursuit of smooth driving, intelligent compatibility and space quality of luxury cars. With the upgrade of battery technology (such as low-temperature endurance optimization) and the improvement of range-extender efficiency (thermal efficiency of more than 38%), its experience advantage will be further expanded.
