Automaker NextEV has taken the wraps off what it claims is the world’s fastest electric car. The NIO EP9, revealed Monday, is capable of reaching blistering speeds of up to 196 mph, thanks to a combination of exotic technologies and engineering prowess.
“Today we launched our electric supercar that broke the record at the Nordschliefe,” NextEV chairman William Li announced. “The NIO EP9 was born to push limits and is the first stage of automotive production for NIO.”
To reach these speeds, NextEV has employed the use of four inboard motors and four separate gearboxes.
Two large, swappable battery packs sit on either side of the driver cockpit, providing a range of 256 miles and charging time of 45 minutes.
Combined, the motors can provide one megawatt of power, providing an engine strength measurement of 1,360 PS (1,340 in brake horsepower). The car accelerates from nought to 200kph (124mph) in just 7.1 seconds.
NextEV claims the EP9 has the world’s largest production brakes, critical for keeping the high-performance vehicle under control.
These super-fast speeds require careful attention to the driver, who will experience cornering forces of up to three G. A special carbon cockpit is designed to help the driver handle those levels of pressure, and the car itself can withstand a total of 24,000 Newtons in downward force.
The downward force helps maintain control of high speed, reaching double the levels of force seen in a Formula One car.
NextEV joins a slowly growing segment of high-performance electric cars. Faraday Future, a mysterious California-based manufacturer, claims its supercar will achieve 30 percent better range than its competitor. The company is set to compete in the Formula E 2016/17 season, where car makers will show their supercharged electric car skills in timed circuit races.
Although the NIO EP9 is not autonomous at launch, the company states that the e-control system could fit the latest driverless technology.
If it comes to fruition, NextEV will be competing with the likes of Tesla, which is aiming to get autonomous technology into their cars by next year.
Watch the NIO EP9 in action here:
