Installing large batteries in range-extended vehicles, is this an attempt to take the spotlight?

It is well - known that the new energy vehicles dominate the automotive industry nowadays. So, it's no surprise that we often see the battery capacity of pure electric vehicles getting larger and the frequent news about the mass - production of all - solid - state batteries.

However, recently, Lao Hu noticed that range - extended vehicles, which have always been regarded as a “transitional solution”, have also started to engage in a fierce “involution” in terms of batteries.

Many range - extended vehicles are now competing to equip with large - capacity batteries, offering a pure - electric range of 300 - 400 km. They can even compete with some entry - level pure - electric models, seemingly vying for the “C - position” in the new energy era.

From being initially regarded as a marginal transitional technology to gradually becoming a market mainstream, is it really a good thing for range - extended vehicles to focus on large - capacity batteries? And what industry secrets are hidden behind this?

Today, Lao Hu will talk to you about the things behind the “competition” of range - extended vehicles in battery capacity.

01 The Changed Industry Status

Although range - extended vehicles have rarely been in the “mainstream” in the history of the automotive industry, we have to admit that their current status cannot be underestimated.

According to the data from the Passenger Car Association, in 2024, the cumulative sales of range - extended models reached 1.167 million units, a year - on - year increase of 78.7%. In the first half of this year, the cumulative sales of range - extended models were 538,000 units, a year - on - year increase of 16.5%.

At the end of last year, many media outlets made predictions about the future development of range - extended vehicles. Some media bluntly stated that the trend of range - extended vehicle expansion is certain. Technological iterations (higher pure - electric range, ultra - fast charging, and improved low - temperature performance) and cost advantages will enable range - extended vehicles to have several times the expansion space in the medium and long term.

Some people also believe that range - extended technology is an important power form for mid - to high - end new energy vehicles. It is estimated that the sales of range - extended vehicles will reach about 2.2 million units in 2025, a year - on - year increase of 80%, and the medium and long - term space is expected to reach 7.5 million units.

Although the cumulative sales of range - extended models in the first half of this year were 538,000 units, with a year - on - year increase of 16.5%, which doesn't seem as optimistic as previously predicted by the media, Cui Dongshu, the secretary - general of the Passenger Car Association, also said: “Currently, the development of range - extended vehicles is in an adjustment period after high - speed growth. In the future, range - extended vehicles will still have a certain market share.”

That is to say, the entire industry is still very optimistic about range - extended vehicles. Otherwise, these car companies aren't “fools”. Who would strive in a field with no potential?

Of course, there is a key issue here. The reason why range - extended vehicles have gradually moved from the “marginal” to the “mainstream” in recent years is that they can provide a certain range guarantee.

With the breakthroughs in the battery field of pure - electric vehicles, the role of range - extended vehicles in alleviating range anxiety will inevitably weaken. At this time, to increase their “bargaining chips” in the market, they must start from aspects such as higher pure - electric range, ultra - fast charging, and improved low - temperature performance.

Lao Hu believes that as the industry status changes and the market share varies, it's natural to find ways to maintain their “status”. Therefore, the current competition for “large - capacity batteries” is an inevitable result of the improvement of the industry status.

02 The Inevitable Choice to Seize the “Opportunity”

A certain technology “tycoon” once said: “Even a pig can fly if it stands at the right opportunity.” And he also said: “The pigs on the opportunity are those that have trained.”

It's not easy for range - extended vehicles to gain development opportunities in the new energy era. This can be regarded as an “opportunity” for their development.

In the past few years, many car companies have taken advantage of this opportunity to build many range - extended vehicles, which have entered a period of rapid development. However, it's not easy to seize this “opportunity”. The entire industry is developing. When the range of many pure - electric vehicles reaches several hundred kilometers, the “range guarantee” of range - extended vehicles is not that appealing.

Statistics show that over 90% of the trips of range - extended vehicle users are in the pure - electric priority mode. That is to say, many people may not necessarily like the range - extended power, but rather value the vehicle's ability to solve “range anxiety”. To put it more bluntly, the “selling points” of range - extended vehicles are limited, and the range ability is a very crucial one.

When the range of mainstream pure - electric vehicles has generally reached 500 - 700 km, if range - extended vehicles want to gain a foothold in the market, they must improve their pure - electric range ability. Now, many automakers have started to launch range - extended vehicles with large - capacity batteries. It's obvious that the market trend is clear.

Data from the Passenger Car Association shows that in August, the wholesale sales of range - extended vehicles were 99,000 units, a year - on - year decrease of 9.5% and a month - on - month decrease of 9.2%; the retail sales increased by 0.3% year - on - year and decreased by 1.4% month - on - month.

These data also indicate that the adjustment period given by the market to range - extended vehicles won't be long. Lao Hu thinks that if range - extended vehicles can't quickly enhance their attractiveness to users, it's hard to say how long they can stay in this “opportunity”.

03 The “Hidden Concerns” behind Large - Capacity Batteries

As we all know, the market data often reflects the choices of consumers. As mentioned above, the rise of range - extended vehicles is mainly because they meet the “needs” of consumers. However, this “need” has two sides. If done well, consumers will recognize it; if not, they will stop “paying the bill”.

In other words, the “needs” of the public are very important. But there are also “hidden concerns” in the competition for large - capacity batteries. From the perspective of industry technology development, currently, range - extended vehicles do have the conditions to install large - capacity batteries. The improvement of battery energy density and the reduction of costs have significantly enhanced the practicality and economy of large - capacity batteries.

For example, the hybrid - range battery mass - produced by CATL last year could achieve a pure - electric range of over 400 km. It also supports 4C fast - charging technology, which can replenish 280 km of range in 10 minutes. Lao Hu believes that this is quite attractive.

From a practical perspective, equipping range - extended vehicles with large - capacity batteries can further reduce the user's vehicle - using cost. For example, the electricity cost of a household charging pile is about 0.47 yuan per kilowatt - hour, and the price of 92 - octane gasoline is 7.26 yuan per liter.

Assume that a range - extended vehicle consumes 15 kilowatt - hours of electricity and 6 liters of gasoline per 100 km. In this case, the energy cost in the pure - electric mode is only about one - sixth of that in the fuel mode.

However, there is another problem. Although the battery capacity increase can reduce the vehicle - using cost, what about the change in the vehicle - purchasing cost?

Even though the price of battery raw materials is decreasing, the price difference between large - capacity and small - capacity batteries is still very obvious. Take the Wenjie M8 range - extended 6 - seat version as an example. With basically the same configuration, the model with a 53.4 - kilowatt - hour battery is 30,000 yuan more expensive than the one with a 37 - kilowatt - hour battery.

With the fierce competition in the range - extended vehicle market, if a new car is priced tens of thousands of yuan higher, it will be difficult to satisfy the public in terms of price.

Lao Hu believes that in the end, the reason why range - extended vehicles can “rise” is “low cost” and “alleviating anxiety”. Whether car companies can balance the price and large - capacity batteries is also a problem they need to consider.

04 Conclusion

Equipping range - extended vehicles with large - capacity batteries is definitely beneficial for reducing travel costs. Moreover, factors such as market demand, competition pressure, and technological development are “forcing” range - extended vehicles to upgrade in this regard. However, Lao Hu believes that just because something can be achieved technically doesn't necessarily mean it can achieve good results in the market. As for whether they can continue to stay in this “opportunity”, it depends on who can better solve problems such as the increase in overall vehicle cost, the increase in vehicle weight, and safety risks.

Reference: Weibo

This article is from the WeChat official account “Technology Fox” (ID: kejihutv). Author: Lao Hu, Editor: MR. It is published by 36Kr with authorization.