Li Auto's all-new L9 Livis made its global debut at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition this year, with the vehicle set to launch on May 15. Li Xiang, Chairman and CEO of Li Auto, previously stated on his social media platform that the new-generation L9 will become an intelligent entity, and based on this, the ultimate version, the Li Auto L9 Livis, has been prepared. He described the all-new Li Auto L9 as the "pioneering work of embodied intelligent robotics."
Among the numerous upgrades of the all-new Li Auto L9 Livis, the first "complete" full wire-controlled chassis stands out as the most notable technological feature. Liu Liguo, Senior Vice President of Electric Vehicle R&D at Li Auto, recently stated in an exclusive interview that the chassis upgrade of the new Li Auto L9 Livis encompasses two aspects: first, an 800V fully active suspension with a single-wheel lifting force exceeding one ton, completely eliminating the anti-roll bar to achieve fully independent four-wheel control; second, the first "complete" full wire-controlled chassis, with wire-controlled steering, rear-wheel steering, and EMB (Electro-Mechanical Braking) wire-controlled mechanical braking systems all in place, alongside fully self-developed software algorithms. The integration of these three systems with a nonlinear vehicle model enables coordinated vehicle control throughout the driving process, enhancing stability.
Liu Liguo noted that based on the progressive trend of electrification, Li Auto predicts that the next development phase will inevitably involve chassis electrification. Only by completing electrification can true intelligence be achieved. "Chassis execution capability is crucial for L4 autonomous driving. As technology advances, the coupling between the chassis and embodied intelligence grows stronger. A full wire-controlled chassis provides the essential hardware foundation for the physical action capabilities of embodied intelligence."
**Four Years of Pre-Research Advancing into Deep-Water Technology**
Traditional chassis rely on mechanical and hydraulic connections to transmit commands, with steering, braking, and suspension operating independently, leading to response delays and limited control precision. With the rapid development of intelligent vehicles, full wire-controlled chassis technology is gradually becoming a focal point of industry competition. In simple terms, a full wire-controlled chassis replaces traditional mechanical or hydraulic connections with electronic signals to achieve precise vehicle control.
"As early as the third and fourth quarters of 2021, we began forming a small team for pre-research; the project was officially launched in the first half of 2022," Liu Liguo stated. This strategic move is based on the progressive trend of electrification: after the electrification of the powertrain, cabin electrification followed, leading to the prediction that the next development trend would inevitably be chassis electrification. "Only by completing electrification can true intelligence be achieved."
From Li Auto's perspective, the so-called "complete" full wire-controlled chassis refers to the full implementation of three wire-controlled systems: wire-controlled steering, rear-wheel steering, and EMB wire-controlled mechanical braking, combined with a fully self-developed software control system. The 800V fully active suspension represents another significant independent upgrade to the chassis. Among these, EMB wire-controlled mechanical braking is the "final piece of the puzzle" for the full wire-controlled chassis, providing safety redundancy for embodied intelligence.
However, challenges are substantial, ranging from mechanical hardware design, technical architecture design, software development, calibration, and tuning to safety and reliability, with varying degrees of difficulty in integrating the three systems. For instance, extensive validation from the component level to the system level and then to the vehicle level, along with real-road testing, exceed traditional automotive R&D. "We must ensure reliability through sufficient validation samples and thoroughly resolve all issues before the production version can be launched."
The ultimate test of technology implementation lies in whether users can tangibly experience its benefits. Liu Liguo highlighted the most significant experiential changes: "The steering wheel has a minimum single-side rotation of 230 degrees, allowing parking maneuvers with almost no need to reposition hands"; "The active suspension accelerates roll response during cornering, significantly reducing cabin sway and effectively alleviating motion sickness"; "EMB enhances safety, shortens braking distance, and better controls slip ratio, reducing the shaking and noise associated with traditional ABS braking."
**Cost Challenges Remain for Technology Diffusion**
The all-new Li Auto L9 Livis targets the 500,000 RMB market segment. The question then arises: when will full wire-controlled chassis technology be extended to lower-priced models?
"For a new technology, cost increase is an inevitable phase. As the technology is implemented and mass-produced, its cost will gradually decrease. With increased volume and cost reduction, full wire-controlled chassis technology will gradually be extended to more vehicle models," Liu Liguo explained.
He added that although automakers incur substantial upfront R&D investments, for users, maintenance costs could actually be lower. For example, EMB wire-controlled mechanical braking eliminates the need for brake fluid, saving on maintenance typically required every four years for fluid replacement; the fully active suspension is nearly maintenance-free, and brake disc and pad lifespans are extended. "From engine/transmission to electric drive, we've moved from regular maintenance to lifetime maintenance-free; the chassis is undergoing a similar transformation."
Beyond Li Auto, the industry is also accelerating. Recently, at the EMB Safety Technology and Industrialization Implementation Seminar, Zhao Lijin, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Society of Automotive Engineers, acknowledged that through technological iterations, intelligent chassis have entered the stage of the "first year of mass production for wire-controlled chassis." Professor Zhang Junzhi of Tsinghua University also believes that chassis are at a peak period of transformative innovation and development, with the transformation of EMB being a starting point and foundation, and the role of electric motors becoming increasingly significant in the future.
Looking ahead, Liu Liguo believes there is still considerable potential for chassis development. On one hand, current systems have ample room for optimization. On the other hand, how systems can become more intelligent, better perceive the external environment, better understand user intent, and more accurately assess road conditions are also important directions for the further intelligence of future chassis.
For the present, Liu Liguo asserts that reliability during mass delivery relies on continuous OTA iterations, while cost reduction to mainstream price ranges is achieved through scale effects and ongoing design-level cost reductions. In his view, this system of fully active suspension, full wire-controlled chassis, and fully self-developed software co-evolution opens a pathway for continuous intelligent evolution, enabling the chassis to increasingly understand the vehicle, the road, and the driver.
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