Nio ET5: the Chinese Tesla Model 3 promises record autonomy

Nio presented the ET18 on Saturday, December 5, a 100% electric sedan in direct competition with the benchmark for electric cars, the Tesla Model 3. The Nio ET5 also promises a minimalist and futuristic design, breathtaking performance and automatic pilot. convincing. The “Chinese Model 3” stands out for the autonomy it claims.

Record battery capacity

Indeed, the Nio ET5 is offered with three battery capacities, including a record capacity for a passenger car of all sizes, which logically allows it to claim record autonomy:

• Standard Range: 75 kWh, 550 km range
• Long Range: 100 kWh, 700 km range
• Ultralong Range: 150 kWh, 1 km of autonomy

These are ranges according to Chinese CLTC (China Light-duty vehicle Test Cycle) approval, which are even more optimistic than European WLTP approval.

Record autonomy

In comparison, a Tesla Model 3 Performance, equipped with a 75 kWh battery, promises a CLTC range of 675 km, but a WLTP range of 547 km. At first glance, the Nio ET5 is therefore less efficient than the Tesla Model 3, one of the benchmarks in this area, despite its Cd of 0,24. If we transpose the ratio between CLTC and WLTP of the Tesla Model 3 to the Nio, the ET5 could offer respectively 445 km, 567 km and 810 km of WLTP autonomy, which would remain a record. The current record holder is the immense Mercedes EQS 450+, which claims a WLTP range of 780 km with its 107,8 kWh battery.

Battery swap in less than 5 minutes

In addition to offering good battery life, the Nio ET5 will not need to stop for a long time when the batteries are empty. Nio actually relies on the removable battery: the user stops at a battery exchange station, a robot replaces the empty battery with a full battery in less than 5 minutes, and we leave. You can also recharge the battery by plugging in the car, but the manufacturer has not communicated the charging powers.

Technologies

In its most efficient version, the Nio ET5 has a 150 kW motor at the front, a 210 kW motor at the rear, for a total power of 360 kW (480 hp) and a maximum torque of 700 Nm which propel it from 0 to 100 km/h in 4,3 seconds.

The interior includes a tablet with a 12,8-inch OLED screen, a 10,2-inch instrument cluster, a Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 sound system and makes extensive use of natural or recycled materials.

Price and availability date

The first deliveries are planned in China in September 2022. The price starts at 328 yuan (000 euros). Nio also offers a Battery as a Service (BaaS) plan, which lowers the purchase price to 45 yuan (500 euros). Nio rents the 258 and 000 kWh batteries for 35 and 800 yuan per month respectively (75 and 100 euros per month).

Nio will have 1300 battery swap stations by the end of 2022 in China. The manufacturer started its international expansion in 2021, in Norway. It plans to launch in Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark in 2022. It plans to establish itself in 25 countries by 2025. It has already established a partnership with Shell for the installation of stations battery exchange in Europe.

© Nio