On September 7th, I was invited to attend the first test drive event of the Guangzhou Automobile Aion V Plus on behalf of my platform.
In fact, from the naming convention of “Plus”, we can tell that the Aion V Plus is a modified version of the Aion V model, but the Aion V Plus has been upgraded in many aspects, such as interior, exterior, range, and functions.
After a brief yet intensive day of test driving, I experienced and gathered information about the car I drove, which was not the final production version of the Aion V Plus.
Advanced intelligent assistance/driving system
In my opinion, Guangzhou Automobile Aion should be the first traditional domestic brand to introduce high-speed navigation assist features. This makes me wonder how Aion V Plus will perform in our 42Mark standard test. If I have the opportunity, I will definitely test it on the production version.
Before explaining the functions, we need to understand the perception system of Aion V Plus, which is composed of:
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6 cameras;
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12 ultrasonic radars;
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5 millimeter-wave radars.
This sensing system, provided by Bosch and Baidu (for parking), makes up Guangzhou Automobile Aion’s ADiGO 3.0 intelligent driving assistance system.
Navigational Driving Assist (NDA)
The main focus of Aion V Plus’s advertised feature, as well as my test drive experience, is Navigational Driving Assist (NDA), which is the high-speed navigation assist feature we understand. Guangzhou Automobile Aion officials stated that NDA can perform autonomous actions such as overtaking, changing lanes, merging, exiting, and entering the highway based on the guidance of the navigation path or the surrounding traffic environment.
On site, Guangzhou Automobile Aion also released a comparison table for high-speed navigation assist functions with three other automakers. From this table, we can see that Aion V Plus can actively avoid large trucks in reverse at 30 cm.
The high-precision map supplier for NDA functionality is Baidu’s car navigation. It supports OTA for algorithms and high-precision map data, and is equipped with 16 GB of memory to meet future update needs.
In practical use, after activating the full set of driving assistance features through the steering wheel, the system will automatically switch to NDA functionality based on the coverage of the high-precision map, and will remind the driver synchronously through the special icon and audio of the central control computer.After a short experience, I can conclude that this NDA system basically meets GAC Aion’s promised functions. With NDA turned on, the car actively merges onto the highway, but generally does not automatically switch to the fastest left lane, instead driving in the middle lane. However, it is currently biased toward conservatism in terms of tuning or setting. Specifically, overtaking can be more hesitant and changing lanes often involves active deceleration.
During our testing of this version, there are also some unstable situations. For example, the car navigation system may suddenly exit, leading to NDA function also being terminated without warning. This NDA experience only lasted a short distance of a few kilometers and is not the final version, so I look forward to the official version of the AION V Plus NDA on 42Mark in subsequent mass-produced models.
Summon/Memory Parking
In addition to the NDA, another key feature promoted by AION V Plus is the “beyond field-of-view summon/memory parking” system.
This parking system is from Baidu and can achieve 150-meter memory parking (HAVP) as well as high-precision map autonomous parking (PAVP). On the displayed controller, Baidu encapsulated and packaged the software algorithm based on the Zu5 chip of Xilinx. Interestingly, GAC Aion’s promotion of “A learns for B to use” allows A vehicle to share its learned parking route with a B vehicle, which is highly anticipated to be realized in the future after boarding.
This system from GAC Aion has also achieved similar results to its competitors and will begin OTA updates in January next year. It can achieve cross-floor valet parking and pick-up.
At the parts display stand, I also saw that AION V Plus uses the driver detection solution provided by Horizon, which adopts the J2 chip (4 TOPS) and also supports OTA upgrades.
Intelligent Cabin
After landing a day early, I happened to see the AION V Plus parked at the hotel where I checked in. As a game-loving person, the first thing I did after getting the key and getting into the car was to play with this central control screen.
In the AION V Plus cockpit, the core of information acquisition comes from these two screens, which are not small in size. The instrument screen has a size of 12.3 inches and the infotainment screen is a comfortable horizontal 16:9 aspect ratio with a size of 15.6 inches. It also changes the built-in layout of the current AION V and adopts an external suspended screen layout.
The entire infotainment system is based on Android. The dock bar has a Home button, menu, vehicle settings, air conditioning operation, and seat adjustment (heating, ventilation) from left to right, respectively. However, the temperature setting of the air conditioning requires clicking on the red and blue direction keys, and the wind speed setting requires a second pop-up, which is inconvenient to use while driving.
Since we logged into an experience account in the car, many interesting apps cannot be experienced. However, the AION V Plus infotainment system uses the iFLYOS 4.0 intelligent speech system, which supports Cantonese reading and conversation, as well as Chinese and English.
During the formal test drive on the second day, the engineer in my car was responsible for the infotainment part of both AION V and AION V Plus models, and he answered many of my questions.
Traditional cars use separate control chips for the instrument and infotainment systems. In recent years, with the radical evolution of domain control architecture, many cars now use the same control chip for both the instrument and infotainment systems. However, the AION V Plus adopts the second approach, and both the instrument and infotainment systems use the Snapdragon 820A automotive-grade chip.
Considering my experience with a black screen when driving a Tesla Model 3 before, I asked the engineer in charge of the infotainment system why AION V Plus uses 820A instead of the latest 8155. The answer was that in the initial development, they did use 8155, but later switched to 820A due to COVID-19 and schedule requirements.
Plus? What are the significant differences?
Apart from updates to further enhance/autonomous driving features, a larger in-car display screen, and the four extra letters on the tail badge, where else does the “Plus” in AION V Plus lie?
Range Plus
The AION V Plus uses batteries greater than 70, 80, and 90 kWh, allowing it to achieve NEDC ranges of 500 km, 600 km, and 702 km respectively. Additionally, the AION V Plus is a two-wheel drive vehicle, with two different versions of the motor that can reach peak power of 165 kW and 200 kW.
The version I tested this time had a NEDC range of 702 km and a large motor with a peak power of 200 kW. Due to the limited time for the test drive and inadequate preparation, I only tested the vehicle one-way.
In the actual test, the navigation showed a distance of 79 km, and by the time I reached my destination, the battery level had dropped from 657 km to 530 km, representing a drop of 127 km. The ratio of actual mileage to the drop in battery level was 1:1.6.
It should be noted that the entire route was mainly on the highway, the outdoor temperature was as high as 41 degrees Celsius, the air conditioning was set to the lowest temperature and the fan was set to maximum. Additionally, there were four passengers in the vehicle, along with some equipment and other items, estimating a roughly 300 kg load. In addition, the vehicle’s driving style was very aggressive, with the accelerator almost constantly pressed to the floor. However, the average speed cannot be estimated. This represents a rather extreme scenario in a consumer usage.
Overall, I am quite satisfied with the range performance of the AION V Plus, but specific testing still needs to be carried out in the future. Once we receive a production test vehicle, we will conduct standardized testing as part of the 42Test project, providing everyone with more meaningful data to refer to.
As a redesign of the AION V, if it can maintain a price range of around CNY 170,000 to CNY 230,000, the 702 km range is indeed very cost-effective. According to official information from GAC AION, the flagship SUV, the AION LX, will also release a version with a range of 1,000 kilometers later this year.
Charging PlusOn August 30th, GAC Aion released its A480 supercharging station and ultra-fast battery technology, and demonstrated the effect of “charging for 5 minutes and driving 200 kilometers” through actual vehicle endurance testing, and obtained certification from the World Record Certification Agency (WRCA) in the process.
The A480 supercharging station, with “A” representing AION, has a charging power of 480 kW. The peak voltage can reach 1,000 V and the current can reach 600 A.
How impressive is this? Currently, the power of common fast charging stations in the State Grid of China is generally 60 kW or 120 kW; NIO and XPeng’s supercharging stations are at 180 kW; Tesla’s V3 supercharging station can reach 250 kW; and Porsche Taycan can achieve a maximum of 350 kW on its self-built supercharging stations.
GAC Aion has also formulated a promotion plan for this high-speed supercharging station, and is expected to build 2,000 supercharging stations in 300 cities nationwide and penetrate prefecture-level cities by 2025. The first GAC Aion supercharging station has already landed in the Donghong International Plaza in Tianhe District, Guangzhou and has been put into operation.
The battery used in the AION V Plus also supports GAC Aion’s fast charging technology and can achieve a fast charging rate of 6C or 3C. In addition to the aforementioned 207 kilometers of endurance that can be obtained in 5 minutes at a 6C rate, I understand that the early delivery version of the AION V Plus is equipped with 3C fast charging technology. At the same time frame, it can obtain 112 kilometers of endurance at a 3C rate.
Unfortunately, during the test-drive, I did not have time to experience the “5-minute charging and 110 kilometers of endurance” using the A480 and AION V Plus’s combination.
While enjoying the convenience of supercharging, AION V Plus will also consider the safety and service life of its battery. During the test-drive, GAC Aion officials also introduced the company’s proud “magazine-type battery”, with the battery safety compartment shell capable of resisting temperatures of over 1,400℃. After 1,600 cycles, the capacity retention rate can still be maintained at over 90%.
Other Plus features of AION V Plus
- Skyroof Plus: GAC Aion claims that the skyroof of the AION V Plus is the largest in the same level, with an area of 2.2㎡. Coupled with “double-silver-plated + Low-e insulating glass”, the thermal insulation efficiency of the whole vehicle is improved by 10%-15% compared to other brands.## Sweet Trouble: Production and Sales Issues
From the official data released by GAC Aion, AION V Plus has a 2830mm wheelbase and 1040mm legroom in the backseat. In actual experience (for reference, I weigh 75kg and am 179cm tall), the backseat space is extremely spacious. To put it bluntly, lying down on the second row is not an issue.
As usual, my test drive report would almost end here; however, as a media person, I arrived in Foshan one day before the test drive. During the banquet that evening, Gu Huinan, the General Manager of GAC Aion New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd., answered questions about the company’s production capacity issues, which are not directly related to the AION V Plus product itself. Therefore, I am including this information in my report.
Production Capacity of the Panyu Factory
We know that GAC Aion achieved very good sales results in August, with a total of 11,631 vehicles sold at retail for the AION S Plus, AION Y, AION V, and AION LX models, representing a 115% year-on-year increase, and a consecutive four-month sales of over 10,000 units. In August, even without fully opening orders, GAC Aion received 18,000 orders, setting a new historical high.
However, this has raised concerns about GAC Aion’s production capacity because the GAC Aion factory in Panyu, Guangzhou, although the overall planning capacity of the GAC Aion Panyu factory can reach 400,000 vehicles per year, the initial plan was for 200,000 vehicles per year. Currently, the factory is only using 100,000 vehicles per year production capacity.
The 100,000-vehicle-per-year production capacity cannot meet current demand and future sales trends. Currently, the production capacity of the Panyu factory has climbed to more than 10,000 units per month, and GAC Aion is striving to reach a single month production capacity of 15,000 units.
Gu Huinan stated that the utilization rate of the factory’s production capacity has exceeded 140%. Currently, workers at the factory are working four extra hours a day and operating with full capacity double shifts, with almost 22 hours of work per day. In addition to producing the four main GAC Aion models, the Panyu factory is also exporting products to GAC Feng, GAC Ben, GAC Mitsubishi, GAC Fiat, and even joint venture brands, further exacerbating production capacity issues.
However, Gu Huinan also stated that the Panyu factory has purchased and added new equipment and plans to bring the factory’s production capacity to 200,000 vehicles per year in the spring of 2022.
About the Chip Shortage
Since the third quarter of this year, Malaysia has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and semiconductor suppliers such as STMicroelectronics and NXP have been hit hard by the supply chain shortages. However, GAC Aion’s surging sales do not seem to have been affected by the current and ongoing chip shortage issues.
Regarding this issue, Gu Huinan used an interesting expression. He called GAC Aion a “little brother” who doesn’t have great demand for chips. As long as the suppliers take a little bit of care of them, the impact of chip shortage on production capacity is not as big as expected.
At the level of GAC Group, it has been stated previously that the company has established direct contact with chip suppliers to allocate resources and ensure production supply. At the same time, the company has also been minimizing the impact of chip shortage through searching for spot goods and developing substitutes.
Finally
GAC Aion has been gaining a lot of popularity recently, not only because of its increasing sales, but also because on August 30, the same day it announced its 5C charging technology and A480 ultra-fast charging piles, it also announced its plan of mixed ownership reform!
This term used to frequently appear on newspapers during the first wave of layoffs in the 90s. On September 5, during the 17th China International Forum on Auto Industry Development (Teda), Gu Huinan explained the reason for mixed ownership reform in a very simple way – capital and system. After the reform, employees hold shares and their enthusiasm will be aroused. At the same time, introducing talents and retaining them form a positive cycle of talent, which also confirms the core of technological competition, which is talents.
From my test drive of the AION V Plus, I can see that GAC Aion has invested many proprietary technologies in its new products. With good products, technologies, talents and systems, I am very much looking forward to the new face of GAC Aion after mixed ownership reform.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.