Smart and Sustainable Electric Mobility
Lotus delivered the first Eletre EVs with digital rearview mirrors to owners on July 21 at its plant in Wuhan, Hubei province in central China.
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The G6 will be the first new model built on SEPA 2.0, and XPeng will soon launch 10 new models based on the new platform with greater cost savings. | XPeng US XPeng HK
XPeng (NYSE: XPEV) has unveiled its next-generation vehicle technology architecture, which it hopes will help it stay relevant in an increasingly competitive market.
The electric vehicle (EV) maker unveiled the architecture, called SEPA (Smart Electric Platform Architecture) 2.0, at a launch event in Shanghai today, saying that the new SUV G6, which will be unveiled on the first day of the Shanghai auto show on April 18, will be the first new model to be built on SEPA 2.0.
The Shanghai auto show will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center from April 18-27, with media days from April 18-19, professional visitor days from April 20-21, and general public admission from April 22-27.
SEPA 2.0 brings more advanced architectural solutions to support XPeng's full-stack in-house development from autonomous driving software to vehicle engineering, the company said.
The architecture will shorten the R&D cycle of future models by 20 percent and optimize development efficiency significantly. Interchangeability and interoperability of common and modular components between new models will reach 80 percent, enabling XPeng to meet diverse customer needs at an optimized cost, it said.
SEPA 2.0 is adaptable and flexible for multiple vehicle platforms with wheelbases between 1,800 mm and 3,200 mm and can be expanded to support a wide range of vehicle types, including sedan, coupe, hatchback, wagon, SUV, MPV and pickup truck.
"We envision that this evolutionary intelligent architecture will lead smart EV technology development for the next three years. It will make rapid advancements in technology available for our customers as standard, with faster software upgrades, stunning cost savings and elevated product experience," said XPeng chairman and CEO, He Xiaopeng.
Mr. He believes that reaching 3 million units in annual sales is the foundation for an electric vehicle company to stay in the game, while cost control, efficient R&D, and high-end experience are necessary for survival and will be the basis for globalization efforts.
Over the past five years, XPeng has invested more than RMB 10 billion ($1.46 billion) in R&D on vehicle architecture, Mr. He said, adding that based on a better platform, XPeng will soon launch 10 new models with greater cost savings.
SEPA 2.0 will accelerate the inclusion of XPeng's smart technologies including XNGP Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), Xmart OS in-car operating system, and X-EEA electrical and electronic architecture, the company said.
With the SEPA 2.0 architecture, the overall R&D efficiency of XPeng's in-house developed full-scenario ADAS solution XNGP will be increased by 30 percent and the cost of ADAS software model adaptation will be reduced by 70 percent, according to Mr. He.
XNGP is the ultimate form of driver assistance, and all of XPeng's future models in the Chinese market will be equipped with it as standard, according to Mr. He.
Backed by its autonomous driving supercomputing center, XNGP will continue to evolve and upgrade its assisted driving skills with the goal of taking over less than once per 1,000 kilometers for highway scenarios by 2023 and less than once per 100 kilometers for urban scenarios by 2025.
Based on the SEPA 2.0 R&D platform, Xmart OS software adaptation cost will be reduced by 85 percent, voice software development cycle will be reduced by 50 percent, and voice assistant service cost will be reduced by 50 percent, according to XPeng.
Xmart OS leverages a multi-sensor software and hardware platform to enhance and transform control and driver-vehicle interaction. Powered by artificial intelligence, supercomputers and underlying models, Xmart OS can make intelligent decisions to optimize control of cabin functions, the company said.
XPeng's X-EEA electrical and electronic architecture allows for 50 percent optimization of overall vehicle development costs, a 30 percent reduction in software iteration cycles and a 300 percent increase in OTA update speed, it said.
The company's architecture-based solutions improve charging efficiency, which includes an 800-volt high-voltage silicon carbide (SiC) platform that allows batteries to be charged 50 percent faster than the previous generation.
XPeng's latest platform uses a standard 3C battery configuration with a battery that adds 130 kilometers of vehicle range in five minutes and can be charged faster at its S4 supercharger facility, adding 200 kilometers of range in five minutes, according to the company.
The company's in-house developed XPower 800-volt high-voltage oil-cooled flat-wire silicon carbide integrated powertrain system increases maximum powertrain efficiency to 97.5 percent and overall powertrain efficiency to 92 percent, it said.
The X-HP smart thermal management system provides an intelligent, systematic energy-saving solution that increases range by 15 percent in cold conditions. It also improves battery cooling performance by 100 percent, resulting in a 90 percent increase in charging power.
XPeng will use integrated aluminum die-casting technology on the SEPA 2.0 architecture to deliver more stable handling and better driving performance.
The integrated die-cast body gives 83 percent more torsional rigidity than a conventional body, while the body weight is 17 percent less than a conventional body, further improving range.
The architecture also includes CIB (Cell Integrated Body) technology, which allows the battery pack to be integrated into the body, not only increasing vertical space, but also improving battery safety, according to XPeng.
The CIB battery pack features an 80-ton side-impact resistant design and an IP68 water and dust resistant design that meets the highest safety standards in three major markets: China, North America and Europe, it said.
XPeng's chassis platform will be compatible with a wide range of suspension systems, providing superior mechanical quality and excellent handling performance, it said.
XPeng aims to have an intelligent manufacturing system in place by 2025, including the Zhaoqing plant, the Guangzhou base and several future projects, with all manufacturing facilities integrated with SEPA 2.0 through technology upgrades.
The first new model based on the SEPA 2.0, the XPeng G6 coupe SUV, will be unveiled at the Shanghai auto show on April 18, the company said. XPeng's previous announcement showed it would hold a launch event on April 18 from 9:40-10:00 am
XPeng did not reveal more information about the G6 today, although information about the specifications of the SEPA 2.0 platform suggests that the model will be based on the 800 V platform and will be more cost-efficient.
On March 17, XPeng management said during the company's Q4 earnings call that the G6, a new energy SUV with a price range of RMB 200,000-300,000, will be officially launched and delivered by the end of the second quarter.
XPeng's monthly sales target for the G6 is two to three times that of the P7, Mr. He said during that call.
The G6 will have a significantly improved range that will exceed expectations and will have much more interior space than similar offerings from competitors, he said previously.
In a research note sent to investors on March 22, Deutsche Bank analyst Edison Yu's team said the upcoming G6 will be the swing factor that the model will need to succeed in order to make XPeng truly relevant in the market again.
XPeng will likely price the G6 similarly to the Tesla Model Y, hoping to attract consumers with its sleeker design and updated interior, the team said.
With increased G6 production, XPeng management believes total monthly deliveries could reach 15,000 units at some point in the third quarter, the team noted.
"This seems achievable and we model XPeng reaching this level in Sep," Yu's team previously wrote.
($1 = RMB 6.8714)
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BYD officially unveiled its intelligent body control system called DiSus, a technological breakthrough that follows its DM Super Hybrid technology, e-Platform 3.0, Blade Battery and e⁴ platform.
The video above, recorded by CnEVPost at BYD's technology launch event today, showcases the latest innovation from the Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) giant.
BYD officially unveiled its intelligent body control system, called DiSus, at its Shenzhen global headquarters on April 10, another technological breakthrough following its DM Super Hybrid technology, e-Platform 3.0, Blade Battery and e⁴ platform.
The company had previously warmed up for the technology, which is called 云辇 in Chinese, Yunnian in pinyin, literally meaning the vehicle in which the emperor rides.
Similar to how BYD shocked the audience by having the U8 SUV enter in crabwalk mode when it unveiled the e⁴ platform at the Yangwang brand's launch on January 5, it earned the same excitement by having the U9 perform a body dance at today's launch.
The BYD DiSus system is the first in-house developed intelligent body control system introduced by a Chinese auto company, marking a breakthrough from zero to one, said Wang Chuanfu, chairman and president of the NEV maker.
The body control system ensures that the vehicle is agile and effectively compatible in most driving scenarios, minimizing the risk of vehicle rollover and reducing the displacement of occupants during high-speed cornering, full-throttle acceleration, or emergency braking, Wang said.
BYD DiSus system can protect the vehicle from scratches and damage under various road conditions, including snow, mud and water.
BYD's breakthrough in this technology has been made possible by the advantages in electrification and intelligence of NEVs, according to Wang.
Electrification has brought about changes in vehicle architecture, and vehicle control has shifted from mechanical control to electrical signal control, with dramatic increases in precision and efficiency, Wang explained.
At the same time, NEVs are equipped with a variety of sensing elements and a deep intelligent fusion, making the perception dimension more diversified, he said.
Unlike solutions that focus on a single technology or a single component enhancement, BYD offers a systematic solution for vertical motion control, he said.
The system provides collaborative control in body dynamics, laying the foundation for future development of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), he said.
The BYD DiSus system is divided into three branches, including the Intelligent Damping Body Control System (DiSus-C), the Intelligent Air Body Control System (DiSus-A), and the Intelligent Hydraulic Body Control System (DiSus-P).
DiSus-C adjusts the damping by controlling the damper solenoid valve, and the system brings significant improvement in driving comfort compared to traditional passive suspension.
The system can receive thousands of signal inputs per second, and the DiSus intelligent computing center has processing times as fast as microseconds, allowing for rapid adjustment of damper damping, according to BYD.
DiSus-A, on the other hand, is somewhat similar to the air suspension currently used in many high-end vehicles, with a suspension adjustment of up to 150 mm.
The branch offers more than a dozen function modes, including adjusting with speed, welcome mode, convenient access mode, and height safety lock mode. Users can also personalize the settings for a richer experience.
DiSus-P is the most advanced of these three branches, and BYD said it is the world's first intelligent hydraulic body control system.
The system can control the oil intake of the damper, damping adjustment valve and stiffness adjustment valve to achieve dynamic adjustment of body control.
The DiSus-P suspension has an adjustable travel of up to 200 mm, and it can lift all four wheels simultaneously as well as independently for a single wheel.
In daily driving, DiSus-P is at the first level of stiffness to provide a comfortable ride.
When the vehicle is in a sharp acceleration and deceleration, high-speed cornering and other intense driving conditions, DiSus-P can provide an instantaneous 200 percent increase in stiffness to allow the vehicle to achieve better handling performance.
When the vehicle encounters a fall and other emergencies in high-intensity off-road, DiSus-P can trigger the third-stage stiffness in an emergency, effectively reducing the impact load by 50 percent, according to BYD.
BYD has conducted more than 30 months and over 10 million kilometers of endurance verification for the DiSus system, covering temperature environments from -40°C to 85°C, according to the company.
DiSus-P will be first equipped on Yangwang U8 and DiSus-A will be equipped on Denza N7.
Some BYD Han, BYD Tang and Denza models with hardware conditions will be able to equip DiSus-C through Over-the-Air (OTA) upgrades.
In addition, several models under BYD's new brand focused on professional and personalized identities, which will be launched this summer, will also use the DiSus system, according to the company.
At the end of today's launch event, BYD offered an Easter egg, the dancing of the body of the Yangwang U9 supercar shown in the video at the beginning of this post.
The Yangwang U9 is equipped with a branch called DiSus-X that demonstrates its ability to dance, jump and drive even with only three wheels.
The DiSus system is the latest in BYD's vast technology reserve to be made public, and Wang had previously mentioned that BYD's technology reserve is like a fish pond, ready to fish one up when needed.
BYD is already the world's largest manufacturer of NEVs, having sold 1,863,494 NEVs in 2022, up 208.64 percent year-on-year.
The company aims to sell at least 3 million vehicles in 2023 and become the largest automaker in China by the end of the year.
Its latest technology, announced today, is expected to increase the appeal of models equipped with it and thus help the company achieve its goals.
BYD officially launches Yangwang brand, debuts hardcore off-road SUV U8 and supercar U9
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BYD previously hinted that the technology is expected to give the vehicle an emperor's seat-like feel. | BYDDY.US | BYD HK
BYD will unveil a new technology next month, the latest following the e⁴ technology it unveiled in early January.
The new energy vehicle (NEV) giant will unveil a system called "Yunnian" (云辇) at an event on April 10 from 19:00 to 20:30 local time at its global headquarters in Shenzhen.
BYD has previously unveiled key technologies including the DM hybrid system, e-Platform, blade battery, CTB technology and e⁴, while "Yunnian" will be the company's latest in-house developed technology achievement, according to an invitation today.
BYD did not provide an introduction to the "Yunnian" system, saying only that it will be a key technology for the intelligent integration of NEVs in the vertical direction.
On January 4, BYD applied for the trademark "Yunnian" in China.
On March 23, BYD said on Weibo that the Yunnian system will be unveiled soon, and hinted that the technology is expected to make the vehicle stable on rough roads.
The Chinese character "辇" is not common and usually refers to the vehicle in which the emperor rode. The Chinese character "云" means cloud.
The technology is expected to make the vehicle feel like an emperor's vehicle, BYD hinted in a poster on March 23.
The technology will be the second major technology announced by BYD so far this year.
On January 3, BYD officially launched the premium Yangwang brand at its Shenzhen headquarters, where it highlighted the technology platform known as e⁴.
e⁴ is China's first mass-produced quad-motor independent drive technology platform, capable of achieving precise control of the vehicle's four-wheel dynamics with its four-motor independent vector control technology, BYD said at the time.
BYD opened the Yangwang brand launch event by having an SUV enter in crabwalk mode to show off this technology.
e⁴ is a power system with quad-motor independent drive as the core, a comprehensive reconstruction of the characteristics of NEVs in terms of perception, decision-making, and execution, overturning the ability system of the previous fuel car power system, BYD said.
(BYD's poster released on March 23 to warm up for the Yunnian system hints at the key features.)
BYD expects its Q1 NEV sales to grow over 80% YoY, aims to be largest automaker in China by year-end
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NIO's third-generation battery swap stations will be compatible with ALPS models, an executive said.
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Oppo and Vivo today announced that several of their smartphone models have completed adaptation to the ET5, ET7, ES7 and EC7 and can be used as car keys.
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City NOA capabilities that enable end-to-end training without relying on high-precision maps will be available by the end of 2023 and will be an important starting point for Software 2.0's transformation of the physical world, said Li Auto's CEO.
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