Nio Reveals ET9 EV Flagship, Promising Ultra-Fast 600-KW Charging

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The ET9 sits atop the Chinese automaker’s electric lineup, and it features a 900-volt electrical architecture that supports lightning-quick charging speeds.

BY BILL GIRO EMMA PUBLISHED: JAN 5, 2024

NIO

  • The Nio ET9 will enter production in China next year, and it offers a 900-volt architecture and charging speeds of up to 600 kW.
  • Like other Nio products, it will also be able to use battery-swapping stations in China.
  • It includes steer-by-wire technology and will support higher-level autonomous driving with three LIDAR scanners.

Chinese EV automaker Nio seems no closer to its stated aim to ultimately sell cars in the States, but it is certainly busy in its homeland. The company’s latest model, the freshly unveiled ET9 flagship, sits at the top of a range that now consists of nine electric models.

The ET9 is packed with technology, including a 900-volt electrical architecture and steer-by-wire, but it also promises commanding presence. With an overall length of 209.7 inches, it is 0.8 inch longer than the extended-wheelbase version of the Bentley Bentayga, with the Nio sitting on a huge 128 inch wheelbase. Despite its size, the ET9’s proportions are those of an extra-large crossover rather than a true SUV—Nio describes it as a “landjet” design—with its 63.8 inch height making it 4.7 inches less tall than the Bentayga.

NIO

The ET9 has all-wheel drive through two motors. A smaller 241-hp asynchronous motor is at the front and a 456-hp permanent-magnet synchronous motor is at the rear, producing a total of 697 hp. The 120.0-kWh battery operates at 925 volts and is claimed to support DC fast-charging at up to 600 kW. We don’t have any claimed performance numbers, or an overall range yet, but NIO says that under optimal conditions it will be possible to recharge at a rate that will provide up to 158 miles of additional range in just five minutes. Nio also offers automated battery swap stations in China, with these allowing a depleted battery to be replaced with a fully charged one in under five minutes.

The ET9 is the first Nio to use steer-by-wire, a technology set to become increasingly commonplace in coming years. (The Tesla Cybertruck also features it, and we have recently driven Toyota’s prototype version.) This has no physical connection between steering wheel and rack, with all inputs – as well as feedback – delivered electrically, with redundancy in the event of power failure. Nio has previously announced a technical collaboration with supplier ZF Group on steer-by-wire, leading us to assume that supplier has built the ET9’s system. The ET9 also has rear-wheel steering and an active suspension featuring height-adjustable air springs.

As with other high-end Chinese market cars, the ET9 has clearly been designed around the priorities of rear-seat passengers. The back takes clear inspiration from private jets, with two reclinable seats and an aircraft-style tray table. The rear seats offer up to 45 degrees of recline with no fewer than 11 motorized shades to darken the cabin at the touch of a button, plus a noise-cancellation system.

NIO

Occupants will also have an abundance of digital displays, with a 15.6-inch central touchscreen in the dashboard and 14.6-inch displays hung from the front seats for each rear occupant, plus a smaller 8.0-inch control screen between the back seats.

The ET9 will support higher-level assisted driving with no fewer than three LIDAR arrays, one looking forward and one monitoring each side. The computing power to run such systems comes from what is claimed to be the world’s first 5 nanometer automotive-grade chip, the Shenji NX9031—a statistic that ET9 owners can doubtless use to impress their friends.

NIO

The ET9 is available for preorder in China, with deliveries set to begin in the first quarter of 2025. Prices start at around $112,000 at current exchange rates.

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  • JustSomeDude2 days ago It looks great, because it’s an amalgamation of cribbed designs from other great looking cars. The greenhouse is from an Audi A7, the rear is from a Jaguar F Pace and the frontend looks like new Buicks. Reply 4Share 3 replies

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