Nio's Shockingly Long Drive and the Price Tag That Could Give You Whiplash

Ever had the urge to embark on a 14-hour road trip without stopping for a bathroom break, a coffee refill, or even a quick nap? Well, Nio's CEO just did that in the ET7, and neither of them even needed a pit stop for an espresso. In a feat that makes my skepticism quiver, the electric sedan covered a jaw-dropping 1,044 kilometers (that's nearly 650 miles) on a single charge. Strap in, because we're diving into the electrifying world of Nio's latest stunt, where range anxiety takes a back seat and sarcasm rides shotgun.

Let's talk specs, because apparently, in the EV world, numbers are the only things that matter. The ET7 boasts a world's first 150 kWh semi-solid battery pack. To put it in layman's terms, it's like strapping a small power plant to the underbelly of your car. Li, Nio's CEO, took this beast out for a spin in a chilly -2°C Shanghai. Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer my drives with the windows down, not battling cold waves across China.

Now, here's the real MVP of the journey – Nio's Advanced Driver Assistance System, or as I like to call it, the "I-don't-feel-like-driving-so-NOP+-take-the-wheel" system. NOP+ was in charge for 92% of the trip, proving that technology is not just about power but also about making sure the driver has time to contemplate life, or perhaps, why they didn't choose a warmer day for this stunt.

The 150 kWh battery is the belle of the ball though, boasting the highest energy density globally at 360 Wh/kg. It's the heavyweight champion of the Chinese passenger car segment, weighing in at 575 kg. To put it bluntly, it's heavier than my skepticism about electric cars. This pack is like the Hulk of batteries, beating its puny 100 kWh predecessor by 20 kilograms. More power to it, I suppose.

But, and there's always a but, isn't there? The 150 kWh pack comes with a price tag that makes you wonder if it can also make you breakfast. Qin Lihong spilled the beans, revealing it's almost the cost of the entire ET5 sedan. That's right, folks, you could have a whole car for the price of a battery. And how much is that exactly? Well, if you insist... that'll be $46,000 please. Ouch. But fear not, Nio has a plan – the battery swap mode. It's like renting a luxury penthouse for a night without committing to a lifetime mortgage.

The 14-hour trek wasn't all sunshine and rainbows (because, you know, it was freezing). Despite temperatures that would make a penguin shiver, the ET7 maintained a cozy 20 degrees Celsius inside. I don't know about you, but my car struggles to heat up my toes in winter, let alone the entire cabin.

Sure, Nio isn't the first to break the 1,000 km barrier. Zeekr 001 stole the thunder, or should I say volts? But the more, the merrier, right? The faster we get these EVs pushing boundaries, the quicker we can ditch gas-guzzlers and embrace the electric revolution. It's like a high-stakes game of one-upmanship, and we're all winning.

In the grand scheme of things, not everyone dreams of cross-country road trips with their EV. But knowing that your car could go the distance without begging for a charge is a comfort we never knew we needed. For some, it's the promise of skipping public chargers, and for others, it's the dream of charging their EV as often as they change their toothbrush – once every few months. Thanks, Nio, for giving us a reason to believe that driving without range anxiety is not just a pipe dream.

And for those of you with 14 hours to spare, check out the video on YouTube. It's riveting, or at least as riveting as watching a car drive for 14 hours can be. Record-breaking, they say. I say it's just another day in the world where electric cars are breaking records like it's a new hobby. And yet, despite all my bubbling skepticism - the future of driving just went the extra mile, or 1,044 kilometers to be precise.