NIO launches autonomous driving model ET7; up to 621 miles range with solid-state 150 kWh battery
10 January 2021
At NIO Day, in Chengdu, NIO launched its first autonomous driving model, the smart electric flagship sedan NIO ET7. The ET7 has a pre-subsidy price starting from RMB 448,000 (US$69,000), or from RMB 378,000 (US$58,400) with BaaS (Battery as a Service).
The ET7 features a 180 kW permanent magnet motor in the front and a 300 kW induction motor in the rear. Maximum power is rated at 480 kW with peak torque at 850 nm. The ET7 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and has a stopping distance from 100 km/h of 33.5 m.
With a drag coefficient of 0.23 Cd and the application of the second generation high efficiency electric drive platform with silicon carbide power module, the energy efficiency is further improved. With a 70 kWh battery pack, the ET7 has an NEDC range of more than 500 km (311 miles), or more than 700 km (435 miles) with a 100 kWh battery. When coupled with a new solid-state 150 kWh battery, ET7 boasts an NEDC range more than 1,000 km (621 miles).
The 150 kWh battery features a high-performance Si/C composite anode material, and an ultra-rich nickel cathode material. The battery has an ultra-high energy density of 360 Wh/kg—a 50% improvement over the 100 kWh battery.
The solid-state battery’s core technology uses a safe and efficient solid-electrolyte. In-situ solidification creates a safe and stable interface among electrolyte, anode and cathode materials.
Deliveries of the 150 kWh battery are estimated to begin in Q4 2022.
The ET7 is designed to meet both China and Euro NCAP five-star safety standards. Its body structure, featuring an ultrahigh strength steel aluminum hybrid body, has a torsional stiffness of 37,100 N·m/deg. The smart air suspension and continuous damping control are standard on all ET7s. The 4D dynamic control based on high-definition maps and high-resolution sensors can detect road conditions and actively adjust the suspension for a more comfortable ride.
The ET7 features NIO’s latest NAD (NIO Autonomous Driving) technology based on NIO Aquila Super Sensing and NIO Adam Super Computer. NIO has built up the NAD full stack autonomous driving capability including perception algorithms, localization, control strategy and platform software.
NIO Aquila Super Sensing features 33 high-performance sensing units, including 11 8MP high-resolution cameras, one ultralong-range high-resolution lidar, five millimeter wave radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors, two high-precision positioning units, V2X and ADMS. Aquila can generate 8GB data per second. NIO Adam features four Nvidia Orin SoCs with a total computing power of 1,016 TOPS.
ET7 breaks the norm by integrating high-performance sensors naturally into the body. The ET7 is 5,098 mm in length, 1,987 mm in width and 1,505 mm in height with a wheelbase of 3,060 mm.
4 things:
a: I wish them well
b: The NEDC figures should be reduced by 1/3 for realistic figures unless you are crawling round cities.
c: The solid state battery is not due till Q4 22 - so don't hold your breath.
d: They have a lot of self driving hardware, but what is the s/w like - not easy to get that right at all.
+
e: I still wish them well.
Posted by: mahonj | 10 January 2021 at 03:16 PM
This car will prove the law of diminishing returns applies to ever heavier batteries. If this range is not achieved by the lightweight battery they claim they have, it will never leave China. Any sign of excessive weight, poor handling and reduced braking will be seen as a liability and not an asset. I also wonder if the vast resources they have thrown at autonomy will be wasted? With "only" 90 Kwh however (and without the taxi sign on its roof) it would be rather good.
Posted by: Bernard Harper | 11 January 2021 at 03:36 AM
I have the impression that most EV builders are building cars for the race track and not for every day usage on the road. I'm convinced that a vehicle with two motors at 50 to 60 kW each, suited for AWD, with an acceleration time of 0 - 60mph in 10 sec. or slightly below, would do just fine. At any rate, I place more emphasis on range than acceleration.
Posted by: yoatmon | 11 January 2021 at 04:21 AM
With its low drag and low weight, YOATMON may be right. A 2 x 100 kwh e-motors units should enough for a family car The near future SSB and associated longer range will be an extra winning point. Tesla will have to keep up to reduce selling ettc.
Posted by: HarveyD | 11 January 2021 at 09:14 AM
@Harvey, welcome back. Hope you are well.
@Yoat, agreed, the accelerations of most EVs are crazy, especially Tesla.
It is cool, but you'll never use it and if someone (like, say, your son) borrows the car, it could all go very wrong very fast. + the crazy acceleration could result in very high insurance costs.
(My first car, a Ford Fiesta Mk2 had 45 bhp from 957cc, and while its acceleration was awful, I always reached my destination).
Posted by: mahonj | 11 January 2021 at 10:51 AM
Welcome back Harvey....if that is really you. Three statements not punctuated with a question mark? :)
IMHO NIO is missing out. The only significant benefit of their design is reducing recharge time. A small non-swappable pack yielding 80-100 miles of range would cover 99% of trips for most drivers. An expansion bay for the other1% of trips that require more range would mean they could drop the initial cost of the vehicle significantly.
Posted by: Gasbag | 12 January 2021 at 10:36 PM