GAC Aion presents new EV platform ‘AEP 3.0’

GAC Aion, the electric car subsidiary of the Chinese GAC Group, has presented its new vehicle platform AEP 3.0. The new electric car platform is intended to enable more efficient electric cars, particularly sporty vehicles – at least the first model will be at the sporty end of the scale.

Specifically, GAC Aion states that e-cars based on the AEP 3.0 should consume 15 per cent less energy and achieve a ten per cent better range in cold weather – although the exact conditions and test cycles are not defined. Whether these improvements were achieved in the battery itself, the drive hardware, the software or an interplay of these factors is not known.

When it comes to the key data on the platform’s technology, GAC Aion still remains very cautious. It is said to be a 900-volt technology that will be able to charge up to 480 kW at the company’s HPC charging stations presented a few months ago – at least that is the promise. However, details on the technology and power of the electric motors or the maximum possible energy content of the battery do not emerge from the Chinese media reports.

Instead, GAC Aion has apparently published some targeted driving performance: models based on the AEP 3.0 are supposed to be able to reach speeds of up to 300 km/h, with variants with one motor being able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and versions with multiple motors in 1.9 seconds. The turning radius (mind you, not the turning circle specification commonly used in Europe) is said to be 5.3 metres. That would correspond to a diameter of 10.6 metres.

The first model based on the AEP 3.0 will be the Hyper SSR super sports car presented in September. At the presentation, an output of up to 913 kW and an acceleration value of 1.9 seconds for the Hyper SSR Ultimate version were mentioned. The 900 volts were also mentioned at the time, but without a more precise specification of the battery. However, the company confirms that series production of the electric sports car is scheduled to start in October 2023.

The AEP 3.0 is a further development of the AEP 2.0, which was introduced in 2019 and is the basis for the current GAC Aion models. Even these already achieve ranges (in the Chinese CLTC or the outdated NEDC) of over 1,000 kilometres. The AEP 3.0 is said to offer “upgrades in vehicle range, space and safety performance”, according to GAC Aion. The space benefits are not spelt out in more detail, in which case they are more likely to be seen in later models rather than a 900+ kW supercar.

While other Chinese carmakers such as BYD, Nio and Xpeng are increasingly focusing on Europe, this has not been the case with GAC Aion so far. Although there are no concrete sales plans yet, the parent company GAC Group has decisively strengthened its presence in Europe – and opened its European research and development centre in Milan. The Milan location is to play a decisive role in the implementation of the company’s R&D programme abroad. The team initially plans. to prioritise research into the design of concept cars and pre-production models.

cnevpost.com, gasgoo.com (both AEP 3.0), prnewswire.com (R&D centre in Milan)