A little known plug-in hybrid has set a new Guinness World Record for the longest distance covered on a single tank of fuel and battery charge.
The Roewe D7 sedan, which is built by Chinese giant SAIC group which also has MG in its stable, travelled for more than 2200km before needing a top up.
The current D7 uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine combined with an electric motor that is fed by a 21.4kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. Max outputs are 150kW and 330Nm.
It used just 2.49L/100km during the record setting run.
The D7 eclipsed its claimed driving range by more than 800km according to the vehicle’s latest technical details.
It covered the 2208km over four days, driven from Lanzhou to Urumqi. It wasn’t all flat and downhill runs either, with the D7 climbing up 1600m in altitude.
The test also took in various weather conditions including low temperatures of minus eight degrees celsius. The range a battery can deliver drops significantly in very cold temperatures as the cells struggle for heat.
Chinese car makers are increasingly turning to plug-in hybrids to boost sales as the market for electric cars reaches maturation.
MG is preparing to launch the updated version of the HS plug-in hybrid SUV in Australia.
In the UK that model combines the standard petrol engine with a potent electric motor to make a combined 223kW.
MG has more than just extra oomph to boast about, a new 24.7kWh battery now delivers a driving range of up to 120km on pure electric power that is about double the range of the outgoing version.
BYD recently launched its Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid SUV in Australia, and it is on track to be the brand’s best seller Down Under.
Chinese battery maker CATL detailed its new Freevoy Super Hybrid Battery developed specially for plug-in hybrids that can deliver an electric-only driving range of up to 400km.
That range beats some fully electric cars such as the BYD Dolphin and GWM Ora and MG4 standard ranges.
The Freevoy battery also has game-changing charging speed that can add a claimed 280km of range in 10 minutes when attached to a DC charging pylon capable of sending that much juice back to the battery.
It is also claimed to be more efficient during cold weather thanks to improved temperature management, which helps to boost performance and range.
Plug-in hybrid sales are up more than 120 per cent in Australia this year, with about 15,500 sales through the first nine months.
That sales figure pales in comparison to conventional plugless hybrids, with about 130,000 hybrids sold through September. That’s an 87 per cent increase on 2023.
Even electric cars remain far more popular Down Under with close to 70,000 finding a new home this year.
Comments