XPeng and Huawei join hands again, this time focusing on range extension

Author | Wang Xiaojun

Editor | Chai Xuchen

The ceiling of traditional range extension technology has been reached, and breaking through this ceiling are two companies that once competed in the field of intelligence.

On December 2nd, XPeng and Huawei announced the debut of the XPeng X9 Super Range Extender featuring Huawei's DriveONE high-voltage oil-cooled generator. This marks another deep collaboration following the joint release of in-car AR-HUD technology by both parties in June this year. Unlike a typical supplier procurement relationship, this time XPeng and Huawei adopted a "joint R&D" model.

Last month, XPeng's first super range extender model, the XPeng X9 Range Extender version, was officially launched. At that time, XPeng Motors Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng introduced a series of excellent performances of the X9 Range Extender, but did not reveal much about the partners.

In the new energy vehicle industry, range extension has been criticized as a "transitional technology," with pain points such as high noise, rapid power loss at high speeds, and significant space occupation. Transitioning from pure electric to a dual-energy route of "pure electric + range extension," XPeng is clearly unwilling to be just a traditional range extender model but aims to step into the "next generation of range extension."

At that time, XPeng found that there was no ready-made generator on the market that could simultaneously meet the stringent technical requirements for high-voltage platforms, ultra-high integration, extreme efficiency, and silent operation.

Looking at the market, among the "various sectors" under Hongmeng Zhixing, there are many range extender models, and many have received significant recognition, indicating their technological accumulation in range extension. Huawei's DriveONE is also Huawei's intelligent electric drive system solution developed for the new energy vehicle field, primarily providing efficient power domain technical support for pure electric and range-extended models.

Against this backdrop, the XPeng X9 Super Range Extender debuted the DriveONE full-stack high-integration high-voltage oil-cooled generator, which serves as the "heart" of the next generation of range extension. Its technical indicators directly meet the industry's most stringent standards, boasting a continuous power density of 1.88kW/kg, exceeding industry leaders by over 40%; in terms of power generation efficiency, it achieves a working condition power generation efficiency of no less than 92%.

These key indicators support the excellent performance of the XPeng X9 Super Range Extender, achieving a comprehensive range of up to 1602 kilometers, making it the longest range among large seven-seat models globally.

In terms of power supply capability and driving experience, the Huawei DriveONE full-stack high-integration high-voltage oil-cooled generator can provide a continuous power generation capacity of 75kW, becoming the "strong heart" of the system. Coupled with XPeng's self-developed 800V mixed silicon carbide coaxial electric drive with a comprehensive efficiency of up to 93.5%, it can achieve 150 km/h cruising without power loss.

In terms of NVH, to address the noise and vibration interference of the range extender on ride quality, XPeng developed an active cylinder stop integration matching technology, combined with Huawei's GCU control strategy for joint tuning. Through three months, over ten rounds of joint matching tuning, and optimization of control strategies, the total vibration value during the start-stop of the range extender was reduced by 60% The cooperation model between XPeng and Huawei may become a new trend in the industry, marking a shift in the smart electric vehicle supply chain from a "buy-sell relationship" to a "symbiotic relationship." In this new cooperation model, technology sharing becomes possible, even in competitive fields.

In the past, automakers emphasized "full-stack self-research," which often led to high costs and slow technological iteration. However, open cooperation can achieve optimal resource allocation, ultimately allowing consumers to obtain better products at more reasonable prices, while also enabling automakers to gain more competitiveness in changing circumstances.

After the launch of the XPeng X9 Super Range Extender, it broke the historical daily order record for the XPeng X9 within one hour, with orders from northern regions accounting for more than half and the Ultra version accounting for 79%. This indicates that its first battle in range extension has been successful and signifies that XPeng's transformation from a "pure electric focus" to a "dual-energy vehicle" strategy has begun to show results.

The X9 is just the beginning. At the earnings conference, He Xiaopeng revealed that XPeng will have seven range extender models next year. Among them, three super range extender models will be launched in the first quarter of 2026.

Today's joint research and strong partnerships will be key to XPeng's subsequent range extender models gaining recognition. In the context of global competition, self-research and open cooperation are no longer contradictory; a strong alliance heading towards a larger market and a brighter future is the common choice