Feature

How engineering is breaking down the barriers to EV adoption in China

The news that Tesla's electric Model 3 was April's best-selling car in the UK, albeit with 658 sold, was nonetheless a pivotal moment for the automotive industry.

01/06/2020 14:48:25

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Despite COVID-19 disrupting car sales and creating anomalies where the normally best-selling Ford Fiesta didn’t even feature in the top 10, few can deny that EVs are starting to make their presence felt.

Europe was the fastest growing region in 2019, with
a 47 percent upturn in EV and hybrid registrations but China remains the leader in EV sales. Despite a slowdown in 2019, over 1.2 million were purchased by eager buyers.

To increase the appeal of EVs and allay the issues of range that
are often cited by potential buyers, leading Chinese OEMs – such as NIO – have turned to solutions drawn from the latest in materials, design and infrastructure. Launched only in 2014, NIO has already developed a range of EVs that span from the record-breaking
EP9 through to the ES6, a 5-seater SUV; the EC6, a Coupe SUV; and the new ES8, its six or seven-seater SUV. The latter – fully refreshed in April – now uses a combination of 160kW PM and 240kW IM motors and a
100kWh liquid-cooled battery pack. Together, these ensure that the new ES8 strikes a balance between long range and high performance with 0 to 100km/h in 4.9 seconds and NEDC extended range of up to 360 miles (580km).

Read the full article in the June issue of DPA.

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.