Chinese hybrid smashes range anxiety with non-stop record of 2,208km

BEIJING: A Chinese-made Roewe D7 DMH hybrid saloon has completed a record 2,208km trip around China in four days without recharging or taking on fuel, according to observers from the Guinness World Records organisation.

The new feat for a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid comes as the best-of-both-worlds choice regains popularity amid slow adoption of all-electric cars in some countries and signs that some governments may delay plans to phase out combustion engines.

Advocates argue hybrids dispel range anxiety - the widespread fear of running low on battery before you reach a charging station.

Roewe's four-door saloon, which went on sale in China last year, clocked an average fuel consumption of 2.49 litres per 100km, the SAIC-owned company says. It joins the ranks of BYD and Geely, which also have hybrids capable of a combined range of more than 2,000km.

The car was reportedly driven from Lanzhou to Urumqi over mountain passes of up to 1,600 metres and through desert terrain. During the journey it was said to have experienced temperature extremes from -8 to 30 degrees Celsius, said the manufacturer.

The car combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an 204hp electric motor. The D7 DMH also offers 125 km of all-electric range with a 21.4 kWh battery.