Posted on 04/09/2024 6:53:34 AM PDT by Red Badger
Just weeks after teasing the launch of its fourth all-electric model and promising some impressive specs, China’s IM Motors has officially opened pre-orders for its L6 Sedan. The automaker confirmed earlier today that the L6 will be powered by semi-solid-state batteries, offer a range of over 1,000km (620 miles), and deliver unique maneuvers like crabwalk and an intelligent driving chassis.
As we recapped in late March, IM Motors is a fairly young Chinese automaker specializing in EVs that operates as a joint venture between SAIC Motor and Alibaba. Since its 2020 inception, IM Motor has launched three vehicles overseas: the L7 sedan and the LS7 and LS6 SUVs.
This past February, however, IM Motors introduced its second all-electric sedan, the L6. As the first model to hit the market following parent company SAIC’s signed joint venture with QingTao Energy to develop solid-state batteries, we’ve kept our eye on the L6 to see what sort of range capabilities it will offer.
By late March, IM Motors co-CEO confirmed the new L6 will be one of the first in the Chinese market to be powered by genuine solid-state batteries, delivering massive range without sacrificing performance by settling for rear-wheel drive. Following a launch event today, we’ve learned the L6 is powered by semi-solid-state cells, similar to Chinese rival NIO.
Still, the upcoming IM Motors L6 offers lots of range and advanced tech at prices that will certainly remain competitive in the saturated Chinese EV market.
IM Motors L6 offers solid-state tech for under $46k
IM Motors officially launched the new L6 sedan in China today, opening pre-orders for three separate trims priced as follows: the L6 Max Standard Edition at a price of no more than RMB 230,000 ($31,800), the IM L6 Max Performance Edition at no more than RMB 299,900 ($41,475), and the L6 Max Lightyear Edition starting at no more than RMB 330,000 ($45,650).
Only the top-tier Max Lightyear Edition features a 130 kWh semi-solid-state battery pack as part of a “quasi-900 V” platform offering ultra-fast charging and an all-electric range of over 1,000km. IM Motors shared that the non-solid-state versions of the L6 feature 90 kWh and 100 kWh packs that deliver CLTC ranges of 700-770 km $35-479 miles).
After teasing the capabilities late last month, IM Motors used today’s launch event to showcase the L6’s Vehicle Motion Control (VMC) as part of a new intelligent digital chassis, declaring the new sedan as the first in China with crab walk capabilities.
Other features include a cockpit powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P chip, NVIDIA Orin X chips, and roof-mounted LiDAR that support the sedan’s ADAS functions, such as City Drive. Beta testing on that driverless software is expected this quarter, followed by a full rollout in China in Q4 2024.
Although slightly larger than the Tesla Model 3 and Zeekr 007 sedans, the IM Motors L6 is expected to be a competitor to those EVs in the segment, especially given its MSRPs and features. Pre-orders are now open in China and a telling sign will be how many consumers opt into an L6 and if they go for the solid-state version.
Pre-orders are now open in China and a telling sign will be how many consumers opt into an L6 and if they go for the solid-state version.
Way too much screen distraction ,LOL
All I know is that crabs walk sideways and lobsters walk straight.
I hate parallel parking. This could be a big seller................
The traffic monitor is on the left, the porn channel on the right, the weather and music video are split screened on the lower, seat sensors prevent it from self combusting with a person in it (safety feature) and all of the data including your speech, driving habits and places you go will be safely stored in China (away from those nasty hackers). What’s not to like?
These are astounding claims.
If true, they represent a serious advance in battery tech.
It sounds almost like TGTBT.
Solid state batteries have been under the radar for a while.
This could change everything. Ford, GM, Stellantis/Chrysler and all the others would be caught flatfooted.............
The steering wheel is missing it’s top half
130 kWh but how fast is fast charging? To charge it in an hour theoretically would take 130 kw (ignoring that pesky 2nd law) in 1/2 an hour twice that ie 260kw that’s roughly 600amps at 440 volts. We’re talking small industrial manufacturing facility sized demand for just one of the things. Suppose you have a dozen or more charging at any one time. The charging station would need its own substation to service that many 600 amp 440 volt draws. And where is the power coming from? Not from wind and solar. It’s cloudy and raining here and the wind isn’t blowing a combination which is not at all rare, and it was calm last night too. Oops no wind and solar then either.
The real test is “does it fill-up as fast as an ICE vehicle” - i.e. max 5-minutes?
Fast charging kills the battery and when will they provide all battery info with the push of a button because how the owners uses the car will effect the battery big time
This kind of creativity would never be allowed out of american based companies. Not enough regulatory lock-in to make it “viable”.
These, of course, will be killed off through lawfare.
Fast filling the gas tank doesn’t harm the gas tank. Wow EVs are sooo kool.
The steering is most likely by computer rather than mechanical. The “steering wheel” is actually a modified joy stick.
Tesla........
Even the lowly new Hyundai Tucson has two 12.3 dashboard screens behind a single glass piece.
The rear end looks like an 80’s Buick.
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