Li Auto: congratulations to Volkswagen on producing “outdated” range-extender technology
“Congratulations to Volkswagen for successfully mass-producing a technology that is “outdated, very environmentally unfriendly, and had little development potential” in just 6 years!”
This was Li Auto social media director’s reaction towards Volkswagen’s milestone of its first EA211 “golden range extender” rolling off the production line on March 2nd in China. This technology will first onboard the Volkswagen ID. Era 9X SUV, Volkswagen’s first flagship EREV SUV in China that is expected to start pre-sale in March.
According to reports, since its launch in 2011, the EA211 engine series has accumulated over 20 million units installed in the Chinese market. The range extender developed this time is based on the EA211 1.5T EVO II turbocharged engine technology, employing a variable geometry turbocharger (VTG) to adjust airflow and improve power generation efficiency, as well as a deep Miller cycle and 350 bar fuel pressure to reduce emissions.
Shortly after, the Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at SAIC-Volkswagen, responded with “Thank you for the efforts of all Chinese automotive professionals. Together, we will contribute to the progress of the industry.”
This friction between Li Auto and Volkswagen started back in September 2020 when Volkswagen China CEO Stephan Wöllenstein stated that EREV technology that generate electricity from gasoline is very environmentally unfriendly. Meanwhile, Wiedmann, head of Volkswagen China’s R&D department, said that EREVs are already an outdated technology with limited development potential.
Li Auto refuted these views with “In reality, a direct comparison between the products reveals the superiority of the Li One. Since Volkswagen doesn’t have a PHEV model in the same class as the Li One, we shouldn’t use the Li One to undermine Volkswagen’s gasoline-powered vehicles. The Audi Q7 e-tron and Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid are roughly in the same class, so how do these two top-tier PHEVs from the Volkswagen lineup actually perform? We welcome media to compare their fuel consumption and driving experience with the Li One.”
Then on December 2021, Li Xiang, CEO of Li Auto, further refuted Volkswagen’s take on EREV technology by sharing that the monthly sales of the Li One exceeded the combined sales of five Volkswagen SUVs.
Source: Li Auto’s social media director Weibo account, SAIC-Volkswagen
