Evergrande Auto summer test with Hengchi 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7
Even if Evergrande Auto is not currently causing a headache at Tesla. You shouldn't write off the Hengchi brand and the billions in investments too quickly. On September 3rd, the Chinese officially ended the summer test cycle with Hengchi 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7. As always, it was about the superlative. Bringing five battery-electric cars to series production at the same time sets new standards for the auto industry. Theoretically. But it also has to go into production afterwards.
Summer test cycle under extreme conditions
The tests were conducted in Xinjiang Autonomous Province and Hainan Province in the Qionghai area. The Turpan Depression in Xinjiang Province in particular is known for its extreme environmental conditions. It places the highest demands on technology. In Turpan, the temperature climbs to 80 degrees Celsius in summer and hardly ever drops below 45 degrees. In Qionghai, the average relative humidity is 90%.
70 days and 500.000 kilometers
The Evergrande Auto test team was on the road for 53 days with 5 vehicles from 70 series. 500.000 kilometers. 20.000 hours of tests totaled for the batteries and the suitability to survive on extreme long distances. Dust, heat and extreme humidity affected the vehicles. All passed the test cycles with flying colors. The knowledge gained is incorporated into series production.
Last practical test before production
For the first time, the manufacturer publishes images that show test vehicles in a design that is close to the series. The summer test cycle was the last major test before the start of series production. In fact, testing continues on public roads (Update follows), these journeys are primarily used for fine adjustment.
It remains to be seen whether and when the vehicles will be launched on the market. The will to do it is still there. It could be exciting to watch how this new brand will prevail against the competition out of nowhere. Hengchi's proud lion logo conceals a great deal of European know-how and Evergrande is the technically best that German suppliers offer, just good enough for the shopping list.
For this reason alone, it would be nice to see the Evergrande factories (including those in Sweden) producing from 2022 or 23. In a stable financial environment, if possible. According to Evergrande, US $ 3,85 billion has so far flowed into vehicle development. Maybe that would cause one or two worry lines on Elon Musk's forehead at Tesla.
To make matters worse, the Henchi EVs don't even look bad. In fact, as far as you can tell, there are beautiful vehicles among them. Not that I'm becoming a China fan now, not that. But Volkswagen is currently delivering designs (ID xy) that are less attractive.
It's difficult to say anything about it. The cars are there, no question about it, but in this situation can that still be a sign that everything will be fine ?! I doubt something and think that the problems have become too big for it to end well.
I am sure that several takeover candidates from the Evergrande auto division will appear on the scene. As is usually the case in such tricky situations, what ultimately counts is a (favorable) purchase price. Presumably the new owner will come from what is known as the Middle Kingdom.
There is no way a company that is at this state of the art and development will simply disappear from the scene. It would be nice if the Trollhättan location were to be given a slightly greater significance in the future - for example for the development or even the production of a series for the European markets.
That’s a signal
Wondered where it went for so long. Rating, share price and creditors taking legal action. What else does it take to finally send out a signal again?
And how much is this signal worth now? If you can do a little mental arithmetic, you will quickly discover that not a single vehicle has unwound 500.000 km. That would be 70 days with almost 300 km / h non-stop ...
So what does 500.000 km with 53 vehicles mean in 20.000 hours over 70 days? The average is around 9.400 km per vehicle, 135 km per day, which was “unwound” at an average of 25 km / h in 5 hours and 24 minutes.
That really doesn't knock me off my feet. I've covered more kilometers at higher speeds in one day on my racing bike and even on my MTB. I don't even start with cars (my personal record was in the 9K). It's not even a pre-series, what Evergrande is doing right now. But maybe it will still help? In any case, it is an overdue signal. Anyway …
It is, of course, some kind of signal. One should look at the areas where the tests took place. Every kilometer counts by a factor of 10 and cars and technology age in fast motion.
Also true again ...