NIO ET7 – Electrical Car Review

Overview – NIO ET7

The NIO ET7, a luxurious high-class sedan, is the fourth production car model from NIO, a company famous outside of China for its EP9 – another EV. The ET7 is their most advanced model to date, utilizing the newest technology in autonomous driving, and is the first to come with the NIO 2nd Generation Digital Cockpit. Prices for the ET7 start north of $62,000, and in the UK includes the government subsidy of $1,770. The ET7 is expected to go on sale in Norway later this year as well.

NIO ET7 – Energy And Carbon Efficiency

The NIO ET7 has a carbon emissions figure of 107 gCO2/mi (67 gCO2/km). This is slightly higher than the Mercedes EQA 300 4MATIC at 94 gCO2/mi, the BMW iX1 xDrive30 at 95 gCO2/mi, and the Hyundai IONIQ 6 Standard Range 2WD at 83 gCO2/mi, but lower than the Jaguar I-Pace EV400 at 111 gCO2/mi and the Ford Mustang Mach-E SR AWD at 108 gCO2/mi. Overall, the NIO ET7 is slightly above average in terms of its carbon emissions figures compared to similarly priced cars in its class.

EV Engine, Power and Performance

The model has one electric motor configuration with the battery being the only customizable thing. The dual-motor electric system consists of a 180kW front permanent magnet synchronous motor and a 300kW rear induction asynchronous motor, creating a peak power output of 480kW and 850Nm of torque. This results in a 0-100km/h time of only 3.9 seconds.

The ranges are quoted as follows: 530km for the 75kWh battery pack and 675km for the 100kWh battery pack. The 150kWh battery pack, expected to be released in late 2022/early 2023, is claimed to hold an NEDC range of 1,000km.

The ET7 engine power is 653hp and 635ft-lbs (860Nm), and NIO claims an acceleration of 3.8s to 62mph (100km/h). It has 245/45 Bridgestone Turanza tires, a multi-link suspension front and rear, and the performance is throttled at 10% SOC.

ET7 And WeLion Technology 150 kWh Battery Pack

NIO, plans to sell existing EV models with enhanced battery capabilities, leveraging technology from solid-state battery developer WeLion, according to a recent filing with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

Although the new filing does not specifically mention solid-state batteries, it hints at battery upgrades using cells from Huzhou WeLion Technology, a subsidiary of Beijing WeLion New Energy Technology. Notably, NIO’s relationship with WeLion predates the unveiling of its ET7 sedan in 2021, which included plans for a 150 kWh solid-state battery pack. These battery packs may soon reach the market, as indicated in the filing, with the potential launch of at least three NIO models powered by solid-state cells.

Interior Comfort and Cargo Dimensions

The interior of the ET7 is spacious, minimalist, and modern. It features Nappa leather and karuun, a renewable plant-based material made from rattan, used on 14 pieces in the cabin. The car comes with air cooling, and massage functions as standard, and has an air quality system with PM2.5 filters. The dimensions make the ET7 very spacious with a wheelbase of 3,060mm, and the rear seats are comfortable and can accommodate 3 adults with no trouble at all. The boot is a great size and can fit everything you need for a family.

It has a Nomi AI functionality that’s supposed to provide greater “emotional engagement” with its driver. The interior has heat, ventilation, and SPA massage functions front and rear, and lumbar support for the rear seats. It has no frunk due to the car’s underside needing to be clear for battery swapping, and the trunk can only fit two 28-inch suitcases side by side.

Infotainment, Tech and Connectivity

The ET7 comes with the 2nd generation digital cockpit and features a 12.8-inch AMOLED central infotainment screen and a 10.2-inch HDR digital instrument cluster. The floating central screen has a slim bezel design with edges as thin as 5.5mm and has a resolution of 1,728×1,888. The sound system is 7.1.4 with 23 speakers, 1000W power output, and Dolby Atmos. NOMI, a little robot-like digital assistant, has been upgraded with a dedicated NPU chip and 4 microphone arrays.

The ET7 has a 5G connection, even a fragrance system, HUD, a tiny screen in the back to control media and rear seat controls, and automated commands that can be set to trigger when certain conditions are met. It also has NIO Pilot, a level 2 ADAS system.

Safety Features

The ET7 has an Aquila Super Sensing system and NIO Adam supercomputer for autonomous driving. The Aquila system can generate up to 8GB of data per second and is made up of 33 high-performance sensing units; 11 8MP cameras, 1 ultra-long-range high-resolution LiDAR, and 5 mmWave radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors, 2 high-precision positioning units, V2X and ADMS. The NIO Adam supercomputer is one of the most powerful systems to run in a car, with 4 Nvidia Orin processors, it has a total computing power of over 1,000 TOPS of performance.

The ET7 is outfitted with plenty of sensors and raw computing power. It is also leveraging the sensors and HD mapping to adjust the air suspension on the fly. 

Warranty Information

[In progress]

Final Thoughts

The NIO ET7 is a wonderful and luxurious EV that ticks a lot of right boxes: comfort, space, and future-proofing. With electric soft-close doors, air suspension, 7.1.4 sound system, and seats with every function you’d need as standard in the base model – the price is pretty unbelievable. Build quality and ride quality are top-notch and we’d compare the ET7 to the likes of the Model S or BMW i4. The ET7 will definitely be able to hold its own against the likes of Tesla’s Autopilot and Xpeng’s ADAS.

The NIO ET7 is a great choice for those looking for a premium, comfy cruiser. It looks incredible, is fast and comfortable, and the NIO battery swapping is a great feature.