The extreme cold range test drive of the Dongfeng Aeolus L8 has recently concluded successfully in Harbin! Led by the person in charge of Dongfeng Aeolus' product line, the test team, together with the head of the Vehicle Characteristic Development Center at Dongfeng R&D Institute and the general manager of Wuhan Junfeng Automobile, traveled in the same vehicle and completed the long-distance challenge from Mohe to Harbin after a 24-hour journey. With an official claimed range target of 1412km, the Aeolus L8 ultimately achieved a real driving range of 1119km under the stringent conditions of -30℃ extreme low temperature, fully simulated daily working conditions and air conditioning running throughout the journey. Though seemingly "falling short of the target", the fully open test process, real-world scenarios and harsh test conditions have further confirmed the Aeolus L8’s solid foundation of genuine driving range, breaking the curse of inflated winter range for new energy vehicles.

Why does "falling short of the target" boost confidence instead?

Because this test rejected "greenhouse data" from the very start. The entire real driving test replicated users' actual travel scenarios, with the route covering Mohe City - Jiamo Highway - Shuangnen Expressway - Suiman Expressway - Harbin City, including 654km of national highway sections and 523km of expressway sections, with only 4 traffic lights along the way, fully restoring the mixed road conditions of long-distance self-driving and daily commuting. During the test, the vehicle’s air conditioning was kept on at 3-speed (22℃) at all times, with an average speed of about 100km/h on expressways and 50km/h on national highways. The journey also involved complex scenarios such as icy and snowy roads, night driving, and starts and stops at service areas, with no deliberate energy-saving measures taken. The fuel tank and charging port were sealed and photographed throughout the test, ensuring transparent and traceable data, which fully verified the Aeolus L8’s range stability and practicality in extreme environments.

"We don’t want to just talk about a perfect number; instead, we want to clearly tell users how far the car can really go in real-world conditions," said Xu Bin after the test. "Lab data is impressive, but users’ actual driving environments are often far more complex." The 1119km range may not be the highest figure, but it is a trust-worthy number "achieved through actual driving" under the combined conditions of extreme cold, air conditioning use and mixed road conditions.

Dongfeng Mach Hybrid PHEV: More Than Energy Efficiency, It’s "Intelligent Energy Distribution"

The successful completion of this long-distance cold resistance test relies on the synergy of three core technology systems of Dongfeng Aeolus. At its heart is the Dongfeng Mach Hybrid PHEV, which adopts the world’s unique 4-speed series-parallel hybrid & E-CVT architecture, matched with the Mach Power 1.5T hybrid-specific engine. Boasting a mass-produced certified maximum thermal efficiency of 45.18%, it achieves an industry-leading low-carbon energy efficiency level. The all-new Mach 1.5T hybrid-specific engine has set a new industry record with a maximum effective thermal efficiency of 48.09%, winning the authoritative "Energy Efficiency Star" certification from the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) and becoming the industry’s first hybrid gasoline engine with a thermal efficiency exceeding 48%.

Equipped with 7 hybrid energy management strategies, the system can intelligently adapt to different road conditions: it prioritizes engine direct drive during high-speed cruising and switches to pure electric mode for low-speed travel, with seamless power output transition. This design not only ensures sufficient power reserve for driving at 100km/h on expressways but also reduces energy consumption losses in urban congested sections, laying a solid foundation for long driving range from the source.

Mach Battery Thermal Management: Extreme Cold No Longer a "Range Black Hole"

The decline in battery activity in extreme cold has long been a common industry challenge, and the Aeolus L8 has made significant efforts to address this issue. The battery pack features a 1200MPa military-grade ultra-high strength armor, with integrated new thermal insulation materials and heat isolation design inside. More crucially, its equipped battery self-heating technology can raise the battery temperature to the optimal operating range within 30 minutes at -30℃, greatly alleviating low-temperature range degradation. Paired with the i-Control intelligent electronic control system, it accurately calculates the driving range, avoiding range anxiety caused by inflated range claims.

Meanwhile, the Aeolus L8 is fitted with a 30.3kWh large-capacity battery and a 55L fuel tank, adopting a "large battery + small fuel tank" layout for genuine long range, balancing the economic efficiency of pure electric commuting and the reliability of long-distance driving range. In this real test, the synergistic energy management of the battery and fuel provided a solid guarantee for the 1119km long-distance travel, helping users bid farewell to range anxiety once and for all.

All-Scenario Design Philosophy: No Compromise on Thermal Comfort and Safety

For travel in extreme cold, stable range is essential, and so is passenger warmth. The Aeolus L8 is equipped with double-layer laminated glass for the windshield and front row, combined with a high-efficiency air conditioning system, enabling rapid cabin heating with minimal heat loss and low energy consumption for heating. It also comes with premium comfort features including 3-speed front seat heating, 24 massage modes for the driver’s seat, independent rear air vents and a central cooling and heating box, keeping the interior a comfortable environment even at -30℃ outside.

In terms of safety, the Aeolus L8 is equipped with an ESP Vehicle Stability System, a 540° panoramic image system and L2-level intelligent driving assistance with 28 functions, which ensures safety and stability when driving on icy and snowy roads, bringing peace of mind for long-distance travel.

Real Data Is the Best Commitment to Users

Under the stringent settings of -30℃ extreme cold and air conditioning running throughout the journey, the actual range achievement rate of most hybrid models only falls in the range of 60%-70%. In contrast, the Dongfeng Aeolus L8’s real driving range of 1119km represents a range achievement rate of nearly 80%, far exceeding the industry average and providing an extra layer of assurance for users’ winter vehicle use. This is not only a breakthrough in numerical performance but also a practice of Dongfeng Aeolus and Wuhan Junfeng Automobile’s philosophy of "building great cars for people".

Looking back on the past year, Dongfeng Aeolus and Wuhan Junfeng Automobile have been deepening product development and user services around the core values of "Quality, Technology, Pleasure". The brand achieved global cumulative sales of 138,000 units in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 37%, with its market momentum on a steady rise. As competition in the new energy vehicle market enters the era of "genuine strength", the Dongfeng Aeolus L8, through this open and traceable extreme cold test, has not only demonstrated its systematic capabilities in hybrid technology and battery thermal management but also set an example for a more honest and user-centric communication approach in the industry.