Chinese electric-car brand Human Horizons is claiming a record for range in sub-zero temperatures for its HiPhi Z performance station wagon, clocking 324 miles (522 km) on a single charge.
Of course, that’s less than half the range claimed by battery-electric vehicle rival Nio during a recent trial of its ET7 sedan, but the trial by Human Horizons claims a battery management system that can cope with Arctic Circle conditions. However, it also was just 1 km (0.62 mile) better than the 2023 trial won by the Tesla Model S, albeit not in identical weather conditions.
The biannual test, organized by the Norwegian Automobile Federation and Motor magazine, aims to establish an industry standard for BEV range and charging speed. Out of the 23 participants, only one car had a deviation of less than 10% from the certified WLTP test numbers, and the HiPhi Z claims it exceeded expectations with a deviation of 5.9% beating all of its rivals including those that claimed a longer WLTP-certified range.
The next closest was the relatively new BMW i5, which finished 12.2% less than its advertised range while the Tesla Model 3 missed its target by nearly 30%. Bottom of the pile was the Toyota bZ4X which recorded a whopping 31.9% less range than its advertised WLTP figure.
Human Horizons says its vehicle’s advantage comes from its in-house-developed thermal management system which combines an intelligently controlled heat pump system with the management system. Participating vehicles navigated Norway’s challenging Dovrefjell terrain, including facing the challenges posed by an arctic storm.
Mark Stanton, co-founder, chief technical officer and European program president of Human Horizons, says, “Tireless innovation and unique technology development is at the heart of our company, and our team is not only proud of this recognition but also the exceptional comfort the HiPhi Z demonstrated.”
