Car 2 Life

Li Auto will let two technology lines develop in parallel, including optimizing the range extender for greater efficiency and making pure electric vehicle technology better, its CEO said last month.  Li Auto US | Li Auto HK

(Image credit: Li Auto)

Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI) is making the transition to pure electric vehicles, and that day may come sooner than many expected.

On April 18, the first day of the Shanghai auto show, Li Auto's all-electric solution will be officially unveiled with the launch of a "dual-energy strategy," the new energy vehicle (NEV) maker announced on its social media platforms late last night.

The upcoming biennial Shanghai auto show will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center from April 18-27, with press days from April 18-19 and professional visitor days from April 20-21, while the general public can enter from April 22-27.

Li Auto did not provide any additional information on its all-electric solution, saying only that those interested can visit its booth #6A04 in Hall 6.1 during the Shanghai auto show to learn more.

"We'll be waiting for you at the Shanghai auto show from April 18-April 27, 2023," Li Auto said.

Here's a map of its booth location at the Shanghai auto show, as announced by Li Auto.

Li Auto's current vehicles on sale -- Li L7, Li L8 and Li L9 -- are all extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) with an electric range of around 200 kilometers and can be refueled.

In terms of product form, SUVs with extended-range technology are a more appropriate choice, and Li Auto's future pure electric models will bring products that are completely different from any other form currently on the market and will not impact existing products, Li Xiang, founder, chairman and CEO of Li Auto, said on Weibo last June.

For pure electric models, Li Auto will launch a product similar to the L series to meet demand in the RMB 200,000 ($2,9100) - $500,000 price range, the company's management said in a call with analysts on February 27 after announcing its fourth-quarter earnings.

Infrastructure is critical for future all-electric models, and users will need a charging experience close to that of a fuel car. Li Auto will use 800 V technology and has built its own silicon carbide module factory, its management said.

Real-world measurements show that Li Auto's products can save about 15 percent of battery capacity compared to mainstream 400 V, IGBT module products, resulting in significant cost reductions, according to the call.

Li Auto will allow two technology lines to develop in parallel, including optimizing the range extender for higher efficiency and making pure electric vehicle technology better, Li said in a March 2 media communication.

Early last month, one of Li Auto's under-construction 800 V charging stations was seen at a highway service area in China, sparking widespread discussion in the Chinese community.

On March 10, 36kr cited sources familiar with the matter as saying that Li Auto's infrastructure build-out will see an "NIO pace" and that the company has set a goal of building about 300 supercharging stations within the year, with about 10 already deployed in highway service areas.

The move is in preparation for the launch of Li Auto's first all-electric model, which will be an all-electric MPV expected to be released by the end of 2023, and ultra-fast charging will be one of the highlights of the vehicle, according to the report.

($1 = RMB 6.8758)

Li Auto to build charging stations at 'NIO pace', report says

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