The Aion LX Plus announced as the first electric SUV with 600+ miles range
UPDATE: The Aion LX Plus is now officially announced at the 19th Guangzhou Auto Show with a 1008km range on a charge, making it the first electric car unveiled with more than a 1000km (626 miles) driving range thanks to the charge in its huge 144kWh battery pack.
GAC's Aion LX Plus, reportedly making a cameo during the Guangzhou Auto Show on November 19, might be the second EV announced with a 1000km (~626 miles) range, but the first such SUV. The Aion LX Plus just passed certification at the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), clearing the last regulatory hurdle before its commercial debut. As you can see from the certification files, the specs table mentions 1008km of driving range on a charge.
Granted, these are on the generous NEDC cycle, making them hard to compare, but this would still make the LX Plus the electric SUV with the longest announced range so far, though not with the highest energy efficiency. Local competitor NIO unveiled its ET7 electric sedan as the first to hit the 1000km barrier, but its solid-state battery is yet to enter mass production. The Aion LX Plus will be using a more orthodox ternary lithium battery that could allow it to hit the showrooms sooner. GAC managed to fit a 144.4 kWh pack in a body slightly larger than the "regular" Aion LX SUV by employing a custom sponge silicon anode that rings in higher energy density.
The company showcased the technology back in April, mentioning it would reduce the battery size by 20% and its weight by 14%. GAC said it tested the range by pushing the LX model over a variety of terrains and allegedly managed to squeeze 904km out of it with the A/C on. Moreover, the sponge silicon tech allows for fast charging, so the Aion LX Plus would be able to take advantage of the company's proprietary stations that can top it up to 80% in just 8 minutes. Those are still few and far between, though, and the Aion LX Plus will only go on sale in China for now, but knowing there are 600-mile EVs on the market would be a relief for that pesky range anxiety problem.
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