40 days after officially unveiling its fourth EV model and first-ever sedan, ZEEKR has officially launched the 007 with some noteworthy in-house technology. Starting at a price below $30,000, consumers in China have been lining up their 007 pre-orders… over 50,000 to be specific.
If you haven’t heard of ZEEKR by now, they may be on your radar sooner rather than later, as the Geely-owned EV automaker continues to expand its global reach beyond China and into Europe. The company currently offers its flagship 001 shooting brake, a high-performance variant called the 001 FR, a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) called the 009, and most recently, an SUV called the ZEEKR X.
We’ve driven the 001 and 009 and were quite impressed out of the gate, but it’s arguably ZEEKR’s early success and future ambitions that have garnered the most excitement about the relatively young brand.
Until recently, ZEEKR’s models have been targeted for niche segments in the EV market. However, in early November 2023, the automaker began teasing a new EV called the 007 – its first-ever sedan and its first model designed for the mass market.
Two weeks later, ZEEKR opened 007 pre-orders in China. At the same time, it simultaneously filed for a US IPO and began teasing a tech day where it would unveil its own in-house battery technology – debuting in what else but the 007 sedan.
Today, ZEEKR has officially launched the 007 sedan in China before it expands to other global markets, and from what we’ve learned – it has the makings to be a hit. Check it out.
ZEEKR launches Long Range 007 with 870km range
According to news out of ZEEKR today, the 007 has officially launched in China and will be delivered to the 51,569 customers who have already placed pre-orders and go through with their purchases. In addition to being ZEEKR’s first mass-market EV, the 007 sedan features several other firsts for the brand.
For instance, it is the first model to adopt an integrated mega-casting rear-end aluminum body with a torsional stiffness of 43,500 N·m/deg. The sedan is also the first to feature ZEEKR’s new in-house developed audio system and ADAS consisting of one LiDAR sensor, 12 HD cameras, and five millimeter-wave radars.
As we reported in December, the 007’s 800V platform also features the debut of ZEEKR’s new lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells and battery packs – capable of replenishing 500km (311 miles) of range in 15 minutes on a DC fast charger. Today, ZEEKR shared the Standard Range version featuring this battery technology offers 688km (428 miles) of CLTC range on a single charge.
For those looking for more range, ZEEKR will offer a long-range variant of the new sedan that features Qilin batteries from CATL. That model promises a whopping 870km (540 miles) of CLTC range. ZEEKR also shared the 007 can accelerate 0-100km/h (0-62 mph) in 2.84 seconds.
ZEEKR has shared that the Standard Range version will start at a price below $30,000 and will be one of five different trim options. This includes two single-motor versions and three dual-motor, AWD versions. They are priced as follows:
Single-Motor
RMB 209,900 ($29,475)
RMB 229,900 ($32,425)
Dual-Motor
RMB 229,900 ($32,425)
RMB 259,900 ($36,655)
RMB 299,900 ($42,300)
Deliveries in China are expected to begin on January 1, 2024.
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Leading electric vehicle analyst, author, and industry thought leaders Loren McDonald and Bill Ferro stop by Quick Charge to discuss EV Adoption’s acquisition by Paren, the “crisis” of EV charging reliability, and the real state of the EV market.
Depending on who you listen, EVs are either driving brands to record growth and are about cross that critical 10% of the overall market nationwide, or the future is bleak, the market is down, and EVs just aren’t selling. What’s really going on? Loren and Bill (probably) have some answers.
Today’s episode is sponsored by BLUETTI, a leading provider of portable power stations, solar generators, and energy storage systems. For a limited time, save up to 52% during BLUETTI’s exclusive Black Friday sale, now through November 28, and be sure to use promo code BLUETTI5OFF for 5% off all power stations site wide. Click here to learn more.
New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news!
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Chevy EV owners in Texas who have Reliant as their electric utility can now charge for free at night with renewable energy.
Over 150 Chevrolet dealerships across Texas are now offering the Reliant Free Charge Nights plan to new EV buyers. With Free Charge Nights, customers can offset their charging costs by receiving credits for electricity used between 11 pm and 6 am. The plan is powered entirely by renewable energy, thanks to the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs).
Rasesh Patel, president of NRG Consumer, says the plan is about making power personal: “We’re excited to help Chevrolet EV drivers offset the cost of charging their vehicle all while having access to a renewable electricity plan.”
This collaboration aims to make EV adoption more appealing by making charging cheaper and greener. GM Energy’s chief revenue officer, Aseem Kapur, emphasized that partnerships like this help build the ecosystem needed to support an all-electric future: “The Reliant Free Charge Nights plan is a great example of how an automaker and an energy company can work together to make EV adoption an easy decision.”
Existing Reliant customers can also sign up for the Free Charge Nights plan. To get started, Chevrolet EV owners need to designate their vehicle on the GM Energy Smart Charging Portal before enrolling in the plan.
Reliant Energy, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, serves over 1.5 million customers in Texas, making it one of the largest electricity providers in the state.
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Texas is about to get a major power boost – a new AI-powered virtual power plant (VPP) delivering capacity equivalent to 200,000 homes during peak demand.
NRG Energy is teaming up with Renew Home to bring nearly 1 gigawatt (GW) of capacity to the Texas grid by 2035, aiming to make it more resilient while helping residents save on energy costs.
The new VPP will rely on hundreds of thousands of smart thermostats and other connected home devices, making use of AI technology provided by Google Cloud. These devices, like Vivint and Nest smart thermostats, will be offered to eligible customers at no cost. By automating HVAC adjustments, they help shift energy use to when electricity is cheaper, cleaner, and less strained.
NRG and Renew Home have big plans for the VPP. Starting in spring 2025, the companies plan to roll out the program across Texas, installing these smart thermostats in homes served by NRG’s retail electricity providers. Eventually, they plan to add home battery storage and EVs to expand the power plant’s capabilities.
Texas has faced record-breaking energy demands, with peak usage hitting 85 GW in 2023. As the state’s population grows and extreme weather becomes more frequent, VPPs like this one could play a key role in stabilizing the grid. VPPs aggregate a lot of small-scale energy resources, from smart thermostats to home batteries, and use them to help balance supply and demand during times of high stress on the grid.
This nearly 1 GW VPP will be one of the largest of its kind in Texas. NRG’s president of consumer operations, Rasesh Patel, calls it a “pivotal step” for improving customer experience while making Texas’ energy infrastructure more sustainable and resilient.
In addition to Renew Home, NRG is working with Google Cloud to maximize the power plant’s effectiveness. Google Cloud’s AI and analytics tools will help predict weather conditions, forecast renewable generation, and optimize energy usage, all of which will help make energy management smoother for both customers and the grid.
Ben Brown, CEO of Renew Home, said:
NRG’s commitment to creating a more resilient and sustainable energy future while also making electricity bills more affordable makes them an ideal partner for co-developing this unique VPP program.
This initiative raises the bar for future-proofing our electricity infrastructure and delivering cost savings to customers.
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