XPeng unveils affordable LFP battery variants of P7i

XPeng announced the launch of two new variants of its flagship sedan, the P7i. These new versions, named the P7i 550 Pro and P7i 550 Max, come with a significant reduction in asking price enabled by new battery chemistry.

XPeng's new P7i come with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery packs. Cheaper than traditional lithium-ion ternary battery packs, yet still offer decent density and reliable performance. This allowed Xpeng to lower the starting price of the P7i by RMB 26,000 (approximately $3,600). The P7i 550 Pro now starts at RMB 223,900, and the P7i 550 Max at RMB 239,900.

The '550' in the model names refers to the car's range under the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC) standard – 342 miles. This range, though not the highest in the P7i lineup, strikes a better balance between efficiency and cost-effectiveness, making it a compelling option for those that don't frequently need to cover long distances in a single day.

Still, the LFP-powered P7i 550 variants can be charged from 10% to 80% in just 29 minutes, as per the model's specifications. So it's not like road trips are out of the question.

While XPeng hasn't officially confirmed the battery supplier or capacity, but a previous filing indicated that the LFP batteries for the new P7i models are supplied by Eve Energy and boast a capacity of 64.4 kWh. The shift to LFP batteries, does come with a trade-off as they perform less efficiently in colder weather.

XPeng's EV lineup is diverse, including models like the G3 series, G6, G9, P5, and the P7 series. The company has been making on the rise lately, as evidenced by its record delivery of 20,002 units in October, with the G6 leading the charge with 8,741 units.

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