New Energy Perspective (ID: xinnengyuanqianzhan) Original

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Have you switched to an electric car in 2024?

According to statistics from the Passenger Car Association, the cumulative retail sales of pure electric vehicles from January to September this year reached 3.505 million units, an increase of 17.7% year-on-year.

Despite the seemingly high penetration rate, many consumers are still restricted.

Several consumers shared their pain points with New Energy Perspective.

"Installing a home charging pile requires a fixed parking space and high-power support, which is impossible in counties and old residential areas."

"Buying a battery-swappable car is a thrill, but finding a swap station is a nightmare."

"Driving around the city is fine, but on long-distance trips, finding a charging station for an electric car can be a nightmare. Just as the saying goes, charging stations are everywhere when the battery is full, but they disappear when you need them."

Thus, an undeniable fact emerges: electric cars are the general trend in line with the development of the times, but they cannot meet all consumers' needs.

Who will fulfill consumers' wishes to save money while experiencing the intelligence and comfort of electric cars?

After weighing the options, range-extended vehicles became the best choice.

In New Energy Perspective's interactions, consumers who need a range-extended car can be roughly divided into two categories: practical and individualistic. We have sorted out several treasure cars by category. You can first think about which type of car buyer you belong to, so it's easier to find the right one and say goodbye to "confusion" and "overwhelming choices"!

1. Practical choices that offer both substance and style

Liu Huaizhi (pseudonym), who recently became a parent of two children, recently traded in his Magotan for an Ideal L7 Ultra. As he puts it, raising two children is expensive, so every penny saved counts.

Image/Ideal L7 Ultra

Source/Screenshot from the internet and New Energy Perspective

Regarding his choice, he said, "When buying a car, I mainly consider the family. I often take my kids on road trips, so I pay special attention to in-car space and comfort. Meanwhile, due to the limitations of pure electric vehicles, I am hesitant to choose one. Finding a charging or swap station takes time, and I have kids in the car."

It's worth noting that there are many people like Liu Huaizhi who prioritize in-car space and comfort. According to the 2024 Car Purchase Decision Insight Report released by Yiche Research Institute, 50.25% of potential car buyers in China's passenger vehicle (new car) market have high space requirements.

While substance is important, style cannot be overlooked. In New Energy Perspective's interactions, most consumers who prioritize in-car space also want a stylish car.

"Since most of my car usage scenarios involve receiving clients, I consider range anxiety, space comfort, and car appearance when buying a car," said Wen Song (pseudonym), a prospective owner of the AITO 07 range-extended version.

In addition to the two treasure cars mentioned above, the following range-extended models on the market can also perfectly balance "substance and style."

As the largest model in the "L Series" suite, the Ideal L9 adopts dynamic and lively lines, giving it a solid and elegant appearance. In terms of interior space, there is ample legroom in both the front and rear seats, even for tall people. Meanwhile, the 2024 Ideal L9 adds zero-gravity queen seats in the second row, supporting 16-point massage, seat ventilation, and heating, making it feel like a first-class cabin.

Image/Ideal L9

Source/Screenshot from the internet and New Energy Perspective

The AITO M9 was launched in September with a large five-seater version. In appearance, it has not changed much from the previous six-seater version and still adopts the new design language of "Kunpeng Wings Spreading".

Image/AITO M9

Source/Screenshot from the internet and New Energy Perspective

In terms of interior space, unlike the original six-seater version, the third-row seats have been removed. With a length of over 5.2 meters, the five-seater SUV offers the best space performance among new energy vehicles of the same level. Additionally, the second-row seat backrest can be adjusted to a maximum angle of 43°, and the leg rest can be adjusted to a maximum angle of 75° in four directions.

The Deep Blue L07 adopts a streamlined design, a closed front face, and a through-type taillight, giving it a fashionable and elegant appearance. In terms of interior space, its wheelbase of 2900mm means a longer distance between the front and rear wheels, providing a more comfortable riding experience for consumers.

Image/Deep Blue L07

Source/Screenshot from the internet and New Energy Perspective

Meanwhile, as a sedan within the 200,000 yuan price range, the Deep Blue L07 is currently the only one equipped with zero-gravity seats for both the driver and front passenger.

2. Are you a "Generation Z"? Two tech-savvy cars are perfect for you

It should be noted that practicality is only a portrayal of some consumers. There is also a group of consumers who prefer "self-indulgence" between prestige and practicality.

According to the 2024 China Youth Consumption Trends Report released by The Beijing News and Beike Finance, post-90s and post-00s consumers, as emerging forces in the market, are rising, and they generally have a high enthusiasm for smart technology, environmentally friendly products, and personalized services.

In New Energy Perspective's interactions, several "Generation Z" consumers interested in purchasing range-extended vehicles said they would pay more attention to their performance in terms of personalization and high-tech configurations when buying.

It is not difficult to see that for this new generation of main consumer forces, cars are no longer just a means of transportation but also a "booster" that can improve the quality of life and stimulate passion for life.

Speaking of this, it is essential to mention the "refrigerator, TV, and large sofa." When the first batch of new energy vehicles with the "new three electrics" was launched, consumers who could afford them were genuine trendsetters.

However, in today's era where refrigerators, TVs, and large sofas are prevalent, they are no longer a "label" for individualistic consumers. After all, only cars with full technological content can truly unlock the "new trendy aristocrat" skin for you.

Based on the above needs, we have selected two representative range-extended models in terms of intelligent driving technology, additional functions, and playability.

The AITO 07 was officially launched on September 26, with a starting price of the range-extended version ranging from 219,900 to 279,900 yuan. It is reported that this car is equipped with Huawei's Kunpeng Intelligent Driving ADS 3.0, enabling end-to-end human-like intelligent driving, i.e., "self-driving upon entering and self-parking upon exiting."

Image/AITO 07

Source/Screenshot from the internet and New Energy Perspective

Meanwhile, on this basis, the AITO 07 has also achieved industry-leading hardware configuration. It uses Huawei's latest 192-line LiDAR, which has the highest number of lines among mass-produced cars on the market, enabling ultra-long-range perception, ultra-fine point cloud density, and ultra-fast scanning frequency.

The Deep Blue S05 was officially launched on October 20, with a starting price of the range-extended version at 139,900 yuan. It is equipped with an industry-leading integrated intelligent driving system for driving and parking, enabling functions such as intelligent cruise assistance and intelligent parking assistance.

Image/Deep Blue S05

Source/Screenshot from the internet and New Energy Perspective

However, for the Deep Blue S05 range-extended version, its intelligent driving function is merely icing on the cake. After all, the DEEPAL 4K intelligent fun camera it is equipped with can turn the idea of "taking photos anytime, anywhere" into reality. Undoubtedly, this social gameplay far surpasses that of its peers.

3. No need to wait! The dream of having a battery like a pure electric car has come true

In fact, whether practical or individualistic, the battery is an unavoidable topic for those who want their cars to be effortless and satisfactory.

Xiao Ran (pseudonym), the owner of a new AITO M7, works as an interior designer at a decoration company. In her view, a car is like a house. Although spatiality, personalization, and smart technology are important, they are all based on a "good battery." "Before buying this car, I did a lot of research, from battery manufacturers to battery materials, I have carefully studied them all."

Image/New AITO M7

Source/Screenshot from the internet and New Energy Perspective

In New Energy Perspective's interactions, most consumers prioritize battery considerations when purchasing new energy vehicles, followed by their own needs.

Taking a comprehensive view of all range-extended models currently on the market, it is not difficult to find that behind their popularity with consumers lies a trouble – the power batteries they currently carry have obvious shortcomings, which have become a barrier that needs to be resolved between automakers and consumers.

"Range-extended vehicles are very convenient for long-distance travel without anxiety, but their batteries are too small. Charging every day for commuting can be a headache!"

"Can you imagine it takes more than half an hour to charge from 20% to 80%?"

"Battery consumption is extremely fast on highways. Once the battery is depleted, the vehicle's acceleration performance will be affected to some extent."

Therefore, for consumers who want to buy a range-extended car, many experienced range-extended car owners have suggested: If you don't want to be troubled by similar pain points, you can choose to wait.

Recently, a new product launch event for Ningde Times's extended-range battery has changed the minds of many experienced range-extended car owners. They have all expressed, "I never thought the vision of a large battery and a small fuel tank, with once-a-week charging, could become a reality."

Of course, this "welfare" is not exclusive to experienced range-extended car owners. According to several pure electric car owners, the emergence of the XiaoYao battery has alleviated much anxiety and brought more possibilities to consumers restricted by inconvenient energy replenishment, given that charging and battery swapping infrastructure are not yet complete.

According to incomplete statistics, the Ningde Times XiaoYao battery, with a pure electric driving range of up to 400 km, will be equipped in over 30 models from brands such as AITO, Deep Blue, Ideal, Zhimai, and Lanvo.

Image/Some models equipped with the "XiaoYao" battery

Source/Screenshot from the internet and New Energy Perspective

Among them, in addition to models that have been on the market for some time, such as the Deep Blue S07 range-extended version, Changan Qiyuan A07 range-extended version, and Nezha L range-extended version, there is also a newly launched model comparable to pure electric batteries worth considering.

The AITO 12 range-extended version was launched on November 2 with a limited starting price of 259,900 yuan. It is equipped with a 39kWh XiaoYao super extended-range battery. In a depleted state, it can achieve a zero-to-hundred acceleration of 5.8 seconds. With only 30% battery remaining, it can be charged to 80% in 15 minutes, which is 20% faster than range-extended models of the same level.

Image/AITO 12

Source/Screenshot from the internet and New Energy Perspective

Of course, in the near future, when "large batteries and small fuel tanks" gradually become prevalent in the range-extended vehicle industry, consumers will no longer have to worry about batteries when buying range-extended vehicles. By then, the era of comprehensive electrification will also accelerate towards us.