Here’s a summary review of the XPENG P7+ winter test focusing on heating up and charging performance in cold weather — including real-world test findings, preconditioning tips, and charging data:
❄️ XPENG P7+ Winter Test: Heating & Charging Performance
🔥 1. Cold Weather Heating & Thermal Management
Battery & Cabin Heating:
The XPENG P7 (same platform as P7+) uses an advanced thermal management system designed to heat and cool the battery efficiently in cold climates, helping maintain charging performance and usable range even at low temperatures. This system uses optimized heating loops and insulation to keep the pack nearer optimal temperature. (TaaS新闻)
Pre-heating Matters:
If the battery is cold (e.g., sub-freezing), charging power is significantly lower unless the battery is pre-heated. In one winter test, charging from a DC fast charger without pre-heating at around freezing only began at ~85 kW, but after pre-heating for 30 min the charge rate improved to ~140 kW initially and peaked around ~184 kW — close to summer performance. (electrive.com)
P7/P7+ systems often pre-condition automatically if a charging stop is on your route plan. You can also manually initiate heating via the “maintain battery temperature” control in the menu or with the app — effectively warming the battery before charging to help faster DC rates. (electrive.com)
Cabin Heating Speed:
In cold tests, reviewers noted cabin heat and seat heating can be slower to warm up, with the steering wheel heater warming quickest. This slower heat uptake is common in EVs as the HVAC must draw energy from the battery pack — especially in winter. (electrive.com)
⚡ 2. Charging in Winter Conditions
Faster Charging Options:
A recent P7+ variant with an upgraded battery supports 5C charging — meaning it can theoretically charge from 10–80% in as little as ~12 minutes under ideal conditions, delivering significant range quickly (e.g., ~420 km added in ~10 min). (CnEVPost)
Effect of Cold Weather:
Cold battery temperature naturally reduces fast-charging rates unless pre-conditioning is used. As shown in winter tests, battery pre-heating greatly helps increase charging speed and reach peaks near normal rates even at low external temperatures. (electrive.com)
Cold climate range loss is significant — in broader winter tests of the P7 platform, EVs lost range at temperatures around −20 °C, though the P7 still performed relatively well compared with others. (Archyde)
Home/Destination Charging:
AC charging stays relatively unaffected in winter though it’s slower (~11 kW typical), and pre-conditioning before departure can reduce battery stress and improve range/charging behavior. (EV Database)
🧠 Key Winter Charging & Heating Insights
🔑 Why Battery Pre-Heating Matters in Winter
Cold batteries have high internal resistance — this reduces DC charging rates and can slow or plateau power delivery at fast chargers. Pre-heating brings the pack closer to optimal temperature, significantly speeding up DC charging. (Amazon Web Services, Inc.)
💡 Practical Tips for Winter XPENG Use
Pre-heat before fast charging: If possible, warm the battery via the car menu or app before plugging in. (electrive.com)
Plan charging stops: Use route planning features so the system pre-conditions automatically en route. (electrive.com)
Expect slower cabin heat: Winter cabin comfort might take time — rely on heat-pump and planned pre-conditioning to improve efficiency. (electrive.com)
Use home AC charging overnight: Keeping the car plugged in with scheduled pre-heating maximizes battery readiness for morning trips. (Amazon Web Services, Inc.)
📊 Summary Points
| Aspect | Winter Behavior | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Charging (DC) | Slower if cold; faster after pre-heating | Pre-conditioning boosts peak power. (electrive.com) |
| Fast Charging Capability | 10–80% in ~12 min on 5C battery | Newer P7+ variant spec. (CnEVPost) |
| Thermal Management | Active heating & insulation helps range & charging | Efficient even in sub-zero trials. (TaaS新闻) |
| Cabin Heat | Slow warm-up, especially rear seats | Steering wheel heat is fastest. (electrive.com) |
🏁 Bottom Line
The XPENG P7+ winter performance shows that:
✅ With battery thermal management and pre-conditioning, charging speeds in cold weather can approach those in mild temperatures. (electrive.com)
❄️ Without warm-up, fast charging is noticeably slower and cabin heating can lag. (electrive.com)
⚡ Newer P7+ models with 5C high-charge batteries promise ultra-fast charging (~10–12 min 10–80%) under the right conditions. (CnEVPost)
