New plug-in hybrid claims record breaking 2390km driving range: BYD Sealion 6 and Toyota RAV4 rivalling Geely Galaxy Starship 7 could upset MG and BYD's apple cart

Geely has moved the game on, or so it claims, with its new plug-in hybrid powertrain. 

With a name suspiciously similar to BYD’s, Geely boasts its new 'EM-i' system (also known as 'NordThor2.0') can deliver up to 2390km combined driving range. 

That beats not only BYD’s fifth-gen DM-i but also the Guiness World Record-holding Roewe D7 plug-in hybrid sedan that travelled 2200km before coming to a standstill.

This is if Geely’s claim can be verified, of course. 

There's more to Geely's promise, with the brand saying it has an excellent thermal efficiency rating from the EM-i’s 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder of 46.5 per cent. 

The petrol engine is paired with two electric motors and all the control modules needed for smooth operation, with the claimed efficiency of the electric drive units being 92.5 per cent, beating BYD’s efforts by half a per cent. 

The system will first feature in Geely’s new flagship mid-size SUV called the Galaxy Starship 7 and the brand says it has been tested running at 155km/h for two hours with no degradation noted. 

With the larger 29.94kWh battery onboard, the Galaxy Starship 7 promises 150km in electric mode and to achieve 2.67L/100km from a full charge and tank.

It is not clear in what vehicle the 2390km range figure (in the more lenient CLTC protocol) was achieved, however it's likely to be the fastback Galaxy L6 pictured here in camouflage. 

That's a long way clear of the BYD Sealion 6. Fuel efficiency with the battery depleted is said to be 4.9L/100km, comparable to a similarly-sized Toyota RAV4 hybrid. 

Geely is a giant in China and the world, either owning or part-owning well-known companies such as Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and Daimler, with its own suite of brands in the Domestic market. 

The Geely brand is looking to expand into Australia with the EX5 SUV, though also with other sub-marques, including luxury spin-off Zeekr which has just launched its first model, the X electric small SUV. 

With demand for electric cars beginning to plateau in China, manufacturers have turned to plug-in hybrids as the next frontier. 

Car companies are promising ever-increasing combined driving range numbers, with figures quickly jumping from 1500km to in excess of 2000km from a full tank and charge and the technology may end up suiting Australia’s long distances well.