The Buick Electra L7 offers a pure electric range of 302 km and a total driving range exceeding 1,400 km.
On August 7, SAIC-GM’s Buick brand officially launched its fully self-developed “Zhenlong” range-extender system, announcing that the system will make its debut on the soon-to-be-released new energy sedan — the Buick Electra L7.
This system features four core advantages: ultra-long range, ultra-low fuel consumption, consistent performance whether the battery is full or depleted, and imperceptible engine engagement during low battery conditions. With the support of this new technology, the performance specifications of the Buick Electra L7 are particularly impressive.
In terms of power performance, the Zhenlong range-extender system is equipped with a single motor drive delivering a maximum power output of 252 kW, peak torque of 400 Nm, and a rotational speed of up to 22,000 rpm. When the battery is fully charged, the vehicle can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.9 seconds. Paired with the Ultium 2.0 high-performance battery specially designed for hybrid applications, the system supports a 315 kW / 9C discharge rate when fully charged, and still maintains a strong 260 kW / 7.8C output even in a low battery state.
Additionally, the system integrates Buick’s self-developed high-efficiency 1.5T hybrid-dedicated engine (115 kW) and a generator with a peak power output of 100 kW. With this hardware setup, the difference in 0–100 km/h acceleration and highway overtaking times between full and low battery conditions for the Electra L7 is less than 0.1 seconds.
Of course, a major concern for users is the noise generated when the engine engages during low battery conditions. The Zhenlong range-extender system addresses this by incorporating Silentium quiet drive technology, reducing engine engagement noise to less than 0.5 dB.
To alleviate users’ range anxiety, the Buick Electra L7 delivers a pure electric range of 302 km under the CLTC cycle — enough to meet “one week, one charge” urban driving needs. Its total combined range exceeds 1,400 km, significantly extending travel capabilities to intercity journeys. Moreover, it supports a best-in-class 130 kW fast charging system, allowing the battery to charge from 30% to 80% in just 18 minutes.
Notably, this range-extender system achieves a fuel-to-electric conversion efficiency of 3.6 kWh/L, capable of delivering up to 252 kWh of electrical energy — equivalent to the daily electricity needs of an average household for 30 days.
In terms of safety, the Zhenlong system’s Ultium 2.0 hybrid battery is specifically designed for high-frequency use in extended-range applications. It supports over 3,700 full charge-discharge cycles, offering low degradation over a pure electric driving distance of up to 640,000 km (based on an annual mileage of 15,000 km, equivalent to approximately 43 years).
Having undergone rigorous validation (with test items exceeding national standards by 60% and durability standards up to 29 times more stringent), the battery system integrates high-performance cells, 360° protection, and intelligent thermal management. It continues the Ultium platform’s legacy of “1.5 billion kilometers with zero fire incidents.”
The Zhenlong range-extender system was born from “Xiaoyao,” the first fully integrated vehicle architecture developed by a joint venture brand specifically for the Chinese market. Following the launch of Zhenlong plug-in hybrid technology, this marks another powerful move by Buick in expanding its diversified layout in new energy drivetrains.
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