A low coefficient of drag (Cd) is crucial to maximize range, prompting automakers to push for more aerodynamic electric vehicles. The Nio EC7, the Chinese automaker’s new flagship SUV, is another example of this trend.
Unveiled at the recent Nio Day 2022 presentation in Heifei, China, the EC7 boasts an aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0.23, which Nio claims is the lowest for a production SUV, a feature that will help maximize its range. This places the EC7 ahead of the Tesla Model X and the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, with 0.24 and 0.26, respectively. Whether you consider Nio’s “coupe SUV” as an SUV or not, it also expects competition from the upcoming Lucid Gravity.
Assisting the EC7 in slicing through the air is a coupe-like shape and an adjustable rear wing similar to a supercar, which can be repositioned to reduce resistance or add aerodynamic load, depending on the circumstances.
A dual-motor powertrain combines a 300 kW (402 hp) induction motor and a 180 kW (241 hp) permanent magnet motor, propelling the EC7 from 0 to 62 mph in 3.8 seconds, according to Nio.
While Nio didn’t delve into many more details, it also highlighted the EC7’s panoramic glass roof, which features electrochromic technology that allows adjusting transparency in five levels, ranging from fully transparent to opaque. The 20.8-square-foot glass surface also has dual-layer acoustic and thermal insulation, as claimed by Nio.
The EC7 was introduced alongside a redesigned version of the Nio ES8 SUV. Both models are based on Nio’s second-generation vehicle architecture. Nio was widely expected to bring the first-generation ES8 to the U.S. a few years ago. At that time, it was sold for roughly half the price of a Model X in China.
Nio aimed for a U.S. initial public offering in 2018, but that never happened, and plans to sell cars here gradually faded. Since then, the company has focused on its domestic market but recently expanded to Europe.
Battery-swapping technology, which Nio claims can provide a fully charged battery in three minutes, has been a distinctive feature in China and is also part of Nio’s plans for Europe. Nio reached 1,000 battery-swapping stations earlier this year and partnered with Shell for the technology in Europe.
In addition to expanding the network of battery-swapping stations and chargers, Nio is upgrading the hardware with a new generation of battery-swapping stations, along with 500 kW charging technology, which the company first showcased in July 2022.
