ARCFOX Alpha-T sets energy density record for EV batteries

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China regularly publishes a catalog of recommended electric cars eligible for government subsidies and now the fifth batch in 2020 has been officially announced.

In this catalog we have a lot of interesting information about Chinese electric cars. Let’s see some of it.

Geely Geometry C

Wheelbase: 2.700 mm
Length: 4.432 mm
Width: 1.833 mm
Height: 1.560 mm
Curb weight: 1.665 kg
Electric motor: 150 kW and 310 N.m
Maximum speed: 150 km/h (93 mph)
NEDC range: 550 km (342 miles)
WLTP (estimation): 412 km (256 miles)
NEDC efficiency: 14 kWh/100 km
WLTP efficiency (estimation): 18,7 kWh/100 km
Battery gravimetric energy density: 183,23 Wh/kg

Geely Geometry C uses battery cells made by CATL.

ARCFOX α-T (Alpha-T)

ARCFOX α-T

Standard range version (NEDC 480 km)

Wheelbase: 2.915 mm
Length: 4.788 mm
Width: 1.940 mm
Height: 1.683 mm
Curb weight: 2.030 kg
Electric motor: 160 kW and 360 N.m
Maximum speed: 170 km/h (106 mph)
NEDC range: 480 km (298 miles)
WLTP (estimation): 360 km (224 miles)
NEDC efficiency: 16 kWh/100 km
WLTP efficiency (estimation): 21,3 kWh/100 km
Battery gravimetric energy density: 187,47 Wh/kg

Long range version (NEDC 653 km - 93,6 kWh)

Wheelbase: 2.915 mm
Length: 4.788 mm
Width: 1.940 mm
Height: 1.683 mm
Curb weight: 2.125 kg
Electric motor: 160 kW and 360 N.m
Maximum speed: 170 km/h (106 mph)
NEDC range: 653 km (406 miles)
WLTP (estimation): 490 km (304 miles)
NEDC efficiency: 16,3 kWh/100 km
WLTP efficiency (estimation): 21,7 kWh/100 km
Battery gravimetric energy density: 194,12 Wh/kg

Pre-sale price (after subsidies): 280.000 yuan (36.086 euros)

ARCFOX α-T uses NCM 811 battery cells made by SK Innovation.

Polestar (Jixing) 2 (72 kWh)

Polestar 2

Wheelbase: 2.735 mm
Length: 4.606 mm
Width: 1.859 mm
Height: 1.482 mm
Curb weight: 2.132 kg
Electric motor: 150 kW and 330 N.m (each motor, it has two)
Maximum speed: 170 km/h (106 mph)
NEDC range: 450 km (280 miles)
WLTP (estimation): 337 km (210 miles)
NEDC efficiency: 17,5 kWh/100 km
WLTP efficiency (estimation): 23,3 kWh/100 km
Battery gravimetric energy density: 148,5 Wh/kg

Price (before subsidies): 298.000-418.000 yuan (38.406-53.871 euros)

Polestar uses LG Chem and CATL as battery cell suppliers.

GAC Aion V

Standard range version (NEDC 530 km - 73 kWh)

Wheelbase: 2.830 mm
Length: 4.586 mm
Width: 1.920 mm
Height: 1.728 mm
Curb weight: 1.875-1.900 kg
Electric motor: 135 kW and 350 N.m
Maximum speed: 165 km/h (102 mph)
NEDC range: 530 km (329 miles)
WLTP (estimation): 397 km (247 miles)
NEDC efficiency: 14,8 kWh/100 km
WLTP efficiency (estimation): 19,7 kWh/100 km
Battery gravimetric energy density: 170 Wh/kg

Long range version (NEDC 600 km - 80 kWh)

Wheelbase: 2.830 mm
Length: 4.586 mm
Width: 1.920 mm
Height: 1.728 mm
Curb weight: 1.933-1.960 kg
Electric motor: 135 kW and 350 N.m
Maximum speed: 165 km/h (102 mph)
NEDC range: 600 km (373 miles)
WLTP (estimation): 450 km (280 miles)
NEDC efficiency: 14,8 kWh/100 km
WLTP efficiency (estimation): 19,7 kWh/100 km
Battery gravimetric energy density: 175 Wh/kg

Pre-sale price (after subsidies): 170.000 yuan (21.909 euros)

AIWAYS U5

Standard range version (NEDC 405 km)

Wheelbase: 2.800 mm
Length: 4.680 mm
Width: 1.865 mm
Height: 1.700 mm
Curb weight: 1.720-1.770 kg
Electric motor: 150 kW and 310 N.m
Maximum speed: 160 km/h (99 mph)
NEDC range: 405 km (252 miles)
WLTP (estimation): 304 km (189 miles)
NEDC efficiency: 13,8 kWh/100 km
WLTP efficiency (estimation): 18,4 kWh/100 km
Battery gravimetric energy density: 145 Wh/kg

Long range version (NEDC 503 km)

Wheelbase: 2.800 mm
Length: 4.680 mm
Width: 1.865 mm
Height: 1.700 mm
Curb weight: 1.720-1.770 kg
Electric motor: 150 kW and 310 N.m
Maximum speed: 160 km/h (99 mph)
NEDC range: 503 km (313 miles)
WLTP (estimation): 377 km (234 miles)
NEDC efficiency: 13,8 kWh/100 km
WLTP efficiency (estimation): 18,4 kWh/100 km
Battery gravimetric energy density: 172 Wh/kg

Price (after subsidies): 197.900-292.100 yuan (25.505-37.645 euros)

AIWAYS U5 uses battery cells made by CATL.

NETA (Nezha) U

NETA U

Standard range version (NEDC 401 km)

Wheelbase: 2.770 mm
Length: 4.530 mm
Width: 1.860 mm
Height: 1.628 mm
Curb weight: 1.675 kg
Electric motor: 150 kW and 310 N.m
Maximum speed: 155 km/h (96 mph)
NEDC range: 401 km (249 miles)
WLTP (estimation): 301 km (187 miles)
NEDC efficiency: 13,2 kWh/100 km
WLTP efficiency (estimation): 17,6 kWh/100 km
Battery gravimetric energy density: 171 Wh/kg

Long range version (NEDC 501 km)

Wheelbase: 2.770 mm
Length: 4.530 mm
Width: 1.860 mm
Height: 1.628 mm
Curb weight: 1.745 kg
Electric motor: 150 kW and 310 N.m
Maximum speed: 155 km/h (96 mph)
NEDC range: 501 km (311 miles)
WLTP (estimation): 376 km (233 miles)
NEDC efficiency: 13,5 kWh/100 km
WLTP efficiency (estimation): 18 kWh/100 km
Battery gravimetric energy density: 172 Wh/kg

Price (after subsidies): 139.900-198.800 yuan (18.030-25.621 euros)

NETA U uses battery cells made by CATL.

Chery eQ5

Wheelbase: 2.805 mm
Length: 4.630 mm
Width: 1.910 mm
Height: 1.655 mm
Curb weight: 1.760 kg
Electric motor: 130 kW and 280 N.m
Maximum speed: 150 km/h (93 mph)
NEDC range: 510 km (317 miles)
WLTP (estimation): 382 km (238 miles)
NEDC efficiency: 15 kWh/100 km
WLTP efficiency (estimation): 20 kWh/100 km
Battery gravimetric energy density: 160 Wh/kg

Estimated price: 200.000-250.000 yuan (25.776-32.220 euros)

The Chery eQ5 was designed by the Italian Pininfarina and will be built on an all-aluminum pure electric platform.

Note: For the WLTP estimations I considered WLTP to be 3/4 of NEDC.

Summing up…

With a very impressive figure of 194,12 Wh/kg, the ARCFOX α-T now holds the record of having the most energy dense battery in a mass-produced electric car. The NCM 811 battery cells made by SK Innovation are very impressive and we’ll soon see them powering other electric cars.

It’s curious that electric cars such as ARCFOX α-T, BYD Han EV and Xpeng P7 made by Chinese automakers seem to be the best alternatives to Tesla so far. Years ago we might have thought that German premium automakers would be the first to produce good alternatives…

Anyway, Chinese electric cars have come a long way since the old BYD e6 launched in 2009, they are no longer super slow and inefficient. From now on, I will pay more attention to Chinese electric cars, some of which will end up being sold worldwide.

What do you think? Is there a Chinese electric car that you would like to have?

More info:

https://www.xchuxing.com/thread-24407-1-1.html

https://www.polestar.com/us/polestar-2/

https://www.ai-ways.eu/

https://www.hozonauto.com/en/u.html