From 'outdated' to 'truly fragrant', the route of extended range technology is becoming a precise breakthrough point for car companies' sales. On November 20th local time, Stellantis Group announced the launch of the STLA Frame model platform, which is a native multi energy platform for pure electric vehicles and will be applied to the upcoming new products of Jeep and Ram brands.
The STLA Frame platform is one of the four global multi energy vehicle platforms in the group's Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan. Stellantis Group introduced that the launch of this platform aims to provide support for its full-size pickup trucks, light commercial vehicles, and SUV models. Vehicles equipped with this platform will first be equipped with innovative power forms, including pure electric and extended range, and in the future can also be equipped with internal combustion engines, hybrid power, and hydrogen energy power systems. Among them, in extended range electric vehicles, the range can reach 1100 kilometers; On pure electric vehicles, the range can reach 800 kilometers.
More stringent emission standards and lower acceptance of pure electric new energy vehicles by consumers in some regions, including Europe, may be the main considerations for Stellantis to launch the STLA Frame multi energy platform. With the comprehensive launch of our pure electric vehicle and extended range electric vehicle technologies, we will provide an uncompromising solution for buyers who may still be hesitant about purchasing their first electric vehicle, "said Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis Group.
Data shows that in October, the total sales of new energy vehicles in 10 European countries, including Germany, France, the UK, and Italy, amounted to 184000 units, a year-on-year decrease of 4% and a month on month decrease of 20%. Among them, 118010 pure electric vehicles decreased by 5% year-on-year and 27% month on month; 66210 plug-in hybrid vehicles, a year-on-year decrease of 4% and a slight month on month decrease of 3%.
Not only is Stellantis Group, currently ranked fourth in global market sales, known for its performance cars and has fully shifted towards electrification, but it is also entering the field of plug-in range extender for the first time.
Electrification is not entirely pure electricity. "In the view of Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng, there are various ways to solve power problems, including pure fuel, pure electric, hybrid, and extended range, all of which are different forms of power performance." There is no best, only better. We need to find the best solution
On the eve of the 2024 Guangzhou Auto Show, Lotus officially released the "Luyao" super hybrid technology solution. According to Feng Qingfeng, equipped with plug-in flash charging technology and autonomous flash charging technology during driving, future models equipped with "Luyao" super hybrid technology can achieve a comprehensive range of over 1100 kilometers and support "dual flash charging" capability, which is static plug-in fast charging+dynamic engine autonomous charging 5 times greater than discharging. Extended range is a great solution, and market performance and user recognition are already indicative of the problem, "said Feng Qingfeng.
Before the increasing popularity of extended range technology in the international market, domestic car companies had already been flocking to it. At the third quarter report conference call of Xiaopeng Motors on November 19th, Xiaopeng Motors Chairman He Xiaopeng stated that by 2025, Xiaopeng Motors plans to launch at least four new cars, including the first super electric version. Previously, Xiaopeng Motors had released the extended range system "Xiaopeng Kunpeng Super Electric System", which adopts 800V high-voltage pure electric technology.
At the earlier Guangzhou Auto Show, companies including Sylphy, Chery, GAC, Avita, and Changan Mazda, which have almost lost their say in the Chinese market, all showcased their respective range extending technologies or products. Gu Huinan, General Manager of GAC Aion, revealed that Aion will change its current strategy of only producing pure electricity and launch a multi energy route of extended range and plug-in hybrid by 2025.
At present, the energy density of power batteries restricts the range of electric vehicles, but extended range vehicles can be powered by oil or electricity, which effectively solves the problems of range and energy replenishment, as well as the range anxiety of pure electric vehicles. Cui Dongshu, Secretary General of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, said that extended range new energy vehicle companies have performed well recently, and some car companies have experienced explosive growth in stages. "Currently, the main market for extended range vehicles is still large and medium-sized cities. It is expected that with the sales growth of brands such as Ideal, Wenjie, and Avita, small cities and county markets will gradually rise
However, some argue that range extender cars are only a transitional solution. Cao Li, Senior Vice President of Zero Run Automotive, said that in the long run, pure electric range will continue to increase, charging facilities will become more and more perfect, and the market's demand for range will become more rational. "At that time, the proportion of extended range will further decrease, but it will not disappear immediately