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After ideal, question, Lantu, and other car companies released extended-range models, zero-running cars also joined the add-on base camp. On Feb. 9, Zero opened the pre-sale of Zero running C11 extended range version with a pre-sale price range of 15.98 yuan to 200000 yuan, with the slogan of "15-200000 fuel SUV Terminator".

It is worth noting that after the ideal car released the ideal L7 on February 8, zero-running cars posted a poster entitled "75KM after talking about the ideal and then talking about reality, ideal and reality", warning that the extended version of the zero-running C11 will be available for pre-sale. It is understood that the official price of the zero run C11 extension will be announced on March 1. According to an insider of Zero Auto, the extended-range version of C11 does not rule out the possibility of a further decline in prices.

In terms of appearance, the zero running C11 extended version is changed to a through air intake grille, with star vents on the front face, making the vehicle look more visually layered and have better heat dissipation performance. Because it is an extended version, there is an extra refueling port on the left side of the rear fender of the vehicle, and the hidden exhaust system is designed at the rear of the car. In terms of body size, the length, width and height of the C11 extended version is 4780 × 1905 × 1675mm, and the wheelbase is 2930mm, which increases the length of the 30mm compared with the pure electric version. In terms of interior decoration, the zero-running C11 extended-range version is basically consistent with the design style of the pure electric version. In terms of power system, the 1.2T three-cylinder engine with maximum power of 96kW is used as a range extender, as well as a rear single motor and ternary lithium battery, the maximum power of the system is 200kW, the maximum pure electric mileage can reach 285km, and the mileage can reach 1024km when full of oil and electricity.

Relevant data show that Zero Automobile was founded in December 2015, and Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co., Ltd., founded by Zhu Jiangming, and its main founders jointly invested and established. The sales of new energy vehicles mainly cover the middle and high-end new energy vehicle market of 150000 to 300000 yuan. At present, Zero has four models on sale: zero running S01, Zero running T03, Zero running C11, Zero running C01. Previously, Zero developed and listed models that are all electric models, but now it has launched additional program-powered models.

In this regard, Zero car founder Zhu Jiangming also made an explanation, pointing out that while energy replenishment is still a pain point for users, extended range can well solve users' anxiety. The extended range only adds a "portable battery" to pure electricity, which is no different from pure electricity in use. The purpose of using oil is to reduce the anxiety of long-distance car use, which is used as a spare tire in the case of long-distance car use. The extended range is more suitable, and its fewer parts can further ensure the technical reliability. Secondly, the addition program is more like a tram, which can continue many of the characteristics of pure electric vehicles. "

At the same time, Zhu Jiangming also said that mixing can solve many problems that pure electricity cannot solve. For example, long-distance travel, charging facilities are not perfect, can solve a lot of user anxiety, but also has a very good performance-to-price ratio. In addition, it can also enjoy many policies of new energy, so it is estimated that the growth rate of hybrid is still higher than that of pure electricity in the next two to three years. Data show that retail sales of plug-in hybrid vehicles reached 1.4198 million units in 2022, an increase of 160.5% over the same period last year, outpacing that of pure electric vehicles. According to the Federation of passengers, the hybrid market will reach 2.3 million vehicles in 2023, but according to Zhu Jiangming, this figure may reach 3 million.

For a long time, the question of "whether the extension is advanced or not" has been controversial in the industry. "at present, it will take time to improve and popularize the charging piles, and the extended range mode is the most suitable new energy vehicle model," Yu Chengdong, Huawei terminal BG CEO and smart car solution BU CEO, said on Weibo last July. He also affirmed the efforts and contributions of ideal car CEO Li to develop the added program model. Some people are optimistic about the extended range mode while others are not. For example, Li Ruifeng, CEO of Wei Brand of Great Wall, said in a personal Weibo post after Yu Chengdong: "it takes good blacksmiths to make good steel. It is an industry consensus that hybrid technology for incremental programming is backward. No matter how big your mouth is, you can't talk nonsense."

Of course, the introduction of Zero cars with additional models is also a helpless move. In recent years, zero-running cars, like other new car-building forces, are still in a state of loss. The relevant data show that the operating losses of zero running cars from 2019 to 2021 are 730 million yuan, 869 million yuan and 2.868 billion yuan respectively, and the losses attributable to equity holders are about 901 million yuan, 1.1 billion yuan and 2.846 billion yuan respectively, with a cumulative loss of 4.374 billion yuan in three years. Gross profit margin: the gross profit margin of zero-running cars from 2019 to 2021 is-95.7%,-50.6% and-44.3%, respectively.

In order to reverse the decline in sales, Zero car launched Zero C01 in September last year, the new car positioning medium and large pure electric sedan, a total of five models, with a subsidised price range of 19.38-286800 yuan. Zero run C01 is the most expensive model among zero running models on sale, which bears the burden of zero running to increase brand positioning and gross profit margin. However, the post-market sales of Zero C01 are not ideal, and the relevant data show that the cumulative number of Zero C01 in 2022 is less than 5000. In addition, according to data released by the Federation in January, the delivery of zero-running cars plummeted in January, with only 1139 new cars delivered in January, down 85.92% from the same period last year and 86.59% from the previous month. In response, Zero cars said that because of the impact of the epidemic infection and the advance of the Spring Festival of the year of the Rabbit, the sales rhythm of dealers in January was disturbed, and their popularity and transaction performance were relatively weaker than the normal seasonal level, leading to short-term fluctuations, which will gradually return to normal rhythm.

Losses coupled with poor sales, and the impact of Tesla's price reduction, the new energy vehicle market was forced to open the prelude to a price war. Zero-running cars are also in urgent need of finding a breakthrough, so the cost reduction increment has naturally become the key entry and exit of zero-running cars. As we all know, the biggest advantage of the add-on hybrid is its low cost, no need for complex gearboxes and expensive batteries. And for car companies, it is relatively easy to use, which can shorten the R & D cycle and facilitate new brands to quickly push products and grab the market. From the zero run C11 extended range price point of view, it still has a certain attraction, but whether it can open the sales market, this remains to be seen over time.

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