Chery Fulwin T10 PHEV sets range record – 2,100+ kms

Ever since Toyota introduced its Prius in the late 1990s as the first mass-produced car with a hybrid powertrain – consisting of an electric motor working with a combustion engine – the race has been on to extend the range of electrified vehicles.

This pursuit has gained much emphasis in the past 10 years with the growing focus on fully electric vehicles. Constantly improving battery technology as well as other EV technologies have kept pushing the limits that an EV can go on a fully charged battery pack.

While fully electric vehicles are entirely dependent on their battery packs for range, the other categories of electrified vehicles with hybrid electric powertrains have the advantage – and alternative – of being able to also be powered by the engine. These vehicles have also seen increasing range as technologies have advanced.

A new world record
Recently, a new world record was set by Chery’s new plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), the Fulwin T10 SUV. This is the latest model from Chery which was revealed in March this year and goes on sale in China this month.

The world record set on a journey from Shangri-La in northwestern Yunnan province to Zhuhai in southern Guangdong province near Macau. Over 3 days, the Fulwin T10 covered more than 2,100 kms and this is the longest distance driven by a PHEV SUV with a full tank of fuel and fully-charged battery pack with no recharging along the way.

The new record, which beat the original one by 300 kms, was verified and accepted by the Guinness World Records organisation.

The Fulwin T10
The Fulwin T10, a larger model than the Tiggo 8 PRO with 2-row and 3-row seating, uses a plug-in hybrid powertrain from the automaker’s Kunpeng family.

The Super Hybrid C-DM powertrain consists of a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine and one or two electric motors (depending on the drivetrain).

The engine’s output alone is 154 bhp/220 Nm and when both electric motors (in the AWD version) are working as well, total system output is up to 455 kW/610 bhp ad 960 Nm. The AWD Fulwin T10 is said to have a 0 – 100 km/h time of 4.9 seconds and can reach a top speed of 240 km/h.

The NCM battery pack comes from CATL, the leading battery manufacturer in the world. It has a capacity of 34.46 kWh with a density of 150 Wh/kg. It can provide enough electricity to power the motors and without the engine for up to 210 kms.

When recharging is needed, the time required can be 18 minutes to recharge from 30% to 80% if a charging station with 71 kW of DC supply is used. The owner can also use AC supply where available.

Fulwin for China, Tiggo for overseas
While the Fulwin range is intended for the Chinese market, models in Chery’s other ranges also share similar technical features. For example, the Fulwin T9 and Tiggo 9 are similar models and the latter is sold overseas.

According to Chery Corp Malaysia’s Executive Vice-President Leo Chen, the company is looking at additional models to offer besides the Tiggo 7 PRO and 8 PRO and OMODA 5/OMODA E5. These include PHEV models so a Tiggo version of the Fulwin T9 could also be in Malaysia in future.

From his own experience driving up to 6 hours to his hometown in China on festive holidays, Mr. Chen told MOTAAUTO.COM that he appreciates hybrid electric technology. Even though there are at least 2 million charging stations throughout the huge country, being able to also refuel at a petrol station is reassuring on such long journeys.

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