Nio EP9

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} {{Infobox automobile | name = Nio EP9 | image = Nio EP9.jpg | manufacturer = Nio NextEV Nio Formula E Team RML Group | aka = NextEV EP9 | production = 2016–2019 (6 produced total planned 10 more) ''EP9: 6 produced'' | designer = David Hilton, Ben Payne, Andrew Sheffield<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uspto.report/patent/grant/D899,303|title=Electric vehicle|website=United States Patent and Trademark Office|language=en|access-date=2023-05-18}}</ref> | class = Track day car Sports car (S) | body_style = 2-door coupé | layout = individual-wheel drive | motor = Indirectly water-cooled motors (one motor at each wheel) | battery = lithium ion batteries | powerout = {{convert|335.25|hp|kW|abbr=on|0|order=flip}} each wheel {{convert|1341|hp|MW hp PS|abbr=on|0|order=out}} total | transmission = 4 individual single-ratio transmissions (one gearbox at each wheel) | electric_range = {{convert|427|km|mi|abbr=on}} | length = {{convert|4888|mm|in|abbr=on}} | width = {{convert|2230|mm|in|abbr=on}} | height = {{convert|1150|mm|in|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|1735|kg|lbs|abbr=on}} }}

The '''Nio EP9''' is a battery-powered, two-seat sports car manufactured by RML Group on behalf of Chinese electric car company Nio. Although it is a track-use only car, it was not developed with assistance from Nio's Formula E racing division. The name EP9 stands for Electric Performance 9.

== History == Developed and built in 18 months, the EP9 debuted at the Saatchi Gallery in London, England on November 21, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Winton |first=Neil |date=Nov 21, 2016 |title=China's NextEV Launches NIO Brand And World's Fastest Electric Car |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/neilwinton/2016/11/21/chinas-nextev-launches-nio-brand-and-worlds-fastest-electric-car/ |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=DPCcars|title=NextEV NIO EP9 With 1341 Horsepower Unveiling|date=2016-11-22|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opGMDRJ54t4|accessdate=2017-02-23}}</ref>

Six EP9s have been sold to Nio investors for {{currency|2.5 million|GBP}} each. Nio has announced that ten additional EP9s will be sold to the general public.

However, it is not a road-legal vehicle, and none of the 16-production model EP9s were ever registered for road use. The EP9 is purely designed for track use only and does not comply with the laws and regulations to be registered in China. None of the 16-production model EP9s were ever exported and registered for road use outside China so far.

== Specifications == Each of the EP9's wheels has its own motor and transmission. Each motor has {{convert|335.25|hp|kW|abbr=on|0|order=flip}}, giving the car a total power output of {{convert|1341|hp|MW hp PS|0|abbr=on |order=out}}. The EP9 is both all-wheel drive,<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=NIO EP9 model specification|url=https://www.nio.com/ep9-experience|access-date=2017-02-21|website=www.nio.com|publisher=NIO|language=en-ca}}</ref> and individual-wheel drive. The car has an advanced torque vectoring system that can adjust the power output to each wheel.

The EP9's battery can last up to {{convert|427|km|mi|abbr=in}} before it needs to be charged. Recharging takes 45 minutes, and battery replacement takes 8 minutes as the batteries need to be removed when recharged.

The car is equipped with an active suspension, including a ride height controller that makes 200 calculations per second.<ref>{{Citation|last=caroto_gr|title=NextEV Nio EP9 - 1 360hp World's Fastest Electric Car|date=2016-11-27|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Nb6fZQfUrA|accessdate=2017-02-23}}</ref>

The car's brakes are developed and constructed by U.K manufacture Alcon.

The car's chassis construction is all carbon fibre, and is based on the FIA Le Mans Prototype regulations. The exterior is also made of the same material.

The vehicle's batteries weigh {{cvt|635|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. All of the carbon fibre in the car, in total, weighs {{cvt|364|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The total weight of the car is {{cvt|1735|kg|lbs}}.<ref name=":0" />

== Performance == The EP9 can accelerate from 0 to {{cvt|100|km/h|mph|0}} in 2.7 seconds, {{cvt|200|km/h|mph|0}} in 7.1 seconds, and {{cvt|300|km/h|mph|0}} in 15.9 seconds, as demonstrated by Richard Hammond in The Grand Tour. The car can achieve a top speed of {{cvt|313|km/h|mph|0}}.<ref name=":0" />

The EP9 can also brake at a very short distance, as Richard Hammond (who had compared its acceleration to two vehicles he had famously crashed, a Rimac Concept One and the jet-powered dragster) demonstrated at the Eboladrome.

The car is somewhat capable of autonomous driving, which it did when the car set a record for fastest autonomous driving at the Circuit of the Americas. However, this was only possible because it was configured to drive autonomously.

== Design == left|thumb|Nio EP9 left|thumb|Rear view of the Nio EP9 left|thumb|Nio EP9 in dark blue The EP9's chief designer was David Hilton, who was also Nio's former senior design director.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.formtrends.com/nio-ep9-design-story/|title=Design Story: NIO EP9 Supercar: The Brand Ambassador|date=13 June 2017 |publisher=FormTrends.com|language=en-us|access-date=2020-10-05}}</ref>

=== Exterior === The EP9's rear wing is adjustable between three settings: parked, low-drag, and high-downforce.<ref name=":0" /> The EP9 produces 24,000 newtons (5,395 lbs or 2447 kg) of downforce at {{convert|240|kph|mph|0|abbr=on}}, similar to a Formula One car, allowing the EP9 to corner at 3.0 Gs.<ref name=":0" />

=== Interior === The interior, like the exterior and chassis, is made entirely of carbon fibre.<ref>{{Citation|last=FIA Formula E Championship|title=NIO EP9: The Fastest EV Supercar In The World - Formula E|date=2016-12-04|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8IscEyYrV0|accessdate=2017-02-23}}</ref> There are four screens: one on the driver's side of the dashboard, one on the passenger's side of the dashboard, one on the centre console, and one on the steering wheel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.caricos.com/cars/n/nio/2017_nio_ep9/images/11.html|title=2017 NIO EP9 - Image #11|publisher=Caricos.com|language=en-ca|access-date=2017-02-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.caricos.com/cars/n/nio/2017_nio_ep9/images/15.html|title=2017 NIO EP9 - Image #15|publisher=Caricos.com|language=en-ca|access-date=2017-02-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.caricos.com/cars/n/nio/2017_nio_ep9/images/17.html|title=2017 NIO EP9 - Image #17|publisher=Caricos.com|language=en-ca|access-date=2017-02-24}}</ref> * '''Dashboard screens''' - Both screens display performance data, but differ in function. The passenger-side screen displays only four measurements: the car's top speed, lap time, and lateral G-forces, and the driver's heart rate. * '''Centre console screen''' - Displays performance data, lap times, and a track map with the car's current position. * '''Steering wheel screen''' - The steering wheel is a simplified version of Nio's Formula E racing wheel, and is built by the same company.

== World records == The EP9 set the record for the fastest lap by an electric vehicle for the Circuit of the Americas, Shanghai International Circuit and the Circuit Paul Ricard tracks. It also set the record for the fastest lap by an autonomous vehicle at the Circuit of the Americas track.

{| class="wikitable" !Track !Lap Time !References |- |Circuit Paul Ricard |1:52.78 |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.motortrend.com/news/nio-ep9-sets-world-record-nurburgring-ev-lap-time/|title=NIO EP9 Sets World Record Nürburgring EV Lap Time|date=22 November 2016 |publisher=MotorTrend.ca|language=en-ca}}</ref> |- |Circuit of the Americas |2:11.30 (driver) 2:40.33 (auto) |<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.carthrottle.com/post/the-nio-ep9-just-clocked-an-autonomous-lap-record-with-a-slight-catch/|title=The Nio EP9 Just Clocked An Autonomous Lap Record, With A Slight Catch|work=Car Throttle|access-date=2017-03-03|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://electrek.co/2017/02/27/nio-all-electric-supercar-self-driving/|title=NIO's all-electric supercar reached a top speed of 160 mph and completed record lap without any driver|date=27 February 2017|work=Electrek|accessdate=27 February 2017}}</ref> |- |Shanghai International Circuit |2:01.11 |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.e-racing.net/2017/03/21/nio-ep9-continues-smash-lap-records/|title=NIO EP9 continues to smash lap records|date=2017-03-21|website=e-racing.net|access-date=2017-05-27}}</ref> |} The EP9 used racing slicks for all of the record attempts. {{clear}}

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == *[https://www.nio.com/ep9 Official website]

EP9 Category:Electric sports cars Category:Cars introduced in 2017 Category:Coupés Category:All-wheel-drive vehicles Category:Production electric cars Category:First car made by manufacturer