China’s GAC to produce electric first-ever SUV with a range of 1,000 km
By Ishika Dangayach on Aug 04, 2021 | 05:34 AM IST
Guangzhou Automobile Corporation (GAC) introduced a new medium-sized SUV Aion LX which is set to go into production in China, with the potential to provide customers with 1000-kilometers (km) of range on a single charge.
The electric car has reached a maximum range of 904km during hot-weather testing, in which the car was driven in 36-degree heat and 90% humidity — implying that a 1000km range is achievable in more favorable conditions.
The company's new spongy silicon cathode technology is touted to allow for more energy density with less weight, with the Aion LX's battery is 14% lighter and 20% smaller than prior packs, resulting in a 150kWh battery pack in the car.
That means, the GAC Aion LX will have the longest all-electric range of any production car on the market, surpassing the current record-holder, the Tesla Model S Long Range.
The Tesla has a stated range of 652km, implying that the Aion LX has a driving range that is 53% more than the Model S while the Tesla Model S's largest battery is 100kWh.
The Tesla Model S Long Range, on the other hand, is evaluated against the internationally approved WLTP cycle. However, it is unclear what testing circumstances or methodology were utilized for GAC Aion's 1,000-kilometer claim.
The Chinese automobile sector has been pursuing the elusive 1000km mark to entice consumers away from traditional petrol and diesel vehicles.
It's the same as driving from Shanghai to Wuhan, London to Zurich, or Sydney to Melbourne - but with more range.
However, GAC is not the only company making lofty claims. Nio, a Chinese automaker, claims its forthcoming ET7 sedan would employ cutting-edge solid-state batteries to accomplish 1000km, with production set to begin in 2022.
Only time will tell whether the claims of 1,000 km of all-electric driving range from the GAC Aion or Nio are true when evaluated against globally recognized criteria. However, if they can get close, they will be game-changers, says a report.
Source: Drive