May 2024 has become a landmark time - China's plug-in hybrid technology (referred to as plug-in hybrid technology) vehicles have entered the era of comprehensive range of 2000km+.
"In terms of new car range, if a pure electric car has a range of less than 800 kilometers and a plug-in hybrid car has a range of less than 2,000 kilometers, you will be embarrassed to mention it to others." A car boss told Bangning Studio.
On the evening of May 28, BYD made another big move, releasing the fifth-generation DM technology and the first two models equipped with this technology - Qin L DM-i and Seal 06 DM-i. The former was the core of the conference.
BYD President Wang Chuanfu said that this technology has set three world bests, namely the highest engine thermal efficiency of 46.06%, the lowest fuel consumption per 100 kilometers of 2.9L, and the longest comprehensive endurance of 2,100 kilometers, thus setting a record low in fuel consumption per 100 kilometers. Start the "Fuel Consumption 2 Era".
After this data was released, it caused waves in the industry.
Geely Automobile disclosed its product certification certificate the next day. The certificate shows that the Geely Thor engine obtained the authoritative certification of China Automotive Research and Development Huacheng Certification (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. on July 21, 2023, with a maximum thermal efficiency of 46.1%. This is 0.04 percentage points higher than BYD's.
But BYD counterattacked and "exposed" a product certification certificate with the name and model number BYD472. The certificate shows that the product's highest effective thermal efficiency reaches 46.5%. The certificate was also issued by China Automotive Research and Development Certification (Tianjin) Co., Ltd., and the certificate issuance date is March 19 this year.
Almost at the same time that BYD and Geely were engaged in a digital battle, Dongfeng Fengshen also released a poster to showcase its new generation of integrated hybrid technology, and welcomed @BYD's fifth-generation DM-i to join hands in entering the era of fuel consumption 2, looking forward to the breakthrough of hybrid technology. See you at the top.
According to Dongfeng Motor insiders, they are advancing the research and development of engine technology and are expected to achieve 46% thermal efficiency next year, which will further enhance its competitiveness in the hybrid market.
These phenomena indicate that Chinese car companies are engaging in a fierce competition in plug-in hybrid technology.
"From a technical point of view, a thermal efficiency of more than 38% is already quite outstanding, and 46% is very impressive." Experts from the China Automotive Technology and Research Center said in an interview with Bangning Studio, "However, we cannot simply say that 46.1 % must be better than 46.06%. The slight difference in technology may not be directly reflected in the actual performance, but it is certain that the efficiency of 46% is definitely better than that of 45%.”
Some car company executives expressed their appreciation for this, believing that the technological competition between Chinese brands is a real contest of strength, not a simple price war. "Price competition will only lead to a decline in corporate profits and the industry will bleed into a river of blood. It has no real meaning."
In fact, in addition to pursuing high engine thermal efficiency, car companies are more inclined to use plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models to hit the 2,000-kilometer range goal on a tank of fuel.
Since the beginning of this year, in order to fully demonstrate the strength of plug-in hybrid technology, major automobile brands have launched experiential communication activities and competed for 2,000 kilometers of battery life, such as Dongfeng Fengshen L7, Roewe D7 DMH, Star Era ET, etc. These tests not only demonstrate the technical strength of car companies, but also provide consumers with more choices and expectations.
Sticking to 2,000 kilometers of battery life seems to have become a trend among car companies, but it has caused quite a bit of controversy.
"Increase the fuel tank and battery, and the battery life will increase." "From the highlands to the plains, isn't this kind of route cheating when testing?" "Just refuel when it's ready" "Comparing engine thermal efficiency and vehicle energy consumption is the real skill"... Netizens also have some doubts about car companies' pursuit of extreme battery life. What is the practical significance of exceeding the limit of 2000km+? What else can it mean?
Brawl 2000
The driving range competition of plug-in hybrid technology does not just start now, it will kick off as early as 2022.
At that time, new plug-in hybrid models continued to emerge, with comprehensive cruising ranges ranging from 1,000 to 1,400 kilometers, and the pure electric cruising range of some models even exceeded 200 kilometers.
On January 3 this year, at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center, 10 Chery Fengyun A8s, dusty and dusty, stood quietly outside the launch conference. They started from Wuhu, Anhui, where they were born, and drove all the way to Shenzhen, Guangdong. The longest driving mileage on a full tank of fuel and electricity was measured, and the best result was 1,618.2 kilometers.
On April 18, the Roewe D7 DMH, representing its own brand of B-class cars, challenged the 2,000-kilometer limit of battery life. With full battery and full fuel, it set off from Lanzhou to Shanghai. The staff of the notary office notarized and supervised the whole process of sealing. , the actual measured result was 1962 kilometers, once again refreshing the extreme endurance record of self-owned brand B-class cars.
At the end of April, Dongfeng Fengshen L7 completed actual testing with a maximum range of 2,054 kilometers, becoming China's first measured SUV with a range exceeding 2,000 kilometers. On May 23, this car set a record for the first time in the industry, being able to travel 2,162.8 kilometers round trip through China’s largest no-man’s land without supplements.
Mach electric hybrid PHREV technology helps Dongfeng Fengshen L7 achieve the above results, allowing this car to achieve fuel consumption as low as 3.8L/100km (NEDC working condition standard).
Soon, BYD Qin L DM-i and Seal 06 DM-i raised the endurance performance to a new height. Data released by BYD shows that during the media test session, the combined range of the two cars on full charge and full fuel exceeded 2,300 kilometers, with the longest exceeding 2,500 kilometers.
Among joint venture brands, Guangqi Honda has a stronger say. In 2023, in an energy-saving challenge, Accord e:PHEV set a record of driving 2,132.7 kilometers on full fuel and full electricity.
Why do these car companies insist on extreme battery life of more than 2,000 kilometers?
First of all, long battery life can alleviate consumers’ “mileage anxiety”. With the popularity of electric vehicles, cruising range has become an important consideration for consumers when buying cars. Longer cruising range means fewer charging times.
How far is 2000 kilometers? A more intuitive reference is that starting from the landmark in the center of Beijing, speeding all the way south to the foot of the Canton Tower, this journey spanning more than half of China is approximately 2,132 kilometers.
What is the energy cost of completing this long journey? Take the Qin L DM-i as an example. Its 65L fuel tank and 15.87kWh battery capacity can run on a full charge and full fuel. The energy consumption cost is only 532 yuan, while a second-class high-speed train from Beijing west to Guangzhou south The ticket price is 964 yuan.
Secondly, long battery life represents the technological progress of car companies. To achieve a driving range of more than 2,000 kilometers, technological breakthroughs in engine thermal efficiency, battery technology, vehicle body lightweighting, energy recovery and other aspects are required. If the challenge is successful, the car company will demonstrate its technical strength to the outside world, enhance its brand power, and promote technological innovation in related industry chains.
Technology has no limits
The century-old development history of the automobile industry is a history of efforts to reduce fuel consumption. Now, some car companies are promoting that their plug-in hybrid models have a comprehensive range of more than 2,000 kilometers. Does this necessarily mean that their plug-in hybrid technology has reached its peak and reached the ceiling? the answer is negative.
There are six key factors that determine the battery life of a plug-in hybrid model.
First, the fuel tank volume affects endurance. Theoretically, the larger the fuel tank, the more fuel it contains, and the greater the endurance.
For example, the fuel tank capacity of the Qin L DM-i is relatively high, 65L, while the fuel tank of the Camry fuel version is 60L. The fuel tank capacity of some other plug-in hybrid/extended range models also differs, such as the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P is 70L, the Lynk & Co 07 is 60L, the Roewe D7 is 55L, and the Qiyuan A07 is 45L.
Second, engine thermal efficiency is crucial. The higher the thermal efficiency, the higher the efficiency of oil-to-electricity conversion and the more energy-saving it is. The Roewe D7 DMH is equipped with a 1.5L hybrid-specific engine with a thermal efficiency of 43%; the Fengshen L7 is equipped with a Mach electric hybrid PHREV hybrid-specific engine with a thermal efficiency of 45.18%; BYD's fifth-generation DM hybrid technology has a thermal efficiency increased to 46.06%.
Third, hybrid-specific gearbox and electric drive system. The higher the kinetic energy conversion efficiency of these components, the lower the energy consumption, and the efficiency of converting electrical energy into kinetic energy increases.
Fourth, the battery pack volume directly affects battery life. For example, Fengshen L7 offers two power battery versions of 17kWh and 30.2kWh, corresponding to CLTC pure electric range of 110 kilometers and 205 kilometers respectively, while CLTC comprehensive range is divided into 1,400 kilometers and 1,500 kilometers. Similarly, Qin L DM-i and Seal 06 DM-i are equipped with blade batteries, offering two options: a short-life version (battery pack capacity is 10.08kWh) and a long-life version (capacity is 15.87kWh).
Fifth, the weight of the vehicle body. The lighter the car body, the lower the energy consumption, thereby improving the endurance.
Sixth, driving speed. The faster the vehicle speed, the energy consumption increases.
Therefore, it is commendable to have a comprehensive range of more than 2,000 kilometers, but to evaluate the quality of a car's plug-in hybrid technology, you cannot only look at the indicator of endurance. There are many factors that affect endurance, such as fuel tank volume, engine thermal efficiency, gearbox and electric drive system efficiency, etc., which should be comprehensively considered in order to obtain a comprehensive and objective evaluation.
However, a comprehensive range of more than 2,000 kilometers is not an absolute standard, nor is it the end of the development of automotive technology. It is very likely to exceed 3,000 kilometers in the future.
From this point of view, this 2,000 kilometers should be viewed rationally - car companies should not just pursue beautiful data, but also pay attention to the technical significance and development potential behind it.
Some industry veterans believe that as hybrid technology enters the 2,000-kilometer range era, automobile fuel consumption per 100 kilometers enters the "2 (L)" era. This is a milestone progress, indicating a huge breakthrough in automobile technology and indicating that the industry will usher in a new round of profound changes.
First, the popularity of plug-in hybrid vehicles is accelerating.
As hybrid technology becomes increasingly mature and manufacturing costs continue to decrease, the price of hybrid vehicles has become more affordable, entering the 100,000 yuan range, greatly lowering the threshold for purchasing hybrid vehicles.
Relevant data shows that from 2020 to 2023, China’s plug-in hybrid market sales will increase by as much as 10 times.
Second, fuel-powered models will suffer a "devastating" blow.
In 2023, the sales volume of plug-in hybrid models in the Chinese market will be 2.804 million units, a year-on-year increase of 84.7%, significantly exceeding that of pure electric vehicles.
"Now for every four plug-in hybrid models sold in the world, three are from Chinese brands." At the aforementioned press conference, Wang Chuanfu said, "The most advanced plug-in hybrid technology is in China."
In contrast, pure fuel vehicles are facing increasing sales pressure.
Third, the automobile industry has entered a new era of energy conservation.
The era of 2,000 kilometers of driving range has arrived, and plug-in hybrid vehicles have made a qualitative leap in energy saving and driving range. Compared with traditional fuel vehicles, the fuel consumption of this type of vehicle is only one-third, while the comprehensive endurance is three times that of that. This innovation not only brings consumers a more worry-free and economical car experience, but also significantly improves environmental protection performance, helping car companies move towards a greener and more sustainable future.
From the fuel era, to the plug-in hybrid era, and then to the pure electric era, technological progress has promoted the green transformation of the automotive industry and achieved more environmentally friendly and efficient travel methods.
Technological innovation will never end, and challenges to the limits will continue. However, in marketing, car companies should remain rational and avoid exaggeration or over-promotion. Consumers should also remain rational when choosing a car and make a scientific decision after fully understanding all aspects of the car.
(The original title is "The plug-in hybrid market is expanding to 2000km+, is it a real technology or a false proposition", the content has been slightly deleted)
