ZF AG announced it has signed up Chinese automaker Leapmotor as the first customer for its advanced eRE+ range extender technology developed for electric vehicles (EVs). The German automotive components manufacturer confirmed it has agreed to supply its latest range extender technology for fitment in a variant of Leapmotor’s premium D19 SUV, starting from 2026.

ZF pointed out that in standard range extender operation, in generator mode, a combustion engine drives the electric motor and charges the high-voltage battery, extending the vehicle’s driving range. The company’s latest “eRE+ technology also offers switchable all-wheel drive via the front axle and, with a drive power of up to 200 kW, provides an additional boost for overtaking maneuvers.”

The company further explained that like its existing eRE, the eRE+ is based on an electric motor with an integrated inverter, matching software, and a planetary gearbox. While the eRE is designed purely as a power generator, the eRE+ also features an intelligent clutch and differential. This allows it to act as a secondary drive, allowing for switchable all-wheel drive functionality and power boost without the need to install separate components or incur additional development costs.

The eRE+ used in the D19 has a generator output of 90 kW and a peak drive output of 200 kW, providing the BEV with a total range of more than 1,000 km.

Sebastian Schmitt, head of ZF's Electrified Drive Technologies division, said in a statement: “Range extenders are currently in increasing demand, especially in the Chinese and North American automotive markets. While range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs) are considered a variant of so-called "new energy vehicles" in the Far East, in which the battery can be charged by a combustion engine while driving, they are also an increasingly popular option in the USA for battery-powered vehicles that are independent of the charging infrastructure.”

Timo Meisel, Senior Vice President of ZF’s Electrified Powertrain Technology Division, Asia Pacific, pointed out that ZF has “responded to this demand in good time with a flexible range of range extender technology and local production capacities. This strategy has borne fruit and led to our new order for Leapmotor."