The two new electric SUVs feature fully autonomous battery swaps which will roll out in the first half of 2023.
Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio Inc. unveiled two new electric SUVs — the ES8, a second-generation iteration of the same model it has been selling since 2018, and a brand new electric coupe, the EC7 SUV.
The electric car maker unveiled the two new flagship products at a weekend event in Hefei in central Anhui province. The two models feature fully autonomous battery swaps, which will roll out in the first half of 2023. The vehicle can plant the route, drive to the power swap station, and automatically complete the exchange before hopping back on the highway.
The Nio EC7 is a mid-large size coupe SUV, priced at $69,800 (488,000 yuan). The EV is equipped with intelligent air suspension, riding on Nio’s second-generation NT 2.0 tech platform. The EC7 features market-leading aerodynamics with a 300 kW induction motor combined with a 180 kW permanent magnet motor. It can run at a speed of 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, making it a possible Audi e-tron rival. Deliveries are expected to start in May 2023 in China.
The Nio ES8 is a six-seat smart electric SUV with two electric motors having a maximum output of 480 kW and a 0 to 100 km/h of 4.1 seconds. The SUV is priced at $75,000 for the 75 kWh battery and $84,000 for 100 kWh. Deliveries are expected to start in June 2023 in China.
Deliveries of new-energy vehicles — pure electric and hybrid cars — to dealerships in China are expected to reach 6.5 million by the end of the year, and may touch 8.4 million in 2023, China’s Passenger Car Association said at a briefing earlier this month, reported Bloomberg.
There are about 500 electric car models in China with most of the foreign auto brands having an electric car offering as well. Warren Buffett-backed BYD Co., along with Tesla Inc., lead the market. The other companies selling electric cars include SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile Co., Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. and Hozon New Energy Automobile Co.
