China's Leapmotor wants to blaze a new trail in Australia with range-extender EV tech

Despite launching with a single battery-electric vehicle (BEV) so far, China’s Leapmotor is looking to reacquaint Australians with range-extender electric vehicle (REEV or EREV) technology in Australia this year.

Blurring the lines between an electric vehicle (EV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV), REEVs typically function as an EV but have a combustion engine that acts as a generator when the battery runs out of charge.

Leapmotor is far from the first to introduce REEV technology to Australia – the first was the Holden Volt which launched locally back in 2012, and the last was the BMW i3 REx which was axed in 2021.

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Speaking with CarExpert, however, Andy Hoang, head of Leapmotor Australia said the company is “absolutely” looking to pioneer range-extender powertrain technology locally.

“I think that it’s a new version of a hybrid,” said Mr Hoang.

“I think in the short term, customers will see it as a hybrid, because we’ve got petrol and electric.

“And then I think as we build more awareness of it, [people are] going to go, ‘oh, actually, that’s how it works’.

“Because I think if you talk to the early adopters of EV[s], people will understand it.”

The Leapmotor C10 REEV is a due to launch locally in the first half of 2025.

Unlike the battery-electric C10 which uses a 160kW/320Nm electric motor and 69.9kWh battery pack, the C10 REEV downsizes to a smaller 28.4kWh unit, which can be recharged by an onboard 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.

A 158kW electric motor features in the C10 REEV.

Drivers can choose whether to run in electric-only mode or have the petrol engine provide charge via an ‘Energy Mode’ selection.

Leapmotor claims 145km of electric-only driving on the European WLTP cycle, down from the 420km figure of EV versions. However, when the petrol engine and battery work together, it can achieve up to 950km of range.

Under the same lab test cycle, the C10 REEV has a claimed fuel consumption of just 0.4L/100km and emits only 10g/km of CO2.

The C10 REEV can be AC and DC charged. On a 65kW DC fast-charger, Leapmotor claims the C10 can “recover half of its electric range in just 18 minutes”.

Stellantis Australia hasn’t locked in pricing for the Leapmotor C10 REEV yet. The battery-electric C10 however currently starts at $45,888 before on-roads.

MORE: Everything Leapmotor C10