Not a head-turner at first glance, but the C10’s clean lines grow on you. Let’s not beat around the bush: South Africans are not going to switch to electric vehicles (EVs) in their masses until two things are sorted out: range anxiety and high purchase price. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are often touted as the perfect ‘bridge’ between EV and ICE, but they remain relatively expensive, and their EV range is often limited.
TheLeapmotor C10, a new Chinese offering marketed by Stellantis, is a ‘range extended electric vehicle’ (REEV) that aims to offer an alternative solution. Although it’s still rather expensive, with the ‘Style’ version priced at R759,900 and the ‘Design’ at R799,900, it does present an interesting alternative for those seeking a longer range than what a typical PHEV would offer. It’s not a new concept, given that one of SA’s first EV products, the BMW i3, was a REEV.
But this is a format that we feel will enjoy further refinement as the industry dives deeper into the electric era. Unlike a PHEV, whose wheels can be powered by both the electric and combustion motors, separately or simultaneously depending on the situation, a REEV is powered solely by an electric motor, while the internal combustion engine (ICE) acts purely as a generator. As the ICE motor only has one major role in life, it can be engineered for maximum efficiency.
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This is because it can operate in a narrow, optimised rev and load range rather than having to provide responsiveness and torque over a wide spectrum. Its battery size is typically bigger than a PHEV’s but much smaller than an EV’s, theoretically making it lighter and cheaper than the latter.
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