This is a mind-blowing feat for electric vehicle tech and performance engineering, in an automotive world still too often driven by huge fossil fuel engines with all their emissions. Unveiled by the Chinese automaker NIO in 2016, the EP9 is one of those electric-powered machines warming hearts and minds across continents as analysts continue to cast doubt on how or why batteries should ever beat internal combustion at anything. The EP9 is what really put NIO on the map, as their flagship supercar that has completely changed what we expect from an electric car not only performance-wise but also aesthetically speaking. Design and Aerodynamics There’s clearly a futuristic influence to the design of the NIO EP9, but it still prioritizes aerodynamic efficiency. Not only are the low, wide stance and sharp lines of the car visually striking – they’re also purposeful. The EP9 has a drag coefficient of just 0.28 a low figure considering the hardcore performance on offer and sideslips through slippery air via an aerodynamic profile that was finely tuned to maximize airflow and minimize resistance. This is due to a number of aerodynamics elements including an adjustable rear wing, large front splitter and plenty of carbon fiber. The body of the EP9 is also made from carbon fiber composite that contributes to its light weight while maintaining high strength and rigidity. Those lines are at their sharpest up front, where a distinctive grille sits atop one of the many slots that direct air into grilles for cooling systems in grid formation. An active aerodynamic system has also been fitted to the rear of the EP9, which includes a set of top-mounted adjustable wings optimizing downforce while maintaining stability at high speeds. High-speed driving is no easy feat, not only for the wheels and frame of the EP9 but also for its electric motors that have a tendency to warm up under heavy load. To combat heat soaking during laps around track, Nextiva has equipped several large intakes inside delicate areas within this car’s bodywork—including open spaces in front of both rear and front tires—all channeled into high-capacity thermal management systems.
Powertrain and Performance
Power in the NIO EP9 comes from a quad-motor setup featuring an electric motor at each wheel. That combination adds up to 1,341 horsepower and 1,091 pound-feet of torque from the EP9’s four individual electric motors that further make it one of the most powerful vehicles ever created. The car has a four-wheel-drive layout for excellent traction and stability, which enable it to accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 2.7 seconds What is that — straight-line speed? EP9 goes beyond just quick. The car’s optional suspension system (more in a moment) is an advanced one, featuring double-wishbone design at both ends and promising excellent handling dynamics. In addition, the EP9’s braking system features carbon-ceramic brakes which provide spectacular and reliable stopping power time after time, even under extreme conditions. It was one of the fastest street-legal cars around any track in 2017, and it achieved a top speed for electric cars above 194 mph (312 km/h). Extensive testing, including setting a Nürburgring record for electric vehicles with the car’s 6:45.9 lap time at the Green Hell has helped validate performance claims made by paper. This shows that the EP9 is a contender against even some of the quickest and most high-tech supercars on Earth.
Interior and Technology
Designed to deliver a driver-centered cockpit combined with cutting-edge technology and luxury interiors, the car boasts an advanced virtual intelligence system. Inside there’s a stripped-down, race-inspired cabin centered around the digital display screen that relays basic information like speed, battery status and performance data. The seats themselves are made from a combination of quality materials like leather and Alcantara, blending comfort with support. The interior of the EP9 is also equipped with state-of-the-art connectivity features that give its driver access to new and exciting user car interfaces. Though a performance-focused affair, the interior of the EP9 is finished with premium materials and craftsmanship that suggest an attention to detail atypical for most showroom-ready concept cars. Production and Legacy It was built in very limited numbers with a production run of just 16 examples, which has made it one of the world’s latest road-legal supercars. To demonstrate NIO’s capabilities and pave the way for more electric vehicles, each EP9 was carefully built to meet a higher standard. The EP9 helped establish NIO as a serious contender in the electric performance car space. It has proven that electric power can deliver astonishing levels of performance, and will help open the floodgates for a new breed of high-performance electrics on their way to sale.
Conclusion
NIO has shown a blueprint for which the supercar of the future must be influenced by. The EP9 demonstrates what happens when cutting-edge design, fierce powertrain innovation and advanced vehicle technology come together: the result is a vision of electric performance, with extreme acceleration. With NIO pushing back the barriers of electric mobility, and constantly innovating on all fronts. The EP9 stands as a monument to our vision of what perfection in pursuit not only for performance but also products that elevate sustainable energy consumption. NIO
