Xpeng G6: This competitor of Tesla Model is about to offer an autonomy extension

The competitors of the Tesla Model are more and more numerous, especially from the Empire in the middle, and some differentiate themselves by offering a version with an extension of autonomy. This solution for a time studied by Tesla during the development of the Model S, but quickly swept by Elon Musk when he took the reins of the company, is now very popular in China.

While we have just learned that the Smart #5 offered itself a double engine version, it would be at the whole of Xpeng Motors to be interested in this technology for its G6. Thus, a prototype of the SUV, direct rival of the Tesla Model Y, was seen in the process of filling up at a service station. Stolen photos were shared in the Chinese media Autohome.

According to the information obtained by AutohomeXpeng would be indeed developing its first electric car with a range of autonomy under the code name G01, while the brand only proposed only 100 % electric cars. This new strategy had been announced with the presentation of the Kunpeng architecture with a range of autonomy, which should equip the next Xpeng models and probably be inaugurated by the G6. It promises 430 km of electrical autonomy and 1400 km of total autonomy, probably on the particularly optimistic Chinese approval cycle, against up to 725 km of action department for the electric G6 (CLTC cycle and Chinese market).

However, it would be an electrical autonomy already much higher than that of the traditional rechargeable hybrid models, capable of traveling less than half of this distance with their only electrical energy. In addition, the G6 with a range of autonomy would retain its 800 V architecture which suggests high loading powers. Recall that the electric G6 is one of the electric vehicles that is fastest in charge of the world. Since his recent restyling, he announces the 10 to 80 % in just 12 min.

Towards a marketing in Europe?

If the electric cars with a range of autonomy were able to seduce Chinese customers with more than a million customers last year, their success in Europe is not guaranteed to them.

Indeed, compared to a serial-pural hybridization, where the thermal engine can either cause the wheels in parallel of the electric motor, or generate energy to power the electric part in series, electric cars with a range extension can only operate in serial mode. The absence of a mechanical connection between the internal combustion engine and the wheels can greatly penalize the approval and the battery performance discharged, as we had seen while driving the Leapmotor C10 Reev, far from the European dynamic standards.

In addition, although they are approved in the same category as the rechargeable hybrids, electric vehicles with a range of autonomy produced in China are subject to the same compensatory customs rights as the 100 % electric models, since only their electric engine is able to train their wheels. What to put into perspective the promise of the “best of both worlds” often associated with this technology.

The choice to offer a model to an extension of the Xpeng G6 in Europe does not seem obvious. If however managed to offer electrical autonomy and high charging powers without its price being too full-bodied, then maybe it could make a place for it.

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