Visitors take photos of a Mach PHREV transmission in Beijing on March 30. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Dongfeng Motor unveiled its plug-in hybrid range-extended Mach technology in Beijing on Saturday night, presenting the State-owned automaker’s efficient electric drive.
You Zheng, deputy general manager of Dongfeng Motor, said models equipped with the Mach PHREV combine the advantages of pure electric, range-extended and plug-in hybrid technologies, fulfilling all user expectations for new energy vehicles.
The technology features a hybrid engine with high thermal efficiency, a safe and durable battery and the i-Control intelligent electronic control system, which can learn a user’s driving habits and matches the optimal control strategy through intelligent road recognition.
The internal combustion engine in this system has achieved a thermal efficiency of more than 45 percent, with expectations to surpass 48 percent by 2026, said the carmaker.
The first model featuring Mach PHREV technology, the Dongfeng Aeolus L7, debuted at the event. It is the Aeolus brand’s first plug-in hybrid SUV model.
The Aeolus L7 has a maximum pure electric range of 205 kilometers and a comprehensive range of up to 1,500 km. Its energy consumption is as low as 3.8 liters per 100 km.
According to You, the automaker has succeeded in the R&D of key technologies in recent years. Its invention patent disclosures and authorizations have ranked first in the industry for two consecutive years.
Dongfeng will invest more than 6 billion yuan ($830 million) over three years for the R&D of technologies such as battery chassis, solid-state batteries, super-fast charging and advanced autonomous driving, You said.
The automaker plans to launch 30 new passenger NEVs and 14 commercial NEVs over three years.
In 2024, Dongfeng aims to sell 1 million NEVs through its independent brands and joint ventures.