NEW LEAPMOTOR SUV: CAN A RANGE EXTENDER WIN OVER ELECTRIC SCEPTICS?
"I'm all for electric cars, but will there be enough charge in the battery to get me where I want to go?" Range anxiety remains one of the biggest obstacles for drivers considering switching from a liquid-fuelled car to one with an electric motor.
Manufacturers are responding to this in various ways, by either installing larger batteries, increasing the charging capacity or bridging the gap between the old combustion engine world and the new electric world with the plug-in hybrid.
It seems Chinese manufacturers want to minimise the risks and side effects of electromobility with a comparatively new and still exotic approach and that means making a petrol range-extender palatable.
The Leapmotor C10 is now one of the first models in Europe with this technology, with prices starting from €37,600.
Roughly the same size as the Tesla Model Y, with a shape visibly inspired by the Porsche Cayenne, particularly at the rear, the 4.74 metre long SUV has been available in Europe as an all-electric model since last year.
However, the joint venture between Leapmotor and car giant Stellantis has led to the launch of the the REEV version of the C10. The initials stand for Range Extended Electric Vehicle
The pricing strategy does not make the choice any easier for customers since both models cost the same, right down to the last cent.
The only difference is that the pure electric version has a 69.9 kWh battery which is good for 425 standard kilometres with the REEV offering a 28.4 kWh battery and a 1.5-litre petrol engine with 65 kW/88 hp and a 50-litre tank as a bonus.
The C10 is basically a plug-in hybrid because it combines a combustion engine and an electric motor and can be charged with up to 6.5 kW of alternating current or 65 kW of direct current from a socket.
However, the petrol engine does not drive the wheels when the battery is empty, but only a generator. This works regardless of whether the energy comes from the petrol tank or the battery. This means the C10 therefore always drives electrically - for up to 974 kilometres before it need to be replenished or the driver fills up with petrol.
With a 158 kW/215 hp engine on the rear axle, the C10 feels like any regular electric car. It is lively when accelerating, rolls along the motorway quietly and brakes noticeably as soon as you lift the accelerator pedal. Even with a combustion engine on board, top speed is limited to 170 km/h.
Having said that, it does feel different. The generator runs at a constant speed which is hardly affected by the acceleration. The sound does not match driving behaviour and will probably irritate ICE adherents just as much as electric disciples.
You can get used to it though and the benefits come at the petrol station where you can tank up in three minutes instead of waiting 45 minutes for the batteries to juice up.
On the downside, the driver assistance systems on this car are very irritating indeed. The helpers buzz warnings all the time and are hard to silence.
The convoluted menus and often badly translated voice prompts will overwhelm first-time users while more experienced drivers will just try to switch them off. Unfortunately, doing so renders the C10 almost undrivable.
There is nothing to do but grin and bear it until the journey is over and you may find even find yourself longing for a longer charging interval so that you recover from all the noisy gadgets.
That is a pity since otherwise there is not much to criticise about the C10. It is comparatively spacious for its size, the equipment is generous, the choice of materials is elegant and both the upholstery and the suspension set-up are good
This is bridge technology which is designed to bring sceptics closer to the Generation E experience than a plug-in hybrid will do. Certainly with one of these you will never to worry less about charging your electric car.
However, the C10 is neither fish nor fowl. Electric enthusiasts will not like the constant engine sound and petrol-heads will be put off by the revs failing to match the driving situation.
And regardless of the smooth drive, the annoying assistance systems spoil the good overall impression. So in the end, Leapmotor is just another Chinese SUV that requires too many compromises for it to represent a breakthrough in this segment.