The Leapmotor D19 will feature an innovative range extender supplied by ZF

German supplier ZF has secured its first major order for its advanced-technology eRE+ range extender. The Chinese manufacturer Leapmotor, backed by Stellantis in its European venture, will incorporate this solution in 2026 into an EREV version of its D19 SUV.

Presented as the brand’s new flagship at an event held in Shanghai last October, the D19 SUV is currently in pre-sale in the Chinese market, with reservations open since last November and first deliveries expected in the first half of 2026.

ZF’s new eRE and eRE+ systems, which extend the range of electric vehicles through an additional combustion engine acting as a generator, were unveiled in April at the Shanghai Auto Show. For the D19, which will be sold in both purely electric and EREV versions, Leapmotor has chosen the most advanced variant of these new ZF systems, the eRE+, which not only generates power but also provides temporary all-wheel drive on the front axle and an extra boost of up to 200 kW for overtaking.

Range is no longer a problem

The fully electric version of the D19 will come with a 115 kWh battery pack, allowing it to cover up to 720 km under the CLTC homologation cycle. With the ZF extender, which delivers 90 kW in generator mode, the EREV version of this electric SUV is expected to push its total range beyond 1,000 kilometres. Most of the system’s components will be manufactured in China, but the combustion engine will be supplied by ZF itself.

Range-extended vehicles are in high demand in China and are beginning to gain ground in North America, where distances are often long and charging infrastructure is not always adequate, especially in rural areas.

The eRE+ integrates an electric motor with inverter, software and planetary gearbox, along with an intelligent clutch and differential that turn it into a switchable secondary axle. The German supplier behind this innovative technology describes it as a bridge to fully electric mobility, which reduces CO₂ emissions and eases range anxiety.