We currently sit three weeks away from NIO Day 2023, the annual event held by one of China’s leading EV automakers that caps off the year with new and exciting technologies to come. We know NIO intends to unveil a new flagship model during the event and it’s rumored to be the automaker’s top-of-the-line sedan, possibly named the ET9. Here’s what we know.
NIO Day is an event we look forward to toward the end of each year, as it never fails to showcase new EV models and adjacent technologies. Due to the Pandemic, NIO Day 2020 was actually held in January of 2021, when the automaker unveiled its flagship sedan, the ET7.
NIO Day 2021 came as scheduled later that year and included the debut of the ET5 sedan, as well as plans to expand to new markets around the globe by 2025, including the US. Those plans for North America have wavered a bit recently, but NIO Day continues to deliver.
2022’s event included unveilings of NIO’s ES8 and EC7 SUVs, pushing the automaker’s lineup to eight available EVs. Later this month at NIO Day 2023, we know that EV family will grow by at least one – but what model we see unveiled remains somewhat of a mystery.
NIO Day 2023 takes place December 23
According to an announcement from cofounder and CEO William Li on its mobile app this week, NIO Day 2023 will take place on December 23 at the Xi’an Olympic Sports Center located in the Shaanxi Province of northwest China.
Li also revealed that NIO intends to unveil a new flagship EV model during the event, sparking a blaze of speculation about what the public can expect. NIO’s model nomenclature consists of a letter and a number – the higher the number, the more premium the EV.
The company’s current lineup consists of five SUVs and three sedans, the most premium being the aforementioned ES8 SUV. However, there have been rumors swirling for over a year that NIO has been developing an ultra-luxury sedan to compete with the likes of the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class.
Per a report from CnEVPost, Edison Yu’s team of analysts at Deutsche Bank believe that luxe sedan is in fact on the agenda for NIO Day 2023, and it will be called the ET9. Per a research from Edison Yu sent to investors:
Then at the end of Dec, the company will unveil its new flagship vehicle at NIO Day featuring the latest technologies. Our guess is this could be an ultra high-end sedan ‘ET9’ that would be comparable with Maybach.
The team also said the new top-tier sedan will be produced in low volume and exist as a halo EV to add to the prowess of the growing brand. When speaking to this NIO Day 2023 debut, whatever model it may end up being, William Li relayed the EV will feature the company’s latest tech and will “become the global technology benchmark for smart EVs.”
There’s a genuine chance Deutsche Bank is incorrect and NIO’s next sedan is called the ET8 to match its SUV counterpart, but we’d expect the model to be called either the 8 or the 9. Either way, it is reportedly expected to cost over CNY 1 million ($141,500).
Regardless of the name, we are sure to see a new EV model come out of NIO Day 2023. We will be tuning and will be sure to report back as we learn more. Check back soon.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
On today’s informative episode of Quick Charge, we’ve got Honda engineers Jason Hwang and Emilio Sanchez to talk us through some of the things that make the GM Ultium-based Honda Prologue EV feel like a real Honda, and why that matters.
Jason and Emilio talk about some of the choices they made to make the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX feel different from its GM-branded cousins, and explain why this was much more than a case of badge-engineering. Give it a listen, then let us know what you think of the Prologue and ZDX in the comments.
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. Learn more by clicking here.
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!
Got news? Let us know! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!
The first EV charging hub funded by the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Program in the Eastern US is now online in Deerfield, Massachusetts.
The town installed the region’s first DC fast chargers (four ports), along with four Level 2 chargers, at 59 North Main Street in South Deerfield.
These new charging stations, funded with $2.46 million from the CFI program, are conveniently located near Interstate 91 in Franklin County, the most rural county in Massachusetts, which serves drivers from Connecticut up to the Canadian border.
The hub also features local and regional bus stops and designated bike lanes with secure onsite bike racks. The chargers are meant to cater to everyone: from local residents and visitors to municipal EVs and commercial vehicles that service the region’s businesses, like those in food and beverage manufacturing.
Gabe Klein, executive director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, sees this as a model for future projects:
Multi-modal charging hubs in communities are key to giving more people the choice to ride and drive electric. The Town of Deerfield is showing leadership in building out convenient charging infrastructure that brings new transportation choices to rural and disadvantaged communities while supporting local commerce.
In recent years, Deerfield has experienced increased climate change-driven flooding from nearby rivers, including the Deerfield River, the Connecticut River, and the Bloody Brook. The project incorporates environmental engineering designed to mitigate and adapt to the effects of flooding and climate, including the installation of permeable asphalt and rain gardens, planting of native trees, grasses, and shrubs, and the creation of new greenspace in the center of Deerfield.
The Biden-Harris administration’s CFI Grant Program is expanding EV infrastructure nationwide. It offers grants for projects that complement and expand upon the initiatives of the NEVI program in urban, rural, and disadvantaged and low-income communities. So far, the CFI Grant Program has allocated over $1 billion to nearly 100 projects across the US, encouraging private investments and expanding the EV charging network to make EV ownership more practical and convenient.
If you live in an area that has frequent natural disaster events, and are interested in making your home more resilient to power outages, consider going solar and adding a battery storage system. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
Kia’s upcoming EV4 electric sedan was just spotted testing in the US for the first time. The low-cost EV is expected to make its big debut by the end of the year. Here’s a look at the new model.
The EV4 will round out Kia’s new “EVs for all” master plan launched last year. Kia showcased three new models, the EV3, EV4, and EV5, during its first annual EV Day in October 2023.
During the event, Kia outlined its new global strategy to “lead and accelerate the EV revolution” with a wide range of models priced from $30,000 to $80,000.
Kia plans to rapidly expand its lineup with a series of smaller, lower-priced models. It launched the EV9, its first three-row electric SUV, which is already proving to be a hot seller in the US. Starting at under $55,000, the EV9 is still a great deal compared to others in its class, but Kia plans to go even lower.
The EV3 and EV4 are expected to be among the most affordable electric vehicles when they arrive in the US.
Kia’s new EV4 is now testing in the US
Ahead of its official debut, Kia’s new EV4 sedan was recently caught driving on US streets for the first time.
The latest image from KindelAuto doesn’t reveal much more than what’s been shown in the past, but the fact that it’s now testing in the US is significant.
Kia’s EV3 is already on sale in Korea, starting at around $30,000 (42.08 million won). Earlier this week, the company said its new compact SUV is now available across Europe, starting at around $38,000 (36,000 euros) with a “segment-leading range” of up to 375 miles (WLTP).
Next up will be the EV4. Kia is expected to officially reveal the new EV by the end of the year, with deliveries starting in 2025. It could be as soon as next week at the 2024 LA Auto Show.
The interior will feature Kia’s advanced new ccNC infotainment system with dual 12.3″ navigation and driver display screens. An otherwise minalimalistic design is expected inside.
Kia’s EV4 will also be available in a hatchback variant. Although the hatch is likely aimed at European buyers, it was also recently spotted testing in the US for the first time.
We will learn official prices closer to launch, but the EV4 is expected to start at around $35,000 to $40,000.
Kia is teasing five new vehicles for the US, at least one being a new EV, that will debut at the LA Auto Show next week. Will it be the EV3? EV4?
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.