2023-06-29 09:04:09
That’s it, the marketing of the Zeekr 001, the first electric car to exceed 1,000 km of autonomy, has just started in Europe. But beware, it is not really affordable and, above all, the version with 1,032 km of autonomy is not on sale in Europe. At least for the moment.
The autonomy of electric cars increases at high speed. However, autonomy is a non-issue as we have recently studied. It is better to have a small battery which recharges very quickly (in regarding ten minutes) rather than a large, heavy battery which increases the consumption of the car and takes longer to recharge. But to reassure motorists who want to switch to electric cars, manufacturers are fighting to try to announce the highest autonomy.
Zeekr 001: 1032 km of autonomy, but not in Europe
In this little game, the Chinese manufacturer Zeekr, which belongs to the Geely group (Volvo, Lotus, Polestar, etc.), has just launched the marketing of its sedan, the Zeekr 001, in Europe. It is the famous electric car which promises 1032 km of autonomy, in its version equipped with a CATL battery with a capacity of 140 kWh. But be careful, because for its arrival in Europe, this variant is not yet available for order.
It is necessary, for the moment, to be satisfied with the version equipped witha 100 kWh battery (NMC chemistry), which is already a lot. This allows the Zeekr 001 to announce 620 km of autonomy on the WLTP certification cycle. For comparison, the Tesla Model S with its 95 kWh battery indicates 723 km of autonomy. Why this difference?
Because of’higher consumptionannounced between 18.2 and 18.5 kWh / 100 km for the Zeekr 001 (taking into account the losses linked to recharging), once morest 17.5 kWh / 100 km for the Tesla Model S. This difference may be explain in part by the aerodynamics of the Zeekr 001, a little less good, with a drag coefficient (Cx) of 0.23 once morest 0.208 for the American.
Three versions for two countries
Another detail to take into account: the Zeekr 001 is, for the moment, only marketed in the Netherlands and Sweden. Three versions are available: Long Range RWD, Performance AWD and Privilege AWD. The differences are in power, range, traction capacity and standard equipment as can be seen on the brand website.
Zeekr 001Long Range RWDAWD PerformanceAWD Privilege Range620 km590 km580 km Battery100 kWh100 kWh100 kWh EngineDriveAll-wheel driveAll-wheel drive Power200 kW / 272 hp400 kW / 544 hp400 kW / 544 hp Torque343 Nm686 Nm686 Nm 0 to 100 km/h7,2 sec3.8 sec3.8 sec Consumption18 ,2 kWh / 100 km18.5 kWh / 100 km18.5 kWh / 100 km Hydraulic suspensionsNoNoYes Towing capacity1.5 tonnes2 tonnes2 tonnes Weight2.2 tonnes2.335 tonnes2.350 tonnes Price60,490 euros63,490 euros68,490 euros
Fast charging is obviously part of the game, with 10 to 80% achieved in 30 minutes, on a 400 volt architecture, with a maximum power of 200 kW. This suggests a very optimized charging curve. Destination charging is no slouch, with a maximum output of 22 kW (three-phase), which is rare enough to be underlined.
The Zeekr 001 is fairly well equipped, with level 2 semi-autonomous driving, the heat pump, the heated seats, the “magic” panoramic roof, the smartphone which plays the role of key, a head-up display 14.7-inch, a 15.4-inch central screen, an 8.9-inch instrument cluster, compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, OTA updates and… facial recognition! In the rear, passengers benefit from a dedicated 5.7-inch screen to adjust the climate control.
The Privilege version brings hydraulic suspensions (as on the Tesla Model S or the Mercedes EQS for example), which normally add a lot of comfort by filtering more finely the irregularities of the road. This version also adds fake engine noise (only in the cabin, we hope) and a Yamaha subwoofer.
With a length of 4.955 m, the Zeekr 001 is a long sedan. And, for once, the trunk is not so ridiculous, with a capacity of 539 liters, or even 2,144 with the rear seat folded down. But, we are not on the 804 liters of a Tesla Model S, especially since the Zeekr 001 does not have a front trunk (frunk).
Price and availability of the Zeekr 001
It is already possible to pre-order the Zeekr 001 in the Netherlands and Sweden, for deliveries between October and December 2023. Prices start at 60,490 euros for the Long Range RWD version and from 68,490 euros for the most upscale version.
As often with Chinese manufacturers, there are not really options, except for the exterior color and that of the interior furniture. It is a fairly aggressive price positioning, much more, for example, than its competitor BYD with its BYD Han thanks to more efficient characteristics, which allows it to be placed between a Tesla Model 3 and a Tesla Model S.
We will now have to wait a little longer before knowing if the version with the 140 kWh battery will be marketed in Europe. This version has just started deliveries in China, with a very low number of units (1,000 in total). There is a good chance that the margin on this version is quite low, and that CATL’s production capacities are not yet up to the task of meeting demand.
As a reminder, if it is announced with a range of 1,032 km in China (CLTC approval), if it sees the light of day in Europe, it will rather be necessary to count on around 880 km. Either the same figure as the Lucid Air, with a smaller battery of 117 kWh. Recall that Zeekr plans to be present in “most Western European countriesby 2026.
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