New Battery Can Charge Zeekr 007 From 10-80% In 10.5 Minutes
The Chinese carmaker has been offering batteries with impressive charging rates for a long time now.
Zeekr
New EV Battery From Zeekr To Offer 500 kW Charging
The unprecedented DC fast charging rate allows replenishing 500 km (310 miles) of range in just 15 minutes. The new EV battery from Zeekr is capable of offering lightning-fast 500 kW DC fast charging. They are calling it the ‘Golden Battery’. This is unequivocally much higher than the fastest charging speeds on offer today, which hover around 360 kW. The Chinese car marque’s new battery technology will support 800 V architecture and adopt LFP (Lithium Ferro Phosphate) cell chemistry to provide upto 500 kW speeds. You might also like: Edmunds Tests The Fastest Charging EV In Real-World Conditions New Zeekr EV Battery Charging Technology While 800 V architecture is offered by other carmakers like Porsche already, 500 kW DC charging speeds are unheard of. The key behind this technology lies in its innovative cell chemistry. Traditionally, LFP batteries have lower energy density in comparison to NMC (Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt) batteries. However, engineers at Zeekr used “newly-developed materials” and “simplified structural design” to construct the new battery pack. This has resulted in a higher volume utilization of the new battery pack at 83.7%. For reference, CATL’s NMC Qilin battery offers 72% volume utilization, as per Autocar. Hence, it is a clear advantage which addresses the energy density issue typically associated with battery packs with LFP chemistry. You might also like: How Inductive / Wireless Charging Can Transform The Future Of EVs? How Safe Is This Battery? At the moment, the Blade Battery by BYD is considered the safest, as per the standard tests. Similarly, this battery from Zeekr has undergone nail penetration test, submersion in saline water at 10% concentration for 48 hours test, 1000° C fire for an hour test, -45° temperature for 8 hours test, 3 km dragging in mud water and debris, getting run over by a 22-ton road roller and a free fall from a height of 10 m. After all this rigorous abuse, the battery was still working. This is a video showcasing these tests without any fire or smoke. Zeekr is owned by Geely. This means that the other car companies under Geely will also benefit from this battery. This includes the likes of Polestar, Lotus, Volvo and Smart. However, the first EV to get this battery will be the Zeekr 007 premium electric sedan. In fact, we might see it next month in some markets. You might also like: Mercedes, BMW Exceed EPA Range in Real-World Test, Tesla Falls Short Learn Electric Cars Says While this is yet another innovative technology, we know that there is no wide-scale infrastructure available which is needed to support such ultra-fast charging speeds. There are only a few charging stations across the world at the moment which can support 500 kW charging capabilities. Most of these are in China and the plans to increase such charging stations are already in place. Going forward, Ionity plans to install 7,000 350 kW chargers in Europe by 2025 and Electrify America will install 10,000 chargers (1,800 charging stations) by 2026 including many 350 kW chargers. Even with 350 kW DC fast chargers, the speeds would be around 15 minutes for 10-80%. As a result, the waiting times will come down drastically. Still, we understand that there is a long time to go before all this becomes the standard. Nevertheless, the signs are all positive.
Zeekr X Arriving in Europe Later This Year – Details
Zeekr X and 001 are slated to be launched in the European markets this year and Sweden and the Netherlands will be the first countries to receive them in the Q4 of 2023. The Zeekr X and 001 are all set to arrive in Europe by the end of this year (2023). This information was announced by the Chinese auto giant at the recently concluded Shanghai Auto Show. Geely-owned electric carmaker mentioned about these models that its EVs will offer an “unrivalled balance of design, technology, driving dynamics, performance and safety, together with long range and fast charging.” Its European headquarters will be located in Amsterdam. You might also like: BYD Dolphin Affordable EV To Make UK Debut You might also like: Skoda Announces 6 New Electric Cars by 2026 Zeekr X – Specs Based on Geely’s Sustainable Electric Architecture (SEA) platform, the electric crossover SUV has a 66 kWh battery pack (silicon carbide) with NMC chemistry which has a single motor rear-wheel-drive version and 560 km (348 miles) range (CLTC) and a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup that generates 422 hp and 543 Nm of peak power and torque allowing a 0-100 km/h sprint in just 3.7 secs. The top speed is rated at 190 km/h (118 mph). Zeekr X Specs Battery 66 kWh Platform Geely’s SEA Drivetrain 2WD / AWD Range (CLTC) 560 km (348 mi) Power / Torque 422 hp / 543 Nm Acceleration (0-100 km/h) 3.7 secs Top Speed 190 km/h (118 mph) Specs You might also like: 5 Upcoming VW Electric Cars to Debut in 2023 – From New ID.3 to ID.7 Zeekr X – Dimensions Zeekr X is a crossover SUV that measures 4,450 mm (175 in.) in length, 1,836 mm (72 in.) in width, 1,572 mm (62 in.) in height and offers a handy wheelbase of 2,750 mm (108.3 in.). The luggage compartment can hold upto 1,182 litres (with rear seats folded) and 362 litres (with rear seats up) of goods. Parameter Dimensions Length 4,450 mm (175 in.) Width 1,836 mm (72 in.) Height 1,572 mm (62 in.) Wheelbase 2,750 mm (108.3 in.) Boot Space 362 – 1,182 litres (12.8 – 41.7 cu ft) Dimensions You might also like: Lexus RZ Electric SUV Outdoor Concept Looks Adventurous Interior and Features Even though the EV will be priced competitively, it doesn’t compromise on the latest tech and convenience features. It has a ginormous 14.6-inch Floating Touchscreen Infotainment System (movable to and from passenger side), Wireless Charging, Ambient Lighting, Velvet-line Upholstery, Facial Recognition, Removable Mini Fridge, Power-Operated Door Opening, 13-Speaker Yamaha Sound System, Digital Instrument Cluster, 24.3-inch AR HUD (Head Up Display), moveable Central Armrest, USB-C Ports, Electrically Adjustable Front Seats with Thigh Support and Massage Function with Zero Gravity Mode, Rearward Foldable Retractable Rear Seats, Glass Roof, and much more. You might also like: MG Cyberster EV To Be The Most Powerful MG Yet Price Affordability, in addition to all the premium features, is the attractive aspect of the Zeekr X. In the Chinese market, the electric crossover retails for 189,800 Yuan (approx. $27,600). It would be interesting to see if Zeekr is able to replicate the price range of the X somewhat after the Europe launch.
Zeekr 009 Minivan (MPV) Launched – Specs, Range, Features & More
Zeekr has launched its second luxury electric vehicle, the 009 Minivan with an MPV body style after the 001 station wagon. The Zeekr 009 Minivan (MPV) has been launched in the Chinese market. Zeekr is a premium Chinese car marque under the ownership of Geely Automobile Holdings which also owns Volvo, Polestar and Lotus. Founded in 2021, Zeekr is known for its battery-powered vehicles. Geely’s approach to electric cars comes from the growing competition against Tesla and Nio. Zeekr 009 and 001 are based on Geely’s SEA platform. It is designed at Zeekr’s design centre (Gothenburg, Sweden) by the team led by a former designer at Audi, Stefan Sielaff. You might also like: Hyundai Ioniq 7 – Expected Specs, Range, Features & More Zeekr 009 MPV (Minivan) – Specs The electric MPV comes with 2 battery pack options – 116 kWh and 140 kWh which allow driving ranges of 702 km and 822 km on the CLTC, respectively. Note that these figures will be much lower on the other standard test cycles like the WLTP and EPA. The dual electric motor setup powers all four wheels with a total system output of 536 hp and 505 lb-ft (685 Nm). Despite weighing in at 2,830 kg, the massive battery pack and AWD setup enable a brisk 0-100 km/h acceleration time of just 4.5 secs. The smaller battery pack can be charged from 10-80% in just 28 mins. Zeekr 009 MPV Minivan Specs Drivetrain Dual-Motor AWD Battery 116 kWh & 140 kWh Power 536 hp Torque 505 lb-ft (685 Nm) Range 436 – 511 mi (702 – 822 km) Acceleration (0-62 mph / 0-100 km/h) 4.5 secs Weight 2,830 kg Charging 10-80% in 28 mins Drag Coefficient 0.27 Zeekr 009 MPV (Minivan) – Specs You might also like: Polestar 3 Electric SUV – Specs, Range, Price & Features Dimensions Being a massive electric MPV, the dimensions of the Zeekr 009 speak for themselves. The Minivan is over 5.2 m long and 2 m wide. The colossal wheelbase of 3.2 m liberates a cavernous space inside the cabin which is a trait of MPVs, in general. Zeekr 009 MPV Minivan Dimensions Length 205 in (5,209 mm) Width 80 in (2,024 mm) Wheelbase 126 in (3,205 mm) Zeekr 009 MPV (Minivan) – Dimensions Interior and Features The interior of the EV is quite plush. The centre of attraction, quite literally, is the 15.4-inch Touchscreen Infotainment Display and a 15.6-inch Ceiling-Mounted Screen for the Rear Passengers, in addition to a 10.25-inch Driver’s Instrument Cluster, 6-Seat Arrangement with Massaging Function for the Second Row, Nappa Full-Grain Leather Upholstery, ADAS Functions with 30 Pro Driving Assistance Features with a dozen Cameras and 13 Radars, a 20-Speaker Premium Yamaha Sound System, AI-Powered Virtual Assistant, Voice and Face Recognition, and more. You might also like: Voyah Free Electric SUV To Enter Europe – Specs, Range, Price! Price The deliveries are set to commence in the first quarter of 2023. The prices start at 499,000 Yuan for the base version with the 116 kWh battery and go up to 588,000 Yuan for the 140 kWh battery-powered EV. This roughly translates to $68,500 USD and $80,660 USD respectively. These are quite attractive prices for such a huge and feature-laden electric MPV. Nevertheless, once Zeekr starts exporting its products to international markets, these prices will shoot up significantly.