Zeekr 007: The Chinese Electric Car That Mocks Range Anxiety and Laughs at Charging Woes
I've spent decades in the trenches of automotive innovation, witnessing the birth of everything from four-wheeled wonders to airborne contraptions. Now, the Geely Group's Zeekr 007 has waltzed onto the scene, throwing down the gauntlet and claiming to be the antidote to all our electric vehicle apprehensions. When I first heard of it, my skepticism antennae were immediately on high alert. But as I delved into the specs, I couldn't help but be intrigued.
Geely's Zeekr brand has been making a lot of waves in the electric vehicle pond, and the 007 is their latest gambit. The dimensions, power outputs, battery capacity, and even the price – it's all there, laid out like a futuristic blueprint. But can it really live up to the hype, or is this just another case of electric exuberance?
Let's start with the numbers that have everyone talking. The Zeekr 007 boasts power outputs that could make many EVs blush – 310 kW (415 hp) for the rear-wheel-drive variant and a jaw-dropping 475 kW (636 hp) for the all-wheel-drive version. It's like they're trying to outdo a Marvel superhero movie in the power department. Is this a car or a rocket ship? Yes yes, there are EVs out there with even bigger numbers - but this is a medium-sized family sedan that costs less than $50,000!
Now, the batteries – the lifeblood of any electric vehicle. The Zeekr 007 gives you choices - a 75.6-kWh LFP battery and a monstrous 100-kWh ternary NMC pack. The range these batteries promise is nothing short of a moonshot – from 688 km to an eye-watering 870 km, depending on your powertrain configuration. And before you get too carried away, remember, these numbers are courtesy of the CLTC testing regime, the eternal optimists of the automotive world. But hey, even in the real world, the Zeekr 007's range is going to be nothing to scoff at. It's like having a gas station on wheels, minus the fumes and the questionable bathroom hygiene.
What good is a battery with oodles of miles when it takes forever to charge it? Well, Zeekr claims to have cracked the code with its latest Golden "Brick" Battery. Charging 500 km in 15 minutes? Sounds like the stuff of legend. It's Zeekr's version of reality – a reality where EV charging is as routine as grabbing a pack of gum at the gas station.
And if you're worried about all the battery-related safety stuff, Zeekr has you covered. The Golden Brick is wrapped in a high-voltage-resistant gold-colored insulation film, waterproof, and apparently more durable than a tank. They set fire to it, tried drowning it, sent it to Antarctica (not really - just a big freezer) and even drove a 22-ton roller over it. Talk about putting your money where your battery is.
And then - there's the design. The 007 (just like the real 007) mid-size sedan that's not afraid to flex its aesthetic muscles. Crafted by the Zeekr Design Center team in Sweden, it's a sleek and modern beast. Inside, you're greeted by a 15.05-inch screen powered by Kr GPT AI and a Snapdragon 8295 chip. It's like having the cockpit of a spaceship at your fingertips. Beam me up, Zeekr!
But Zeekr doesn't stop there. They're not just selling cars; they're selling an entire charging revolution. With plans for 1000 charging stations by 2024 and 10,000 charging poles by 2026, Zeekr is on a mission to make charging as ubiquitous as bad Wi-Fi in coffee shops.
So, is the Zeekr 007 the electric messiah we've been waiting for, or just another charlatan in a shiny coat? Honestly? Only time will tell. But for now, this for sure is one heck of an electrifying ride – with a healthy dose of skepticism, of course. I, for one, am strangely tempted by having 007 at my disposal. There’s something cheesy and yet cool, when asked “what do you drive?” I get to smirk and then blurt - oh well, me? I drive 007… It’s gotta be better than Funky Cat, right?
Yours truly,
Captain Electro
