The race for extended-range track speed is heating up! The "final showdown" of power battery technology in the second half of the game.

The extended-range hybrid vehicle, which was once labeled as "outdated technology", is now becoming one of the key focus areas for many domestic and foreign auto manufacturers.

According to the data from the China Passenger Car Association, the retail volume of extended-range vehicles will reach 1.235 million units in 2025. Among them, domestic brands such as Ideal, Yuanjie, and Zolac have performed exceptionally well.

In this context, joint venture brand automakers have also followed suit with their own layouts. On March 16th, the上汽大众ID. ERA 9X flagship SUV was unveiled. This model is the first range-extending vehicle launched by Volkswagen in China. As of now， many of the Chinese joint venture automakers such as Volkswagen， Buick， Mazda， Ford， Nissan， Hyundai, and Toyota have all launched new range-extending models or are planning such routes. It is expected that by 2026-2027， these automakers will concentrate on launching their new range-extending models.

Meanwhile, the domestic brand camp is also continuously intensifying its efforts. The range-extended vehicle market has entered a highly competitive stage. And the performance of the battery power system has become one of the key factors determining the sales success of range-extended vehicles.

01

Large-capacity batteries have become the industry standard, and a diversified supporting structure has been formed.

With an increasing number of range-extended vehicle owners preferring pure electric driving, "large-capacity batteries + long pure electric range" has become one of the main demands in the range-extended vehicle market, driving the capacity of range-extended batteries to continue to rise.

In the market, battery packs of 60 kWh and above have become the standard configuration for mid-to-high-end extended-range vehicles, while 80 kWh has become the new competitive benchmark.

According to the data, the ID. ERA 9X model is equipped with a 65.2 kWh large-capacity battery pack (lithium-ion). Its CLTC pure electric range exceeds 400 km, matching the mainstream indicators of current industry range-extended "large batteries". In addition, car manufacturers such as Buick Zhijing L7 and Dongfeng Nissan NX8 are also developing large-capacity battery solutions to meet the needs of Chinese users.

In terms of domestic brand auto manufacturers, due to their earlier establishment of operations, they have already achieved the breakthrough in exceeding the current mainstream power capacity limit of the extended-range battery packs.

Public data shows that the Zero Run D19 extended-range version is equipped with an 80.3kWh battery pack, enabling a 500km pure electric range, leading among other current extended-range models in terms of battery capacity. The new version of the Yuanai M9 extended-range model offers two large-capacity battery packs: 60.014kWh and 75.048kWh. In 2026, BYD, Xiaomi, and Li Auto will also bring new "large-capacity extended-range" models to the market, which may significantly raise the threshold for battery capacity in this field.

Currently, in the supply chain of the battery for extended-range vehicles, a diversified supporting pattern has been established. According to the data from the Battery Application Association, the battery suppliers for the ID. ERA 9X model include CATL (lithium-ion) and Zhenglì Xīnliàng (lithium iron phosphate).

Against the backdrop of the rapid expansion of the extended-range vehicle market, the leading domestic battery enterprises have all launched their own dedicated extended-range hybrid battery products. They are focusing on ultra-fast charging, long range, large capacity, and scenario-specific adaptation, and are fully supporting the mainstream car manufacturers in launching new extended-range vehicle models.

Nidea Times has launched the Xiaoyao Super Hybrid Battery, which has been widely adopted in many popular extended-range vehicles such as the Yifan M9.

Yiwei Lithium Energy has provided battery power solutions for all models of Xiaoqiang Auto, including G3, P5, P7, G9, X9, P7+, and New P7. The company also stated that they will continue to deepen their strategic cooperation in areas such as extended-range batteries.

Hive Energy has launched the Fortress 2.0 hybrid battery, which offers a 6C fast charging solution with a capacity of 80 kWh. This not only enhances the pure electric driving range but also enables efficient charging, thereby improving the overall driving experience of hybrid vehicles.

Xinhuaanda Flash Charge Battery Series 4.0 has launched 4C-8C fast charging square shell hybrid batteries and cylindrical hybrid batteries. The former focuses on the mid-to-high-end household market and achieves a pure electric range of 200-400km; the latter targets A00-A class entry-level vehicles and supports 5-6C fast charging.

Ruopulan Junian Zhongding® enhanced mixed 4C ultra-fast charging cell, with its super thermal management technology capable of operating in a wide temperature range of -40℃ to 60℃, achieves an average charging speed of 4C and a peak charging speed of 6C, thus balancing high energy density and high safety performance, and effectively addressing the pain points of vehicle use in cold regions, and meeting the needs of various scenarios.

It can be seen that the leading products of the battery enterprises have gathered together, and a complete supply chain ecosystem for extended-range batteries has been established.

02

Technological innovation focuses on addressing the pain points in specific scenarios and resolves the market concerns of extended-range vehicles.

From the perspective of technological innovation, the upgrade of range-extended power batteries is not merely about increasing the battery capacity. Instead, it focuses on addressing three core pain points: power stability, fast charging safety, and extended cycle life. By optimizing battery materials and structures, as well as achieving deep collaboration between the battery pack, the range-extended engine, and the electronic control system, the overall user experience of range-extended vehicles is improved and enhanced.

In terms of the chemical system of power batteries, currently, lithium-ion batteries with a mix of lithium cobalt and lithium nickel, as well as lithium iron phosphate batteries, are developing concurrently in the field of extended-range vehicles. Among them, high-nickel lithium-ion batteries are mainly focused on long-range capabilities, while lithium iron phosphate batteries emphasize cost-effectiveness and can be adapted to the market positioning of different vehicle models.

In terms of battery performance, as high-capacity batteries have become a new trend for extended-range vehicles, fast charging and safety have become the core competitive points for battery manufacturers. Each company's technological advancements are directly aimed at addressing issues such as insufficient charging speed for vehicle owners.

The dual upgrades of high power and ultra-fast charging not only eliminate the anxiety of pure electric commuting for extended-range vehicle users, but also promote extended-range vehicles to become another preferred option for family cars. The impression of the "transition technology" gradually fades away.

Looking at the development history of the extended-range vehicle market, both domestic brands and foreign joint-venture companies have entered the market. From small-capacity auxiliary power to large-capacity power supply, the extended-range vehicle sector is undergoing a transformation from the periphery to the mainstream.

This round of competition has already transcended the simplistic comparison of vehicle parameters and has evolved into a comprehensive contest involving the product strength of automakers, battery innovation technologies, and cost control. In the future, as the threshold for large battery capacity increases and ultra-fast charging technology becomes more widespread, the pure electric experience of extended-range vehicles will gradually approach that of pure electric vehicles, and the market size is expected to continue to rise.

For battery manufacturers, those that focus on scenario-based innovation, balance battery range and safety, and strictly control supply chain costs are expected to gain an advantage in the diversified supply chain landscape. For automakers, seizing the opportunity of battery technology innovation and improving the coordination performance of the entire vehicle will also help them establish a firm foothold in the fiercely competitive range extension market and promote range extension technology to become a unique and competitive travel solution in the new energy household market.