Why this electric car with 1075 km of autonomy will not have this autonomy in Europe
The Chinese manufacturer Neta unveils a new version of its electric sedan, which offers a large 117 kWh battery. A technical sheet that allows it to display an incredible autonomy exceeding the bar of 1,000 kilometers. This makes it the electric car with the longest range on the market.
The autonomy of electric cars is still an important subject, even though we know that it is no longer the most fundamental point at present. This does not prevent some manufacturers from doing everything to display the highest value, in order to seduce customers who are still subject to what is called ” range anxiety“. Even though this fear of running out of battery should eventually disappear.
A new version
We are of course thinking of Tesla, whose Model S exceeds the 700 kilometer mark, or even Zeekr and Lucid, which are approaching 1,000 kilometers of autonomy. But another brand wants to teach them a good lesson. It is Neta Automotivea young Chinese manufacturer founded in 2018 by the start-up Hozon Auto and which launched its first model the same year.
In 2021, the firm unveiled its Neta S, an electric sedan which was available in several hybrid and electric versions, including one equipped with a range extender. A system that takes the form ofan electric motor which acts as a generator, but which is not intended to power the wheels, as on the Mazda MX-30. Two years later, the firm enriches the range with a new variant which has not yet been announced, but has been revealed by the homologation documents.
This does not evolve aesthetically since it retains its very futuristic lines, with its front face inspired by the letter π depending on the website Car News China. The line is a bit twisted and displays a sporty character with its large air intakes and its very thin LED optics. In profile, the sedan displays beautiful proportions, with a length of 4.80 meters for 1.98 meters wide and 1.45 meters high. The Cd (aerodynamic drag coefficient) is displayed at 0.216, approaching the 0.21 of the Hyundai Ioniq 6.
On board, the presentation is very technological, since there is a large 17.6-inch touch screen which reminds us in particular of the new Ford Explorer or the Tesla Model S before its restyling. This displays a 2.5K resolution and is associated with a more classic digital handset as well as a head-up display. The passenger can also take advantage ofa 12.3-inch screen. Comfort is key in the sedan, which has a wheelbase of 2.98 meters and is equipped with a panoramic roof that blocks 85% of heat and 99.9% of UV rays.
Record autonomy
But what interests us above all is what is hidden under the hood of the sedan, rival of the Tesla Model S. This one is already available in several versions, but now a new one is therefore arriving in the catalog. And this one is not there to be walked on. Indeed, the Chinese site explains to us that this newcomer displays a record range of 1,075 kilometers according to Chinese cycle CLTC.
Approval less severe than the European WLTP, since it should rather be counted on around 950 km in European approval. Thus, few cars can compete with this figure. This is for example the case of the Zeekr 001, which announces approximately 1,032 CLTC kilometers, which in theory gives “only” approximately 900 WLTP kilometers.
To arrive at this incredible figure, the Neta S embeds the Qilin CTP 3.0 battery developed by CATL unlike the semi-solid WeLion battery which equips the Nio ET5 and ET7. The two Chinese sedans also have a range of 1,000 kilometers. Especially since the capacity of this battery is 150 kWh on the two Nios, against only 117.04 kWh on the Neta S and 140 kWh on the Zeekr 001. And who says smaller pack says lower consumption.
What about autonomy in Europe?
In Europe, we can cite the Lucid Air, with its 883 km of autonomy, and the Mercedes EQS, with a maximum of 783 km. The two sedans carry batteries of 118 and 108 kWh respectively. It is therefore surprising that the Neta S announces so much autonomy with a 117 kWh battery. Could it be the weight of the whole (1.9 tons) that would allow it to do better than the much heavier Lucid Air (2.4 tons) as well as careful aerodynamics?
Let us take this opportunity to recall that the WLTP autonomy is a theoretical figure, established on a rather peri-urban driving profile. On the highway, the autonomy is much lower. But it is totally possible to achieve WLTP autonomy in practice, as a recent comparison of 32 electric cars has shown.
If the charging time and power have not been announced, it is known that the Qilin CTP 3.0 can recharge at 4C, which would equate here to a maximum power of approximately 470 kW. But this remains to be confirmed by the brand. The sedan has a power of 200 kW, or about 270 horsepower and has not yet announced its price in this version. The range starts from 189,800 yuan, or around 24,580 euros. A price that should greatly increase if the Neta S arrived in Europe.
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