Prototype of the Chinese brand Nio traveled 1044 kilometers with a single charge of the 150 kWh battery.
After confirming the introduction in Europe of the Firefly sub-brand, exclusive for affordable electric vehicles, Chinese company Nio has just announced that it will start mass production of a new semi-solid battery (which uses gel, clay or resin electrolytes, offering higher energy density) with a capacity of 150 kWh (140 kWh usable), the largest in passenger cars, according to Car News China.
The new technology will first arrive in the already known ET7 model, with a prototype of this version setting a new autonomy record in the consortium. The brand’s CEO, William Li, proved the potential of this new battery by driving the model for a total distance of 1044 kilometers without stopping to charge. Over more than 12 hours (14, including mandatory stops for safety reasons), the test took place at relatively low temperatures (between 28 and 54 F), at an average speed of 83.9 km/h.
According to the available information, the 150 kWh battery of the ET7 will only be available in a long-term rental system. Initially, the company estimated the cost of this battery at around €32,000, the same as the Nio ET5… complete.
Manufactured by WeLion New Energy Technology, the battery that will equip Nio models from 2024 has a single cell energy density of 360 Wh/kg, or 260 Wh/kg for the entire set (the latest Tesla cells have less than 300 Wh/kg).