The GAC Aion V apparently has a record-breaking 621 miles range and a battery charging from 0 to 80 percent in only 8 minutes.
GAC’s (Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd.) EV arm Aion is about to solve range anxiety for good. Indeed, if the Chinese carmaker is to be believed, its Aion V can be recharged as fast as refueling an ICE vehicle.
At first glance, this looks genuinely revolutionary and could very well change the public’s perception of EVs. After all, electric vehicles’ slow charging rate and somewhat limited range are the biggest drawbacks for consumers. However, we’ll have to wait for neutral tests to confirm the manufacturer’s claims (not that Chinese car manufacturers are known for exaggerating or anything, but you know). Luckily, the GAC Aion V is due for a September launch in China, so we should be able to know more about how well it does in the real world pretty soon.
Aion presented two versions of its breakthrough electric SUV—one with 3C superfast charging technology and the other with an even faster 6C charger. The high-end 6C variant can reportedly charge from 30 to 80 percent in just 5 minutes and 0 to 80 percent in 8 minutes. Meanwhile, the slower 3C variant takes 10 minutes and 16 minutes to do the same, respectively.
The Chinese EV maker performed these charging tests during Technology Day (July 27th), showcasing the mindblowing charging speed of the 6C variant. Surprisingly, it is also claiming absolutely no battery damage or deterioration, even at such a high rate, and that the battery would last up to 621,000 miles (1,000,000 kilometers) in room temperature conditions before it needs to be replaced.
Coming to the EVs range, the Aion V with 6C charging technology is expected to go up to 621 miles (1,000 kilometers) on a single charge, while the 3C variant would understandably be good enough to travel half the same distance.
GAC Aion also announced a new battery technology called “scalable graphene battery system” to make everything happen. However, battery experts have already refuted the possibility of developing such a system as technology would still be in its infancy and will take years before it can be commercialized.
So as I said before, let’s wait and see before claiming victory over range anxiety. Still, if GAC is right, that could throw quite a wrench in the works of several EV makers out there.
To be continued.
