Two levels of thrift and range counts are offered - which is more accurate?

POTENTIAL for confused expectation about realistic pure electric and total driving distance ability has raised with the distributor of the latest range-extender battery car out of China offering two sets of data.

In releasing information about the Leapmotor C10 Ultra Hybrid, which runs a petrol engine in conjunction with an electric motor, the national distributor has chosen to relay outcomes from two testing regimes that measure a vehicle's fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and range.

Both show the sister car to the fully electric C10 that is already on sale here to be a lean fuel consumer.

However, one is more optimistic than the other - suggesting 1150 kilometres’ total combined range against 975km, 170kms on electric alone against 145km and lower CO2 counts.

Too good to be true? The most glowing outcomes are from the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) test deemed several years ago by NZ and many other countries to be too unreliable to continue with, but still in play until 2026.

The concerns about NEDC led to a new measurement process, the WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure), that despite also been found to be an inexact science, is nonetheless proven to be closer to reality than NEDC.

Leapmotor offers both data sets because, at the moment, while WLTP is the calibration tool Government prefers the industry uses, there is no restriction on them also relaying the NEDC outcomes.

It argues it has to use these because that’s the habit of many other brands, particularly from China.

Also, cars they sell here are often the same models they offer in Australia, where NEDC is still preferred, as it ties into Australian Design Rules … which don’t apply here.

Leapmotor is represented in this market by Autodistributors NZ, which has other brands from the Stellantis car making conglomerate that is a partner with the Chinese make.

The C10 Ultra is a doppelgänger in look and specification to the fully electric C10 that has been on sale since the start of this year, but costs $5000 less.

It will conceivably sell as an alternate to plug-hybrid cars, such as the BYD Sealion 6 and Mitsubishi Outlander, as well as to the Nissan X-Trail ePower.

It differs from the PHEVs and is akin to the Nissan in that the internal combustion engine does not ever directly power the wheels.

Instead the 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine acts as a generator with the same 158kW/320Nm electric motor as the full-electric version.

However, like a PHEV (and unlike the Nissan) the C10 Ultra has ability to recharge from the mains.

It has a 28.4kWh battery pack – down from 69.9kWh in the fully-electric model.

The WLTP-rated fuel consumption is 0.9L/100km and CO2 emissions of less than 21g/km are also cited under that test.

Top speed is 170kmh and it will achieve 0-100kmh in 8.5 seconds.

Direct-current (DC) fast charging limits to 65kW – down from 84kW in the electric model – but it is still higher than the DC charge speeds of the Sealion (18kW) and the Outlander (20kWh with a CHAdeMO plug).

The brand claims the Leapmotor C10 REEV will recuperate “half of its electric range” in approximately 18 minutes on a 65kW DC fast charger.

The equipment list includes 20 inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a 360-degree parking camera system, aero-optimised flush exterior door handles, dual-zone climate control, a 12-speaker audio system, wireless phone charging, a 10.25-inch driver’s instrument cluster and a 14.6-inch central infotainment screen.

There is faux-leather upholstery made of silicone, a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, an electric tailgate, rear tinted windows and ambient interior lighting.