Leapmotor C10 EREV — Proprietor Feedback

Final Up to date on: twenty ninth July 2025, 02:42 am

I just lately reached out to the Australian Leapmotor group by Fb and shared their constructive experiences with the battery electrical model of the C10 with CleanTechnica readers. One commentator shared the next ideas on CleanTechnica: “Wait! Did no Australian or NZ attempt to drive the 4000km coast to coast by the outback whereas pulling a two-tonne fishing boat with out having to cease to recharge? Apparently, these are the US standards for an EV to be helpful.” Some Aussies would agree with you on that.

Surprisingly, I additionally bought responses from some motorists who had bought the Prolonged Vary Electrical Automobile (EREV) model of the identical automobile. I’m undecided what its towing capability is, but it surely definitely packs vital battery + petrol vary. Earlier than the purists get huffy about EREVs, I want to level out that the EREV model of the C10 has an all-electric vary of 150 km (93 miles), and so may be pushed with little or no reliance on petrol. Ben Lim even shared his story of transitioning from a long-range Tesla to the Leapmotor C10 EREV.

“We primarily converted as a result of we had been in search of a PHEV/EREV and a bigger automobile, SUV. Coming from a Tesla Mannequin 3, we had been conscious of the constraints of a BEV. We must plan our holidays with the children working charging websites, and once we would get there generally the charger can be taken up or not working, including to pointless ready or losing of time. We had the Tesla Mannequin 3 for the final 5 years….infrastructure remains to be an issue right here in Australia, even right here in Sydney.”

“The EREV alleviates these issues. With the flexibility to replenish in a couple of minutes and with gasoline stations conveniently positioned, we don’t need to plan forward or have vary nervousness. The C10 EREV petrol engine can be a generator, so acceleration is clean, with the EV battery driving the drive shaft of the automobile, and is as pure of a EV as you will get for a hybrid automobile. We additionally just like the C10 due to the minimalistic design. We don’t miss all these further buttons or switches, as they make the cabin really feel noisy, and we just like the calm method of the C10 inside cabin. At $46K buy and nice financing at 1.9 %, considerably cheaper than different PHEVs, it was a simple resolution.”

“We cost with our Tesla cell charger, 32amps single section. I cost to 90% so I get 150 km vary on electrical; EV+ mode within the automobile on every day use, so no petrol. I cost often each 3–4 days. We just lately did a long-distance journey to Canberra. I didn’t even need to replenish with petrol. It is smart to not use gasoline once we cost night time price with AGL, 7 cents/kWh.”

I requested Ben tips on how to inform the distinction between the EREV and the BEV, as I might see no badging. He mentioned there isn’t any badging. However it does have an open grille on the entrance bumper for air flow to chill the radiator.

Dave Ford has owned many status automobiles over the previous 15 years — together with a Lincoln LS V8, an Audi Q7, and a Mercedes-Benz ML350. He wanted a automobile that might tow his caravan. He discovered that the Q7 and the Merc turned too costly on maintenance, and after promoting his van, he wished to downsize to an SUV. I’ll let him proceed in his personal phrases:

“We began in search of a brand new automobile across the AU$50k money mark. In addition to the C10 EREV, we regarded on the Deepal SO7 and the upcoming EO7. Cherry Tiggo 8 and Jaeco J7, GWM Haval H6 and BYD Sealion 6 and seven and Shark, a few Honda’s and the Haval Tank 300.”

That’s fairly an intensive buying record, Dave. It additionally illustrates the variety of autos now accessible on the Australian market.

“The Chery/Jaecos bought reduce out early as not rated for towing, the Shark was too thirsty as soon as the battery was used, the Sealion 6 was a fantastic automobile however the rear trunk space wasn’t lengthy sufficient for our every day wants and BYD wouldn’t deal on pricing. The H6 was OK for round city, however on the freeway, it was too ‘floaty’ and the Tank was once more too thirsty and brief on rear baggage room. The Hondas had been all too costly. The EO7 was our decide however at a proposed wait of 4 months and a $70k+ sticker value dominated it out. We had been in search of both AWD or RWD.

“The Leapmotor ticked all our bins, with the one points being the ADAS settings which we figured we might reside with for just a few months until the following OTA replace. Nunawading (Victoria) Leapmotor additionally gave us a C10 Design with premium paint, wall charger and a tow bundle, when it’s accessible, for $50,008. We picked up the automobile on the 14th of Could and have now accomplished simply over 8000 km.

“Aside from the effectively reported ADAS points, the one others have been the maps background disappeared, it nonetheless confirmed the instructions and the highway you had been travelling on however no surrounding roads and so on. I needed to reboot the system and obtain the maps once more, no points since. Yesterday the entrance and rear cameras didn’t come on so as soon as extra hit reset and all high-quality once more. The primary display isn’t as straightforward to function as say a telephone display usually needing a number of faucets to actuate a operate.

“I’ve accomplished just a few journeys of 500-600 kilometres and located the automobile a delight to drive and really comfy. My greatest gripe when driving, after switching off the LKA, driver distraction, ahead AEB, and velocity help capabilities is the HVAC system, it’s overcomplicated. It must be arrange for contemporary air/recirculated and the temperature chosen decides on sizzling or chilly air-conditioning. The font on the screens can be far too small and an adjustment must be offered.

“Charging hasn’t been a problem total, initially we simply gradual charged by way of the offered 3 level cable which took all night time. For the reason that set up of the cost station, it now takes about 4 hours from 10% to 90%. I’ve used public chargers at few instances however at 60c+ per kW, it’s no cheaper than operating on gasoline at lower than $2 a litre. Such as you, everybody asks who Leapmotor is, however each passenger has commented how good the automobile is to experience in and its quietness and roominess.

“With Stellantis, I at all times comply with that up with them being the homeowners of Jeep, RAM, Maserati, and so on. I’m often in contact with Leapmotor, with instructed areas to take a look at for enchancment, some concepts have been: becoming lights into the door handles, tailgate button and the cost port; higher baggage space lighting and an influence outlet again there additionally, both a key fob or at the least an NFC spot on the passenger facet mirror. Additionally, extra aftermarket choices similar to a V2L adaptor, mudflats, baggage rack bars, waterproof ground mats.”

I enquired about vary. Dave tells me he will get between 900 to simply over 1000 km on tank plus battery. He even despatched me a photograph of his sprint. “That’s the most recent after a few journeys, one included 5 of us plus baggage and the 2nd was two of us with items weighing about 250kg within the again. Usually gasoline sits between 4.7 and 6.2 litres per 100km or about 60 right down to 45 miles per US gallon. Electrical energy runs from about 14 to 19 kW per 100km.”

So, what do we expect, is the EREV (or for those who like, PHEV with a giant battery) a contender? Is it a viable bridge from fossil fuels to battery electrical? Or is it in a distinct segment of its personal and can proceed to be a worthwhile a part of the rEVolution? Thus far, 190 Leapmotor C10 EREVs have bought in Australia. The PHEV/EREV phase of the Australian market has grown 300% within the final 12 months. A number of potentialities. I look ahead to your feedback.