Mind-blowing Chinese plug-in hybrid SUV to offer more range than most electric cars: 2025 XPeng range-extender set for 430km of EV range and 1400km of hybrid driving, blowing away the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and BYD Sealion 6: Report

Chinese electric car brand XPeng has become the latest player to develop plug-in hybrid (PHEV) capability after its latest SUV was spotted testing in China with an exhaust system.

The PHEV SUV was captured by CarNewsChina under heavy camouflage, with the Chinese publication claiming the model will utilise XPeng’s new 'Kunpeng Super Electric System' and a petrol engine.

Staggeringly, the configuration is claimed to deliver a pure electric range of 430km and a total hybrid range of 1400km — notably under the more lenient CLTC protocol.

If true, that blows anything out of the water currently on offer in Australia. At the moment, Australia’s best plug-in hybrid SUV in terms of pure electric range is a toss up between the BYD Sealion 6 and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, both of which offer between 80 and 90km of range.

The Outlander PHEV carries a 20kWh battery pack, while the Sealion 6 carries a 18.3kWh unit, which suggests the upcoming XPeng PHEV’s battery pack will be significantly larger in size. In fact, it will likely rival that of most mid-range EVs.

Better yet, CarNewsChina is reporting that it will offer 800V battery capacity, which would make it the first PHEV on the Australian market to offer truly fast DC charging — the report indicated 10-80 per cent in a rapid 12 minutes.

Even on battery EVs, 800V architecture still remains relatively niche. It is, however, offered on XPeng’s G6 SUV which recently launched in Australia, as well as Hyundai and Kia’s rivalling E-GMP architecture, which underpins models such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6.

When a battery gets as large as XPeng's new system, the terminology typically changes to become a range extender electric vehicle, or EREV.

It's similar technology to what was seen in early electric cars including the Holden Volt and BMW i3 REX. But, like other PHEVs, it still has a combustion engine and a battery that can be charged on mains electricity.

CarNewsChina is also reporting that the SUV will be a full-sized, seven-seat offering, with a price tag in China of above 400,000 Yuan ($87,139), suggesting it will be marketed as a high-end luxury model.

CarsGuide has contacted XPeng’s local operations asking whether the brand has any more recent plans to introduce range extender technology locally. The brand previously stated electric-only intentions initially.