Recently, I was planning to buy a car, and yesterday I took a taxi to work and chatted with a senior old driver. He is outspoken, believing that in this critical period, you need to think twice about buying an electric vehicle with extended range. As a car owner who pursues mileage freedom, this is the first time I've heard this statement.
Although the old driver's words are shocking, they do not come out of thin air. He started by talking about semi-solid-state batteries.
For a long time, solid-state batteries have been like "sweet potatoes on a hot pot" for electric vehicles - quite promising, but far away. But just recently, a breakthrough in semi-solid-state batteries has finally made the dream a reality.
Real road tests show that the NIO ET7 equipped with a semi-solid-state battery can easily run a range of 1,000 kilometers, completely surpassing the range extender cars at the same price. At the same time, SAIC Zhiji L6 will also be equipped with this black technology, and its people-friendly price of 330,000 yuan will almost certainly force the entry model of pure electric vehicles to enter the price of 300,000 yuan next year.
In the face of the strong performance of semi-solid-state batteries, many skeptics must be skeptical: will the low temperature environment limit their use, but the actual road test has completely eliminated this concern.
Not long ago, a blogger was stuck in a traffic jam for 12 hours on the Sichuan-Tibet line at an altitude of 5,100 meters and minus 11 degrees, but the vehicle powered by the semi-solid-state battery could still easily travel 270 kilometers and retain more than 60% of the remaining power. It can be seen that the ability of semi-solid-state batteries to resist the cold and extend the battery life is not far behind.
On the other hand, the poor performance of the extended-range model in harsh environments highlights the advantages of the all-electric route. Previously, the owner of the ideal ONE extended range version "lay down halfway" during the plateau test, and the on-board system had to issue a warning, and finally could only wait for rescue.
The outstanding performance of semi-solid-state batteries to promote their strengths and avoid weaknesses has made the main selling point of the extended-range model somewhat eclipsed. In the context of the rapid development of battery technology, the range extension route, which was once known as the "best balance", now seems to be re-examined and rethought by the market.
In addition to the progress of battery technology itself, another positive factor comes from the rapid improvement of infrastructure construction. Many people worry that once the battery of a pure electric vehicle runs out, it will be a long and painful process to replenish the battery. However, this concern is becoming self-defeating.
Super charging piles have become increasingly popular, combined with the widespread use of 800V charging systems in pure electric vehicles, the resonance of the two has formed a super "combination punch" - it only takes 12 minutes to replenish the range of 500 kilometers!
It is so efficient and convenient, almost equivalent to the experience of traditional gasoline refueling, and almost completely relieves the anxiety of energy replenishment. The major car companies are all accelerating the layout in this field, and the industry is expected to achieve more than 100,000 charging points nationwide next year, covering 80% of the service area.
At the same time, the super charging pile is also moving towards the "energy storage charging and discharging" mode, which can charge and store energy independently when no car arrives, and then discharge to replenish the vehicle when there is a car. This innovative model can not only significantly reduce the pressure on the distribution station, but also effectively reduce operating costs, which will accelerate the popularization of charging facilities.
Judging from the current situation of only 293,000 charging points in the country five years ago, the development prospects of super charging piles will undoubtedly grow exponentially, clearing another obstacle for the popularity of pure electric vehicles.
In addition to the leap in battery technology and the improvement of infrastructure, the price drop of the range extender itself is also a major factor restricting its development.
In the past, consumers favored extended-range models in large part because of the so-called "high price" concept of pure electric models. However, this perception is being turned upside down.
The entry price of 129,900 yuan for the Nezha L extended range version launched this year has undoubtedly cleared the way for the concept of consumption. It is generally expected in the industry that in the future, within 200,000 yuan, you will be able to buy a full-time four-wheel drive, powertrain upgrade, air suspension and other advanced configuration of the extended range car, which is more sincere than the 300,000 yuan extended range version.
Obviously, low prices have become a trade-off that range extender models have to make in competition with pure electric vehicles. In the past, the old way of relying on moderate prices and compromise battery life to win the favor of consumers is gradually moving away.
The price drop will undoubtedly greatly narrow the gap between the extended-range version and the pure electric version, why don't consumers directly choose the pure electric model with longer battery life and higher configuration?
From this point of view, the old driver's statement that "extended-range cars need to think twice" really hits the nail on the head. The rapid development of semi-solid-state batteries, coupled with the increasingly complete supercharging network, has cleared the last hurdle for the development of pure electric vehicles.
On the other hand, the extended-range models have been losing in the price war, losing the aura of "civilianization" in the past, and gradually drifting away. Looking at the general trend of the industry, the advantages of the pure electric route have begun to emerge.
Of course, this is not a total rejection of the range extender technology route. For old car owners who have the habit of "fuel supply", or special groups such as sales and logistics practitioners who often travel long distances, extended-range models may still be a better choice.
However, from the perspective of the overall market trend, the combination of semi-solid state + supercharging has opened a new era for pure electric models. Therefore, for ordinary consumers, the decision to postpone the purchase of extended-range models is not a wise move.
No one wants their wallets to be given a cold shoulder when new energy vehicles are moving into a new era. As the saying goes, "the products of the transition period will be eliminated", for consumers who crave fashion and freshness, they may have to think twice.
The battle between pure electric vehicles and extended range technology has become overwhelming. The continuous improvement of battery energy density, the improvement of charging facilities, and the embarrassing situation of unsustainable range extension technology have left enough foreshadowing for this result.
Therefore, the old driver's remark that "the extended range car needs to think twice" has obtained an objective basis and rationality. In the face of the tide of industrial change, we should have a clear understanding and keep a cool head of bystanders. Only in this way can we seize the opportunities given by the times and not be carried by the torrent of the times.