The Nio ET5 has one ace up its sleeve against the Tesla Model 3. It will offer batteries with a capacity of 150 kW, which are to ensure a range of over 1,000 km. However, according to a milder Chinese standard …
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Nio is a Chinese electric car manufacturer founded in 2014, which is sometimes called the Chinese Tesla due to its character. The brand’s new product, the Nio ET5 mid-range model, is now targeting a representative of the American competitor.
The design itself admits that it is a Chinese rival for the Tesla Model 3. After all, despite the distinctive bow, the silhouette of the aerodynamic body is remarkably similar to the American electric car. After all, this Chinese fastback also costs similarly, in the Chinese market it is basically a bit cheaper than the Model 3.
The Chinese novelty enters the market with three sets of batteries. The basis is a set with a capacity of 75 kWh for a range of about 550 kilometers, which is complemented by a design with a capacity of 100 kWh (for a range of about 700 km) and a top version with a capacity of 150 kWh, which is able to travel over 1,000 km without recharging! Although the Nio talks about the range according to the Chinese CLTC methodology, which is milder than the WLTP standard used in Europe, it is an amazing result.
The ET5 thus seems to have the ambition to be the longest-running electric car in the world. Like other cars in the brand, it offers the option of exchanging batteries instead of recharging, in specialized stations, which are to be established in Europe thanks to a partnership with Shell refueling stations. Replacing the batteries with recharged ones takes only some three minutes.
All versions rely on the same combination of two electric motors (one at the front, one at the rear axle) with a combined power of 360 kW and a torque of 702 Nm.
The technical basis in the form of “Technology Platform 2.0” is the same as for the larger ET7 model. In this case, however, we are talking about a 4.7 meter long middle class fastback, while the ET7 is a large limousine 5.1 meters long.
The ET7 is also linked to the minimalist interior, with a large, vertically oriented center screen instead of the center panel. The specialty is not only “invisible” ventilation vents, but also special upholstery, which is not only sustainable, but should also help the internal acoustics. Dolby Atmos sound technology for surround sound is standard, as part of an advanced entertainment system. There are even glasses for virtual reality, because in cooperation with NREAL the car will offer a virtual screen. In short, Nio is also looking for ways to seize the crew while recharging the electric car …
Quite logically, the ET5 will initially be sold on the domestic Chinese market, in September 2022. However, sales in Europe are also planned, where the new Chinese brand is to arrive in the spring of 2023. Nio already sells in Norway today, is to expand to Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden next year.
The Nio ET5 is already the sixth model of this Chinese manufacturer. So far, there has been an EC6 SUV of various sizes, ES6 a ES8 or supersport EP9 introduced in 2016, but which is not homologated for normal road traffic. The luxury sedan ET7 is slowly heading for sale.
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