Leapmotor Relies on Range Extenders from ZF

<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/ueditor/php/upload/image/20260107/1767772783601024.png" title="1767772783601024.png" alt="1.png"/></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">ZF has won its first customer order for its advanced eRE+ range extender technology: Chinese automaker Leapmotor will offer a version of its premium SUV D19 with a range extender from ZF starting in 2026. In standard range extender operation, i.e., generator mode, a combustion engine drives the electric motor, charges the high-voltage battery, and thus extends its range. The eRE+ technology also offers switchable all-wheel drive via the front axle and, with a drive power of up to 200 kW, provides an additional boost for overtaking maneuvers. &quot;Range extenders are currently in increasing demand, especially in the Chinese and North American automotive markets,&quot; explains Sebastian Schmitt, head of ZF&#39;s Electrified Drive Technologies division. While REEVs (range-extended electric vehicles) are considered a variant of so-called &quot;new energy vehicles&quot; in the Far East, in which a smaller battery can be charged by a combustion engine while driving, they are also an increasingly popular option in the USA for battery-powered vehicles that are independent of the charging infrastructure. &quot;We responded to this demand in good time with a flexible range of range extender technology and local production capacities. This strategy has borne fruit and led to our new order for Leapmotor,&quot; says Timo Meisel, Senior Vice President of Electrified Powertrain Technology Division, Asia Pacific.</span></p>