A Smartphone Giant Just Smashed a 24 Hour EV Endurance Record

Proving Range the Hard Way

With range being a crucial selling point for electric vehicles, some automakers have pursued 24-hour endurance test records. These tests demonstrate not only how far an EV can travel continuously, but also how effectively it manages heat – an important factor influencing sustained performance.

Recently, Xiaomi – known globally for its Apple-rivaling smartphones – completed a 24-hour endurance run covering 4,264 km (2,649 miles) with its updated SU7. That figure surpasses the previous benchmark set by the Xpeng P7, although the endurance crown remains with the Mercedes-AMG GT XX Concept, which recorded 3,405 miles in a single day.

The Science Behind Staying on Track

These figures are made possible by ultra-fast charging technology. Mercedes’ GT XX is said to support charging rates of up to 900 kW—well beyond the more common 350 kW benchmark—allowing up to 250 miles of range to be added in just five minutes, according to the WLTP cycle.

Per CarNewsChina, the Xiaomi SU7 can recover up to 670 km (416 miles) of range in 15 minutes under CLTC standards. In both cases, an optimized thermal management system is critical to ensuring that such extreme fast-charging performance can be delivered safely and consistently – particularly in the context of a 24-hour endurance test.

However, the SU7 is no slouch. The high-performance SU7 Ultra variant edged out the Rimac Nevera at the Nürburgring, posting a lap time of 7:04.957 – just 0.341 seconds quicker. Notably, the 1,527-horsepower SU7 Ultra carries a price tag slightly north of $70,000, a fraction of the seven-figure cost associated with the Rimac.

Road to Production

The Mercedes-AMG GT XX, by contrast, has so far only been spotted undergoing testing at the Nürburgring. Its focus has instead been endurance, with the German marque claiming new benchmarks across runs lasting up to 168 hours and covering approximately 25,000 miles. Production is expected to begin later this year.

The final specs have yet to be confirmed. What is clear is that the Xiaomi SU7 is unlikely to arrive stateside in the near term due to regulatory constraints, tariffs, and geopolitical concerns.

However, Chinese EVs may eventually find pathways into parts of North America – particularly Canada – after the country reportedly lowered tariffs on a limited number of imports. How that develops remains to be seen, but for consumers, it could ultimately translate into more choice, especially as Chinese automakers continue to offer increasingly competitive capabilities at comparatively lower prices.

View the full article