Two and a half years after first sharing plans to implement a 150 kWh solid-state battery pack in its EVs, NIO seems poised to lastly just do that. The automaker’s digital consumer manuals now function specs of the solid-state pack, provided by WeLion – debuting on the upcoming ES6 SUV. The extra helps current guarantees from NIO’s chief that clients in China will have the ability to choose the energy-dense pack as early as this month.
Throughout its 2020 NIO Day occasion, held in January of 2021, Chinese language EV automaker NIO unveiled a 150 kWh pack, that includes solid-state battery cells configured to the identical design of its present lithium-ion cells. On the time, the corporate was promising its new pack may ship 1,000 km (620 miles) of vary on a single cost.
Like many solid-state applied sciences we’ve lined in recent times, full-scaled commercialization all the time feels two years away. Whereas many battery builders have launched and even showcased much less unstable and extra energy-dense know-how that simply bests lithium-ion chemistry, few have been in a position to scale to a degree that gives price parity with the present cell normal.
NIO itself has confronted a number of delays in implementing the brand new pack in its EVs, to the purpose that we had form of brushed it off altogether. That modified this previous Could when the automaker made a submitting with China’s Ministry of Business and Data Know-how (CMIIT), noting intentions to promote three current EV fashions with expanded battery capabilities supplied by solid-state battery developer WeLion.
In the course of the launch of NIO’s ES6 on the finish of Could, we discovered that the brand new SUV would be the first of these three EVs to supply the 150 kWh solid-state pack as an choice to clients. Following new particulars in its buyer handbook, we’ve discovered the precise specs of this new pack, providing additional hope we could actually see it toll out in July.
NIO’s solid-state pack is over 40% extra power dense
In response to particulars in NIO’s EV consumer manuals identified by CnEVPost, the brand new 150 kWh solid-state pack is barely heavier however considerably extra power dense than the 100 kWh lithium-ion pack from CATL presently being supplied to clients.
For instance, NIO’s solid-state pack weighs 575 kg (1,268 lbs), 20 kg (44 lbs or 3.6%) heavier than the 100 kWh packs (555 kg). Moreover, the brand new pack’s power density is 261 Wh/kg, 44.44% greater than the 180 Wh/kg the 100 kWh lithium-ion pack is providing.
Regardless of its greater density, the 150 kWh pack has the identical size, width, and peak of its 100 kWh predecessor (2,062 mm, 1,539 mm and 185.6 mm, respectively), serving to the transition into precise manufacturing automobile proceed extra easily.
NIO’s solid-state battery producer WeLion shared in a July 1 press launch that it had formally begun delivering the 150 kWh packs to the EV automaker on June 30 and confirmed the 2 corporations signed an annual order – though it didn’t disclose its dimension.
Whereas solid-states are being deliberate for at the very least three NIO EVs, it seems these clients who reserved an ES6 (or EL6 within the EU) might be able to make the most of the higher vary first. NIO chairperson and CEO has shared the ES6 will have the ability to garner 930 km (577 miles) of vary on a single cost with the 150 kWh pack.
That’s not 1,000 km as promised, however SUVs are much less aerodynamic than sedans, so we’d anticipate one other NIO EV just like the ET5, as an example, to hit the centennial mark in kilometers. We’ll hold an eye fixed out to see when the 150 kWh actually turns into selectable to NIO clients and have an interest to see which mannequin(s) will see it delivered first.
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