NIO are electric cars in the premium class (Audi and BNW) with the option to switch to fully charged batteries along the road in a few minutes. The cars are manufactured in China and handled in Norway by NIO Norge.
Bring back the station wagon! I would like to be part of a popular movement that demands that the car manufacturers bring the station wagons back into their model ranges. Not only are they practical - they can also be very beautiful.
NIO ET5 Touring
"Beautiful" was the first word I thought when NIO Norge unveiled the ET5 Touring last night. NIO shows that practical electric cars don't have to look like butter boxes. A great design with large wheels, marked shoulders, and an elegant roof profile that ends in a sports car-like rear. The panoramic roof is stretched all the way back to the roof spoiler and reinforces the alignment.
NIO EL6
It was presented as a small SUV, but with a length of 4,85 meters it can probably be characterized as a rather large car - without being huge. The EL6 is built on the same platform as the ET5 Touring, and both have the same engine – a 150 Kw front induction motor and a 210 Kw rear permanent magnet motor with electronic 4-wheel drive – a total of 360 Kw or 490 hp. That's enough to place both cars in the "4 second club". The EL6 can do 0-100 in 4,5 seconds, while the ET5 Touring takes just 4,0 seconds.
Station wagon or SUV
The trend is clear all over the world. Station wagons are losing market share to SUVs, and it works regardless of whether they are electric cars or thermal cars. ET5 Touring and EL6 represent both model types. Looking at them together, you see that the ET5 Touring is sleeker, more sporty, but with 490 liters of luggage space (about the same as the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series) it falls short compared to the taller SUV which has 680 liters of luggage space . The ET5 Touring can tow a decent 1400kg on a trailer. The SUV EL6 is far from a "box car". Compared to the big ES8, it appears far more station wagon-like with the same fine lines as the ET5 Touring. The maximum trailer weight for the EL6 is 1200 kg - i.e. 200 kg less than the ET5 Touring. The choice between station wagon and SUV is not easy.
Prices
In terms of price, both cars cost below the VAT threshold of NOK 500 with BaaS (Battery as a Service). With a 000 kwh battery pack, the EL75 costs 6 plus a monthly rental of NOK 489, which includes 000 battery changes and 1399 kwh of electricity. If you choose the ET2 Touring, the price is NOK 200 - i.e. NOK 5 cheaper - with the same battery rental. With a 439 kwh battery pack, both cars get a weight tax surcharge of NOK 000 and battery rent of NOK 50 a month. It is worth mentioning the equipment packages which are on par with the most expensive car brands. I recommend the comfort package and "matrix" lighting, which dynamically adapts the light to the surroundings, - and an electric hitch is not to be despised, is it?
Ordering and delivery
You can pre-order the cars from today, and if I'm not mistaken, you get the comfort package with the purchase. Ordinary orders open from 1 August, and the estimated delivery time is Q4 this year.
The first images of the ET5 Touring
NIO ET5 Touring – driver's seat
NIO ET5 Touring – the trunk
NIO ET5 Touring. Can upgrade battery pack in minutes.
NIO ET5 Touring - rear seat
NIO EL6
NIO EL6 just revealed
NIO EL6 – the front interior
NIO EL6 – the rear interior
Both the EL6 and ET5 Touring come with rear seats that can fold down as 40-20-40..
Dashborder in EL6 follows NIO's 2-part design theme.
NIO EL6 – the trunk
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OIL ET5Nine ET5 on Norwegian soilNIO House OsloNIO changes the battery in 3 minutes
On the NAF's practice track, you could test the 4-wheel drive.
On the same day that the first customers received their cars, I got a closer look at Nio's "little" newcomer. Here are my first impressions.
New models from Nio
Nio's currently smallest model is far from a small car, but small compared to the other models from Nio and the first low-built car in a sedan version. Prices start from 426 with Battery-as-a-Service and 000 with the smallest battery of 531 kwh. This is a popular price range where you get a long range and four-wheel drive. Nio ET500 shares a user interface with the larger models, including the excellent system for voice control. according to Marius Hayler, Managing Director, NIO Norway, Nio will soon launch three new models that will further complement the model range.
Nio ET5 can be delivered in 9 different colours. Oddly enough, it was nicest in black, I think.
look and feel
When you unlock the car, the door handles slide out. The doors close with "soft-close". Inside you can choose 4 colours. Several of the cars had a bright interior with a Flux-like green tone. Inside, the full panoramic roof creates a good sense of space. The seats seemed firm, and I quickly found a good driving position. With the comfort package you get seats with heating, ventilation and massage. The user interface is screen-based as on the Tesla, with a multifunction steering wheel, as well as voice control. The interior is modern and minimalist, where advanced mood lighting and premium music systems can help create a special atmosphere. In evening lighting, the mood lighting can be made to move in time with the music. Just ask Nomi!
The NIO ET5 has a modern, stylish and minimalist interior.
Behind the wheel
There are 6 different driving programs, Sport+, Sport, Comfort, Eco and Snow, Trailer, as well as a custom one. Soon there will also be a driving program for sand and wet roads. Driving around NAF's closed practice track didn't give a proper road feel, but my general impression is that the car seems firm like a Tesla without tipping and dove. The steering feel was good and at low speed the systems kept the car stable in tight evasive manoeuvres. The four-wheel drive system engaged seamlessly. Nio ET5 can stop from 100 km/h in just 33,8 meters and on the smooth sections the speed was reduced quickly without any drama.
Equipped for self-driving functions
I have not familiarized myself with the car's self-driving features, but the ET5 is equipped with 7 high-resolution cameras, 4 surround cameras, LIDAR, radar, ultrasonic sensors and more. I tested self-parking and it worked impressively. Firstly, the system could mark all parking spaces on the screen, and maneuver the car to the desired space, even if it was several car lengths away.
The Nio ET5 has brake calipers made by Nio. Larger models have Brembo brakes.
The rear part is successful. Looks like a hatchback, but is a regular sedan. Visibility to the rear through the rear window is limited.
Say hello to Nomi!
Nomi is Nio's version of the Apple Homebox. You can ask Nomi anything about the car - and probably a bit more, if she's in the mood. She can hear who is speaking. If the passenger requests a massage, she starts the massage in the passenger seat. The voice control works well, and enables the driver to stay focused on the road. It is perfect for those of us who need reading glasses to read the screen. In the Nio ET5, it is optional equipment to have Nomi "Humanized" with its characteristic eyes visible on the dashboard. In the standard version, Nomi is "Simplified" without eyes. Understandably, some people find that it can be disturbing that someone follows them all the time. Did you know that Nomi actually stands for "know me"?
Almost everyone rents batteries
According to Marius Hayler, 96 percent of customers have chosen to rent batteries - Battery-as-a-Service. That is a surprisingly high proportion, especially when you consider that most Norwegians might want to own. Those who rent can use it Power Swap along the road. It only takes 5 minutes to change the batteries. Another aspect of renting batteries is that the rent includes 200 kwh per month from Nios Power Swap or Power Charge stations. Today there are 4 stations, but that number could rise to approximately 20, based on obtaining building permits.
Comes with a 150 kwh battery
It is also worth mentioning that battery hire allows you to change the battery size as needed. Today you get a 75 kwh or 100 kwh battery, while Nio's large 150 kwh battery will soon be rolled out in China. The Nio ET5 is prepared for these batteries, so if you rent a 100 kwh battery today, you can upgrade to 150 kwh – probably before the end of the year. Also consider that even if you, as the first owner, do not need the largest battery, the next owner is free to choose. That could make Nio attractive on the used market.
The Nio ET5 is larger and has more equipment than the Tesla Model 3 (Terjes Bilers' reportage car).
Facts about the NIO ET5 100kwh
Weights and Measures
Length, width, height: 479 x 191 x 150 cm
Wheelbase: 289 cm
Net weight without driver: 2160 kg
Luggage compartment: 386 liters (no "Frunk")
Max trailer weight: 1400 kg
Range
Battery capacity 100 kwh: Range: 590 km WLTP
Performances
Total power: 489 HP
Torque: 700 Nm
0-100: 4,0 seconds
Top speed: 200 km/h
Prices 100 kwh (incl. taxes)
Battery-as-a-Servce: NOK 426 + NOK 250 per month
Including batteries: NOK 629
Recommended accessories
Electric towbar: 9*
Comfort package: 12*
-Heated steering wheel.
-Electrically adjustable front seats with adjustable lumbar and thigh support.
-Front seat with ventilation and massage.
-Seat heating in the back.
- Fragrance system
-Air purifier/ionization system
Winter tires: 32
Can be ordered online. Delivery time approx. 4 months.
*Stated price without VAT. All or part of the amount is subject to VAT if the total exceeds 500.
The "outgrowths" on the roof are LIDAR in the middle and cameras on each side. Provides a good overview, and that the equipment is better protected against damage than if it had been placed in the front.
The trunk takes 386 litres. The rear seats are foldable. No "miss".
See
Nine ET5 on Norwegian soilNIO House OsloNIO changes the battery in 3 minutes
The ET5 is NIO's first model to fall below the VAT limit. Now the first delivery of cars has arrived in Norway for unpacking and preparation.
If I remember correctly, the time of the cars' arrival agrees well with what I was told a year ago. Asbjørn Mitusch, press spokesman for NIO Norway, will not reveal the date for when the first cars will be delivered, but states that it will happen during this month. At the moment, the cars are being prepared at Birger N. Haug's facility in Røyken.
Fits Tesla Model 3
The NIO ET5 is interesting because it can match the "people's car" Tesla Model 3 in almost every respect. Tesla 3 is known for a lot of range and 4-wheel drive without costing the shirt, but is built like a cheap car. Inside, the Tesla can seem ribbed and it is rarely difficult to point out poor finish. On paper, the NIO ET5 can match Tesla in all important areas such as price, performance, charging and range. In addition, NIO can score on a higher standard equipment level and premium feel.
Below the VAT limit
All NIO models can optionally be supplied with Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS). Then you rent the batteries instead of buying them. The price for the NIO ET5 without batteries is NOK 429. Then you can add equipment such as tow hitch, comfort package, winter wheels and still end up well below the VAT limit. This makes it even more attractive to rent batteries, even if the rental price is also subject to VAT. Battery-as-a-Service includes the option to change batteries along the way and always have good batteries, even after several years. You can also change the battery capacity/range as needed.
Facts about the NIO ET5 (AWD)
Weights and Measures
Length, width, height: 479 x 191 x 150 cm
Wheelbase: 289 cm
Net weight without driver: 2140 – 2160 kg
Range
Battery capacity 75 kwh: Range: 419 – 456 km
Battery capacity 100 kwh: Range: 540 – 590 km
Performances
Total power: 489 HP
Torque: 700 Nm
0-100: 4,0 seconds
Top speed: 200 km/h
Prices 75 kwh
Battery-as-a-Service: 429 + 000 per month
Including batteries: 541
Prices 100 kwh
Battery-as-a-Servce: 429 + 250 per month
Including batteries: 629
Recommended accessories
Towbar (1400 kg): 9*
Comfort package: 12*
-Heated steering wheel.
-Electrically adjustable front seats with adjustable lumbar and thigh support.
-Front seat with ventilation and massage.
-Seat heating in the back.
- Fragrance system
-Air purifier/ionization system
Winter tires: 32
Delivery time: Approx. 4 months
*Stated price without VAT. All or part of the amount is subject to VAT if the total exceeds 500.
See
Nio ET5 – a good first impressionNIO House OsloNIO changes the battery in 3 minutes
There are 145 stations like this where NIO owners can change their battery pack in 3 minutes. Source: NIO.com
3 months ago we wrote about the Chinese car brand NIO, which is shooting up the Chinese sales charts. We then wrote that the brand had no Norwegian representative. Now they have - NIO Norway.
The automobile industry in China has a huge domestic market. So big that Western car manufacturers have established their own factories for the Chinese market, and of course there are many Chinese brands we have barely heard of here at home, which produce cars at high speed to meet domestic demand. China has introduced a "New Energy" program to stimulate the production of zero-emission cars. This has provided good conditions for the development of models that are also interesting for Norway.
Chinese cars at full speed to Norway
For now, it seems that it is Chinese MG, XPeng, BYD and Maxus that have gained a hold on the buyers. The model series DFSK and Seres from Dongeng-Sokon will soon be sold through the Gill/Subaru chain. RøhneSelmer was relevant for a while as a dealer, but seems to have withdrawn. The former luxury car brand Hongqi is in the process of establishing car sales in Norway. NIO is currently the last brand to have a Norwegian representative.
The NIO ES6 is an electric SUV with 4-wheel drive and a large battery pack
NIO Norway
The company was registered earlier this month (March 2021). The general manager is Marius Hayler who until recently was general manager of BC Norway - importer of Jaguar and Land Rover. Considering the success of the Jaguar I-Pace, it's safe to say that Hayler has succeeded in bringing an electric car outsider high up the sales charts. NIO Norway is currently a newly started small company apparently subject to a European umbrella organisation. But NIO Norway is not without importance. According to press reports, it is Norway that has been designated as NIO's first export market. It is currently uncertain how the company will organize marketing, sales and follow-up.
Last year, NIO came out with the model ES6. This year, a larger model, the ES8, has been launched. Both can be delivered with either a 70 kw or 100 kw battery – on par with Tesla's largest battery. NIO has announced that it plans to launch a 150 kw "solid state" battery in Q4 2022 for its new self-driving "Tesla-killer" ET7. Car owners with 70 and 100 kW batteries will be able to upgrade their cars with the new super battery. If this is true, NIO will be one of the very first to offer "solid state" battery technology - and the first electric car manufacturer to make it possible to upgrade battery packs.
Battery change in 3 minutes
Many electric car manufacturers have talked about upgrading battery packs - but so far this has been science fiction. NIO has made it possible to change batteries in a short time. In China there are 145 drive-in stations where NIO owners can change the battery pack in 3 minutes! The service is designed as an alternative to fast charging. Instead of waiting 20-30 minutes to charge, you can drive on with a fully charged battery after 3 minutes. According to NIO's own video, everything happens automatically, but in reality some manual work is required. For example, you may not reverse the car yourself into the exchange station. Admittedly, there is one machine which unscrews the battery, but in the video below you can clearly see a man in the background controlling a lever or similar. The switch itself takes 3 minutes, provided there is no one in front of you in the queue - and provided the station has fully charged batteries available. Each station can only have 14 battery packs inside at the same time. In practice, there can sometimes be long waiting times for this service.
Hardly for Norway
Changing batteries "on the go" is hardly something you should do unless you don't leier battery packs. Who wants to replace the battery pack from their new car to continue driving with the battery pack from a 2 year old taxi? Renault is one of the car manufacturers that has come the furthest in offering battery rental. It is available in the rest of Europe, but not in Norway. We prefer to hey - not rent.
Extended service offer in China
Like Tesla, NIO offers free roadside charging via its own charging network. They can build that up in Norway as well. But one of the offers that is unlikely to be implemented in Norway is a mobile charging service where car owners can order charging via one touch of a button regardless of where they are. Then the electricity is supplied from a van - one electric van of course. Another service is "24/7 On-Call Valet Charging", where someone will pick up the car and return it with a fully charged battery. With the well-developed charging networks we have in Norway, it is difficult to see any need for anything other than self-service charging stations.
It will be interesting to follow the development in NIO. Maybe in two years we can buy premium electric cars with "solid state" battery technology and a range of 1000 km?
Interior ambiance in the "Tesla killer" NIO ET7. Source: NIO.com
Facts
NIO ES6 100 kw
Range converted to WLTP: 480-520 km
Range NEDC: 610 km
544 HK
0-100: 4,7 sec.
NIO ES8 100 kw
Range converted to WLTP: 460-500 km
Range NEDC: 580 km
544 HK
0-100: 4,9 sec.
NIO ES8 – new model this year can change the battery pack in 3 minutes
See
Nio ET5 – a good first impressionUpgrade anxietyThe Chinese are coming!
