Li Auto's head of product line, Tang Jing, stated that the company does not plan to produce sedans with the EREV system. The reason is the features of the new engine-generator, developed for the L-series crossovers.
The new power unit is designated L3E15CA. This is a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a power of 115 kW (154 hp), created by Li Auto's own division in Suzhou.
According to the company, the new Range Extender 3.0 was specifically designed for crossovers. Engineers reduced its length and width, but increased its height. This layout is not suitable for sedans.
According to Tang Jing, installing the engine in a sedan will lead to a decrease in ground clearance and safety issues. The upper part of the engine will be too close to the hood, which will reduce the deformation zone and complicate compliance with pedestrian protection requirements.
At the same time, the new design allows increasing the space in the crossover interior, adding more than 20 mm in the front. Noise and vibration performance has also been improved.
The first model with this engine will be the Li Auto L9 Livis crossover. It will receive a 72.7 kWh battery and a range of up to 322 km in electric mode according to the WLTC cycle.
