The Lucid Air electric car has an official range of 834 kilometers. It was the longest range of any pure electric car until GAC recently unveiled the Aion LX Plus, which reaches 1.008 km thanks to a 144,4 kWh battery.
Chinese electric car maker GAC Aion aims to be one of the first in China to offer a NEDC range of 1.000 km (~621 miles) with its new LX Plus electric SUV. The upcoming electric car was recently processed through one of the final stages at China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), meaning it will soon be available to overseas consumers.
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Aion is a zero-emissions-focused brand of the Guangzhou Automobile Corporation (GAC) Group. Currently, the manufacturer has five models of electric cars on the market in addition to the aforementioned electric SUV, including a standard version of the LX.
Aion LX Plus electric SUV will arrive with a 144,4 kWh battery and a range of 1.000 km
According to a report by CnEVPost, Aion's LX Plus EV electric car has reached the product announcement stage through China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). Product announcement is the final major regulatory process for a given vehicle to go through before it is made available to Chinese consumers.
The product announcement posted on the MIIT website shares some new specifications for the Plus version of Aion's LX electric SUV. This includes a 144,4 kWh ternary lithium battery, offering an energy density of 205 Wh/kg and an NEDC range of 1.008 km (~626 miles). What might be most interesting about the LX Plus's battery is that it will provide more power and range with the same package size as the current LX model.
The automaker plans to achieve this using its proprietary silicon sponge negative cell battery technology, which it unveiled to the public last April.
New technology from the Chinese manufacturer promises double autonomy and minimal recharge time
According to GAC Aion, silicon sponge technology enables higher energy density, which can reduce battery size by 20% and overall weight by 14%.
Using new technology in the current battery volume of the Aion LX electric SUV, the range of the electric car is able to increase from 650 km to 1.008 km within the same footprint. Concrete details and pricing are expected to come during the Guangzhou Auto Show on November 19, where the Aion LX Plus is set to be officially unveiled.
Market for electric SUVs with great range continues to expand
The NEDC range is arguably the most elusive of the certified range standards, but 1.000km would be quite the feat nonetheless. in the United States, consumers have applauded Lucid Motors for achieving 834 km of range in EPA tests in the Dream Edition Range Air. The electric SUV from the Chinese manufacturer is promising an additional range of almost 200 km and that of a crossover SUV. 1.000 km is the high point that electric vehicle makers have climbed in China.
Competitor NIO seems to have achieved this with its ET7 Sedan, but it uses a 150 kWh semi-solid battery instead of a ternary lithium pack. Most would say that you don't need 1.000 km, but it is undeniable that automakers have been working to generate more autonomy and less charging time.
