New automotive brand Nio has made its debut in London with the unveiling of what is claimed to be the world’s fastest electric car.
Nio is the road car division of Chinese-funded electric vehicle company NextEV – the company runs a team in the FIA Formula E electric single-seater championship.
According to its creators on 16th October the Nio EP9 lapped Germany’s 14-mile Nurburging circuit in 7m 05.12 sec, 17 seconds faster than the previous EV record set by a Toyota, and also set a 1m 52.78 sec lap at the French Paul Ricard track, lopping more than 47 seconds off the previous fastest electric time.
The EP9 uses four inboard motors and four individual gearboxes for a total power output of 1 Megawatt, said to be equivalent to 1,360hp. From rest it can reach 124mph (200km/h) in 7.1 seconds and go on to a top speed of 194.5mph.
An interchangeable battery system allows the car to be charged in 45 minutes and Nio claims a range of 265 miles between charges.
Nio is believed to be planning to build just six examples of the EP9 but also launching a mainstream electric vehicle, of which currently no details have been released. It will initially be aimed at the Chinese market but European sales are also thought to be likely.
According to NextEV Founder and Chairman, William Li, the NIO EP9 was born to push limits and is the first stage of automotive production for the company.
“It is a statement of our vision and technical and manufacturing capabilities… a best-in-class product that showcases what is possible with electric vehicles,” Li says, adding; “We believe that when the car ownership experience exceeds expectations, electric vehicles will become the natural choice for everyone, leading to a more sustainable tomorrow.”
