Nio's 'Family-Friendly' Onvo L60: Can a Budget EV Really Out-Tesla Tesla?
Nio is at it again, shaking up the EV scene like a hyperactive toddler on a sugar rush. This time, they're unleashing their new Onvo brand, a "family-focused" line of electric vehicles aimed squarely at those of us who can't afford a Tesla Model Y. Their first offering? The L60, a crossover that promises to be as practical as a minivan but with a dash of style.
The L60 is set to hit the Chinese market this September with a starting price of just $30,500 – a full $4,000 cheaper than its Tesla rival. Of course, that's in China, where the cost of living is a bit more reasonable. If the L60 was ever to make it to our shores, we could have expected that price to jump closer to $40,000, and that would still be cheaper than a Model Y. I say “we could have” because courtesy of uncle Joe, if Nio ever decides to sell its latest EV in the U.S., it’ll be slapped with a 102.5% tariff (why the .5?) and end up costing closer to $80,000. At that price, I can’t see anybody buying it.
Nio claims the L60 is the most aerodynamically efficient SUV on the market, boasting a drag coefficient of just 0.229Cd. That's slipperier than a greased eel (not really). This apparently helps it to achieve a range of up to 621 miles on a single charge with the largest battery pack, which is nearly enough to get you from Miami to Atlanta.
But the secret sauce here isn’t the new semi-solid 150 kWh battery. No. The secret is the ridiculously optimistic CLTC testing cycle which presumes all roads go down the hill and drivers never touch the accelerator. That’s my uneducated guess, by the way. But you still should get at least 550 miles which, at this point, is remarkable. And thanks to its 900V electrical architecture, the L60 can be charged at warp speed, reaching a full charge in a mere three minutes at one of Nio's many battery swap stations.
Sure, it's efficient, but is it practical? Well, according to Nio, the L60 has more storage space than a hoarder's basement. They claim that every occupant can bring along their own luggage, which is music to the ears of any parent who has ever tried to cram a family's worth of belongings into a compact car.
But let's not get carried away just yet. We haven't actually seen the L60 in the flesh, and Nio has been known to make some pretty bold claims in the past. Remember the EP9, the electric hypercar that was supposed to revolutionize the automotive industry? Yeah, that didn't exactly pan out. On the other hand, ET7 sedan with the new 150 kWh battery did manage to clock 649 miles in real-life test drive. Nio might be onto something here.
So, while I'm cautiously optimistic about the L60, I'm not quite ready to declare it the Tesla killer just yet. But if Nio can deliver on its promises, the Onvo L60 could be a real disruptor, offering families an affordable and practical alternative to the Model Y. And who knows, maybe it'll even make its way to the U.S. someday. If it does, I'll be first in line to take it for a spin.
