XPeng (XPEV) unveils P7+ sedan as ‘world’s first AI car,’ initial deliveries to begin in November
XPeng Motors has officially unveiled its new P7+ BEV sedan, the first of its lineup to ditch LiDAR sensors in favor of pure vision cameras, similar to Tesla. XPeng is hailing the P7+ as the “world’s first AI car,” which utilizes the technology across several features within the sedan.
The P7+ is a new AI-centric evolution of XPeng Motors’ ($XPEV) flagship sedan, the P7, which we got a chance to test drive back in 2022. That original model saw a refresh in its own right in February of 2023, as the BEV made its way over to new markets in Europe alongside the G9 SUV.
The incoming P7+ variant has been on Electrek’s radar since rumors began to swirl that the Chinese automaker was considering a model without LiDAR sensors and, instead, prioritized pure vision cameras, similar to Tesla’s self-driving technology.
Spy images from February 2024 showed a new camouflaged model being tested without the popular ADAS sensors, but it was not confirmed at the time which XPeng BEV that was. It was simply codenamed the “F57.”
This past July, XPeng Motors confirmed the BEV would be called the P7+ and would, in fact, operate without LiDAR. Details were light, but XPeng shared that the sedan would debut at over 5 meters (16.4 feet) long and come loaded with advanced technology, including pure vision cameras.
During an event held in Shenzen, China, earlier today, XPeng officially unveiled the P7+ and shared details of said technology, as well as when orders and initial deliveries are scheduled to begin.
XPeng P7+ to launch, begin deliveries in China in November
Throughout the live event, XPeng Motors posted consistent updates about the P7+ on its Weibo page, sharing many of the specs and advanced technologies it has been equipped with. Its makers describe the P7+ as a new “three-in-one species” that offers the posture of a coupe, the space of an SUV, and the comfort of an MPV, all complimented by luxury executive-level interiors.
The new all-electric sedan measures a length, width, and height of 5,056 mm, 1,937 mm, and 1,512 mm, respectively, with a wheelbase of 3,000 mm. That’s a bit larger than its P7i sibling in every direction. Customers will be able to choose from two different LFP battery packs offering capacities of 60.7 kWh and 76.3 kWh that translate to (CLTC) ranges of 620 km (385 miles) and 710 km (441 miles), respectively.
XPeng states that the P7+’s exterior was optimized for aerodynamics. It achieves a drag coefficient of Cd 0.206 and consumes as little as 11.6 kWh of power per 100 km (62 miles). During the live event, the automaker demonstrated that the P7+’s interior can hold 33 20-inch suitcases, hailing it as the largest cargo space (2,221 total liters) of any vehicle in its class under RMB 300,000 ($42,370).
In terms of pure vision, XPeng shared more details of the new approach to ADAS and self-driving, calling its technology “Eagle Eye.” The automaker relayed that its camera sensors collect visual information more accurately and clearly than traditional cameras and can scope out an area as large as 1.8 football fields. XPeng also stated that its Eagle Eye advanced cameras are limited by city or road conditions and have “door-to-door” and “parking space-to-parking space” intelligent driving capabilities.
XPeng said the P7+ will utilize AI across several of its core systems, including ADAS and smart driving, power usage, energy control, and thermal management. The automaker hasn’t shared official pricing for the sedan’s variants yet but mentioned the RMB 300,000 price point several times during the event.
We expect to see official pricing in November when XPeng plans to launch the P7+ in China, followed by initial deliveries shortly thereafter. Pre-sales will begin during the Paris Auto Show on October 14, 2024.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Wind energy powered 20% of all electricity consumed in Europe (19% in the EU) in 2024, and the EU has set a goal to grow this share to 34% by 2030 and more than 50% by 2050.
To stay on track, the EU needs to install 30 GW of new wind farms annually, but it only managed 13 GW in 2024 – 11.4 GW onshore and 1.4 GW offshore. This is what’s holding the EU back from achieving its wind growth goals.
Three big problems holding Europe’s wind power back
Europe’s wind power growth is stalling for three key reasons:
Permitting delays. Many governments haven’t implemented the EU’s new permitting rules, making it harder for projects to move forward.
Grid connection bottlenecks. Over 500 GW(!) of potential wind capacity is stuck in grid connection queues.
Slow electrification. Europe’s economy isn’t electrifying fast enough to drive demand for more renewable energy.
Brussels-based trade association WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson summed it up: “The EU must urgently tackle all three problems. More wind means cheaper power, which means increased competitiveness.”
Permitting: Germany sets the standard
Permitting remains a massive roadblock, despite new EU rules aimed at streamlining the process. In fact, the situation worsened in 2024 in many countries. The bright spot? Germany. By embracing the EU’s permitting rules — with measures like binding deadlines and treating wind energy as a public interest priority — Germany approved a record 15 GW of new onshore wind in 2024. That’s seven times more than five years ago.
If other governments follow Germany’s lead, Europe could unlock the full potential of wind energy and bolster energy security.
Grid connections: a growing crisis
Access to the electricity grid is now the biggest obstacle to deploying wind energy. And it’s not just about long queues — Europe’s grid infrastructure isn’t expanding fast enough to keep up with demand. A glaring example is Germany’s 900-megawatt (MW) Borkum Riffgrund 3 offshore wind farm. The turbines are ready to go, but the grid connection won’t be in place until 2026.
This issue isn’t isolated. Governments need to accelerate grid expansion if they’re serious about meeting renewable energy targets.
Electrification: falling behind
Wind energy’s growth is also tied to how quickly Europe electrifies its economy. Right now, electricity accounts for just 23% of the EU’s total energy consumption. That needs to jump to 61% by 2050 to align with climate goals. However, electrification efforts in key sectors like transportation, heating, and industry are moving too slowly.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has tasked Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen with crafting an Electrification Action Plan. That can’t come soon enough.
More wind farms awarded, but challenges persist
On a positive note, governments across Europe awarded a record 37 GW of new wind capacity (29 GW in the EU) in 2024. But without faster permitting, better grid connections, and increased electrification, these awards won’t translate into the clean energy-producing wind farms Europe desperately needs.
Investments and corporate interest
Investments in wind energy totaled €31 billion in 2024, financing 19 GW of new capacity. While onshore wind investments remained strong at €24 billion, offshore wind funding saw a dip. Final investment decisions for offshore projects remain challenging due to slow permitting and grid delays.
Corporate consumers continue to show strong interest in wind energy. Half of all electricity contracted under Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in 2024 was wind. Dedicated wind PPAs were 4 GW out of a total of 12 GW of renewable PPAs.
Read more: Renewables could meet almost half of global electricity demand by 2030 – IEA
If you live in an area that has frequent natural disaster events, and are interested in making your home more resilient to power outages, consider going solar and adding a battery storage system. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss the official unveiling of the new Tesla Model Y, Mazda 6e, Aptera solar car production-intent, and more.
The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.
As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.
After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:
We now have a Patreon if you want to help us avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some awesome gifts for our Patreons and more coming.
Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:
Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET):
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
The Chinese EV leader is launching a new flagship electric sedan. BYD’s new Han L EV leaked in China on Friday, revealing a potential Tesla Model S Plaid challenger.
What we know about the BYD Han L EV so far
We knew it was coming soon after BYD teased the Han L on social media a few days ago. Now, we are learning more about what to expect.
BYD’s new electric sedan appeared in China’s latest Ministry of Industry and Information Tech (MIIT) filing, a catalog of new vehicles that will soon be sold.
The filing revealed four versions, including two EV and two PHEV models. The Han L EV will be available in single- and dual-motor configurations. With a peak power of 580 kW (777 hp), the single-motor model packs more power than expected.
BYD’s dual-motor Han L gains an additional 230 kW (308 hp) front-mounted motor. As CnEVPost pointed out, the vehicle’s back has a “2.7S” badge, which suggests a 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) sprint time of just 2.7 seconds.
To put that into perspective, the Tesla Model S Plaid can accelerate from 0 to 100 km in 2.1 seconds. In China, the Model S Plaid starts at RBM 814,900, or over $110,000. Speaking of Tesla, the EV leader just unveiled its highly anticipated Model Y “Juniper” refresh in China on Thursday. It starts at RMB 263,500 ($36,000).
BYD already sells the Han EV in China, starting at around RMB 200,000. However, the single front motor, with a peak power of 180 kW, is much less potent than the “L” model. The Han EV can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds.
At 5,050 mm long, 1,960 mm wide, and 1,505 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,970 mm, BYD’s new Han L is roughly the size of the Model Y (4,970 mm long, 1,964 mm wide, 1,445 mm tall, wheelbase of 2,960 mm).
Other than that it will use a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pack from BYD’s FinDreams unit, no other battery specs were revealed. Check back soon for the full rundown.
Source: CnEVPost, China MIIT
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports9 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway