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As promised, XPeng Motors followed yesterday’s annual Tech Day event with the launch of its next all-electric model, the P7+. The sleek sedan arrives priced below previous pre-order numbers and is loaded with AI-centric technology while providing multiple battery chemistries to offer varying ranges.

Today’s launch of the P7+ was expected, as Chinese automaker XPeng Motors ($XPEV) has been promising it for over a month. The company unveiled the new BEV, which arrives as an AI-centric evolution of XPeng’s flagship sedan, the P7, in October.

The new model is noteworthy because it is the first XPeng model to abandon LiDAR sensors in favor of pure vision cameras in a new advanced system we now know as “Hawkeye Vision” (as an Iowa alum, I love this).

Four days after the unveiling, XPeng debuted the P7+ at the Paris Motor Show, kicking off pre-sales in China with initial pricing starting at RMB 209,800 ($29,610). At the time, XPeng Motors shared it would officially launch the new P7+ on November 7, 2024.

Here we are, and XPeng has made good on that promise, divulging some juicy new details, including interior shots, range estimates, and official pricing, which is lower than initially advertised.

XPeng launches P7+ below pre-order prices

Earlier today, in Guangzhou, China, XPeng held a launch event for the new P7+ AI smart hatchback. This was followed by updates to its Weibo page and a press release featuring the images above and below.

The new BEV has officially launched with much of the technology we previously covered, including the automaker’s new “cutting-edge AI architecture. Company founder and chairman He Xiaopeng spoke:

In traditional cars, being premium has often been defined by design and features, but in the era of AI-defined vehicles, true premium quality is inseparable from intelligent technology.

XPeng Motors believes it has achieved this vision with the P7+ and describes it as the first vehicle to incorporate large AI models into smart driving and cockpit functions. That starts with the vehicle’s ADAS, equipped with XPeng’s in-house XOS 5.4 software platform and the aforementioned AI Hawkeye Visual Solution.

The automaker shared that the former can enhance human-like interactions fourfold, with a 53% increase in lane-change success and a 155% improvement in detour handling during autonomous driving sessions.

The P7+’s cockpit (seen below) features XPeng’s proprietary X-GPT model, powered by a Qualcomm 8295P chip that delivers 50% better performance. The system enables drivers to interact with intelligent, natural voice interactions with in-depth comprehension, offering several functions that can be activated by a simple voice command.

The interior features a 15.6-inch central control screen on the dash, a 10.25-inch digital instrument display for the driver, and an 8-inch rear entertainment screen with three-screen connectivity throughout.

And now, for the moment, you’ve all been waiting for – specs and pricing (and so have we). Per XPeng, the new P7+ has launched with two standard variants and one limited edition premium model, of which only 500 units will be sold.

The entry-level variant features a 60.7 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack with cells from Eve Energy, offering a (CLTC) range of 602 km (374 miles). However, XPeng said that the initial range could be boosted to 615 km (382 miles) after an OTA system update, which will be available next month.

The other two variants use the same chemistry but with a larger 76.3 kWh pack that offers CLTC ranges of 710 km (441 miles) and 685 km (426 miles), respectively. Following a software update next month, those variants should also see a slight range increase.

XPeng Motors is touting the LFP battery packs in the P7+ as the “world’s thinnest” (109 mm), enabling more passenger headroom (973 mm) in the hatchback, a vehicle design that is often tight on interior space. Speaking of space, XPeng made a point to showcase the cargo capacity of the P7+, which is 725 liters with the rear seats folded down, capable of hauling 33 carry-on suitcases. There is also a frunk (see image above) that adds additional space for stowage.

As for pricing, XPeng Motors’ MSRP of the P7+ is lower than initially promised. It will start at RMB 186,800 ($26,150), RMB 23,000 ($3,221) lower than the pre-order price shared last month.

The standard variant with the larger pack starts at RMB 198,800 ($27,840), while the limited edition model is priced at RMB 218,800 ($30,640). Deliveries are expected to begin in China later this month.

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U.S. crude oil falls below $60 a barrel to lowest since 2021 on tariff-fueled recession fears

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U.S. crude oil falls below  a barrel to lowest since 2021 on tariff-fueled recession fears

A view shows disused oil pump jacks at the Airankol oil field operated by Caspiy Neft in the Atyrau Region, Kazakhstan April 2, 2025. 

Pavel Mikheyev | Reuters

U.S. oil prices dropped below $60 a barrel on Sunday on fears President Donald Trump’s global tariffs would push the U.S., and maybe the world, into a recession.

Futures tied to U.S. West Texas intermediate crude fell more than 3% to $59.74 on Sunday night. The move comes after back-to-back 6% declines last week. WTI is now at the lowest since April 2021.

Worries are mounting that tariffs could lead to higher prices for businesses, which could lead to a slowdown in economic activity that would ultimately hurt demand for oil.

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Oil futures, 5 years

The tariffs, which are set to take effect this week, “would likely push the U.S. and possibly global economy into recession this year,” according to JPMorgan. The firm on Thursday raised its odds of a recession this year to 60% following the tariff rollout, up from 40%.

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What EV sales slump? Illinois’ EV sales outpace the nation by 4:1

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What EV sales slump? Illinois' EV sales outpace the nation by 4:1

Fueled by incentives from the Illinois EPA and the state’s largest utility company, new EV registrations nearly quadrupled the 12% first-quarter increase in EV registrations nationally – and there are no signs the state is slowing down.

Despite the dramatic slowdown of Tesla’s US deliveries, sales of electric vehicles overall have perked up in recent months, with Illinois’ EV adoption rate well above the Q1 uptick nationally. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that the number of new EVs registered across the state totaled 9,821 January through March, compared with “just” 6,535 EVs registered in the state during the same period in 2024.

Those numbers represent more than 50% growth in EV registrations – far beyond the expected 12% first-quarter increase nationally being projected by Cox Automotive. (!)

What’s going on in Illinois?

File:Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker (33167937268).jpg
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker at the Chicago Auto Show; by Ray Cunningham.

While President Trump and Elmo were running for re-election, they campaigned on the threat promise of canceling the $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs. Along with California Governor Gavin Newsom, Illinois’ Governor JB Pritzker made countermoves – launching a $4,000 rebate for new electric cars and up to $1,500 for the purchase of a new electric motorcycle.

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At the same time, the state’s largest utility, ComEd, launched a $90 million EV incentive program featuring a new Point of Purchase initiative to deliver instant discounts to qualifying business and public sector customers who make the switch to electric vehicles. That program has driven a surge in Class 3-6 medium duty commercial EVs, which are eligible fro $20-30,000 in utility rebates on top of federal tax credits and other incentives (Class 1-2 EVs are eligible for up to $7,500).

We covered the launch of those incentives when the program was announced at Chicago Drives Electric last year, but the message here is simple: incentives work.

SOURCES: Chicago Business, Ray Cunningham; featured image by the author.

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XCMG launches XE215EV battery swap electric excavator ahead of bauma

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XCMG launches XE215EV battery swap electric excavator ahead of bauma

The electric construction equipment experts at XCMG just released a new, 25 ton electric crawler excavator ahead of bauma 2025 – and they have their eye on the global urban construction, mine operations, and logistical material handling markets.

Powered by a high-capacity 400 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery capable of delivering up to 8 hours of continuous operation, the XE215EV electric excavator promises uninterrupted operation at a lower cost of ownership and with even less downtime than its diesel counterparts.

XCMG is delivering on part of that reduced downtime promise with the lower maintenance and easier repair needs of electric equipment, and delivering on the rest of it with lickety-quick DC fast charging that can recharge the machine’s massive battery in 1.5-2 hours … but that’s not the slick bit. The XCMG XE125EV can be powered up without leaving the job site thanks to its BYD battery swap technology.

We first covered XCMG and its battery swap technology back in January, and covered similar battery-swap tech being developed by MOOG Construction offshoot ZQUIP, as well – but while XCMG’s battery tech has been in production for several years, it’s still not widely known about in the West (even within the industry).

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XCMG showed off its latest electric equipment at the December 2024 bauma China, including an updated version of its of its 85-ton autonomous electric mining truck that features a fully cab-less design – meaning there isn’t even a place for an operator to sit, let alone operate. And that’s too bad, because what operator wouldn’t want to experience an electric truck putting down 1070 hp more than 16,000 lb-ft of torque!?

Easy in, easy out

XCMG battery swap crane; via Etrucks New Zealand.

The best part? All of the company’s heavy equipment assets – from excavators to terminal tractors to dump trucks and wheel loaders – all use the same 400 kWh BYD battery packs, Milwaukee tool style. That means an equipment fleet can utilize x number of vehicles with a fraction of the total battery capacity and material needs of other asset brands. That’s not just a smart use of limited materials, it’s a smarter use of energy.

You can check out all the XE215EV’s specs at this tear sheet, and get an in-person look at the Chinese company’s latest electric excavator this week in Munich, Germany.

SOURCE | IMAGES: XCMG.

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