Could this end range anxiety? NIO to unveil flagship EV with 150kWh battery, 800km range

The clock is counting down to the official unveiling of China’s latest Tesla fighter, with EV brand NIO to pull the covers off its Model S-rivalling flagship on January 9.

The brand has released this official teaser image, but it’s what is under the metal that’s of most interest, with several media outlets pointing to a game-changing 150 kWh battery pack being fitted to the top-tier model, which will deliver a driving range of up to 800km on a single charge.

That would, at least hypothetically, give you the ability to drive from Sydney to Melbourne without recharging, and would also go some way to allaying the fears of those still suffering from range anxiety.

The brand is yet to release the full details of the new model, but the flagship’s expected 150 kWh battery pack would outshine the other models in its line up – the ES8, ES6 and EC6 – all of which are fitted with a 100 kWh unit.

NIO is a relatively new player on the EV scene, but also one that has made headlines for its approach to the electric vehicle sales.

In its Chinese home market, buyers can opt to take ownership of the entire vehicle – car and battery – much like they would with any other EV. But they can also choose to buy the car as a shell, and then lease a 100 kWh battery from the company, lowering the initial entry price by about $25k, with a $300 per month subscription cost.