Author: Zhang Yi

In recent years, the development of the Chinese economy has followed two principles: product upgrading and technological progress. Smart electric vehicles are no exception. Some dazzling technological configurations are indeed popular, but the real “powerful” players have hidden BUFF skills.

On July 11, Geek+ held an event called “Geek+ Evolution | KEEP GOing”, with the theme of “vehicle upgrading, additional configuration without price increase”, which included a comprehensive free upgrade of the ZEEKR OO1 to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip, as well as the addition of lightning switching function, intelligent anti-skid system, and the launch of the long-lasting dual-electricity ME version model, which is priced at 3.49 million yuan.

In the view of Geek+ CEO An Conghui, smart cars and electric cars bring not only local changes, but also a vast architecture with the highest bandwidth and the most efficient software development capabilities that endow Geek+ with comprehensive system thinking. The relationship between hardware and software needs to achieve innovation from the inside out after having a systemic ability, rather than just stacking usage.

So how does Geek+ practice this?

As a catalyst for tradition and innovation, Geek+ not only has efficient integration of resources in the traditional automobile industry but also can maintain the purest user thinking in an open manner along the path of innovative economy.

Geek+ believes that besides the need to upgrade intelligent driving, intelligent cockpit, intelligent driving, and other fields, it is also necessary to create a new evaluation standard for high-end smart pure electric vehicles. Based on this criterion, there is the “Geek+ Evolution Tour” this time.

Launch of Active Cruise Control Function with Full-speed Range

This time, Geek+ launched the Active Cruise Control function with Full-speed Range, which integrates multiple intelligent driving technologies to enable users to experience more smart travel scenes. At the same time, on July 19, ZEEKR OS 3.0 official version will be fully pushed out, covering the full evolution of the chassis domain body, involving 25 ECUs, adding 29 functions, and optimizing functions reaching 204 items.

In terms of auxiliary safety, Geek+ keeps the right to continuously evolve and upgrade the enjoyment of intelligent driving assistance experience. Considering the user’s ride safety, the newly added Active Cruise Control function with Full-speed Range can keep the speed range of Geek+ 001 at 0-130km/h and automatically adjust the following distance based on the driving speed, achieving smart following to keep the vehicle in the center of the lane, and it can effectively alleviate driver fatigue.In the face of three frequent dangerous scenarios encountered during daily driving, JiKe has launched the “Antelope Avoidance” function, which covers pedestrian avoidance, taxi avoidance, and road occupation, and can assist drivers in effectively reducing the risk of traffic accidents.

New and old users can purchase “0 yuan upgrade” for 8155

Based on the 8155 computing platform, the intelligent cockpit is upgraded with 7-nanometer process 8-core CPU, 16GB memory, and 128GB storage space, which brings stronger computing power and bandwidth, and can improve processing speed, human-computer interaction, and image/multimedia rendering quality.

It is worth noting that JiKe has introduced a plan “0 yuan upgrade” for all new and old users, which achieves a comprehensive upgrade of JiKe 001 cockpit and officially equips it with “8155 Intelligent Cockpit Computing Platform”. Whether it is delivered or newly ordered, users can directly upgrade and enjoy a new generation of intelligent cockpit’s new experience in human-computer interaction and in-car applications.

For old users who choose to replace the 8155 computing platform, JiKe also provides a detailed plan. According to An Conghui, because the intelligent cockpit of JiKe is a complete intelligent cockpit domain controller using a lossless security mode, even if the domain controller is replaced, it only needs four screws to complete the process, and the hardware replacement time only takes 35 minutes, and the software upgrade time only takes 2 minutes.

Moreover, JiKe has also optimized and upgraded the HMI interface, such as the pull-down control center. The built-in pull-down menu can customize 18 commonly used functions, making in-car use more convenient and personalized. This time, JiKe has also upgraded the Gaode Map, adding the display of route optimization recommendations and congested road sections, allowing users to choose the best route, and greatly improving the intelligent interaction.

Evolution of Intelligent Electric Drive

JiKe Intelligent Drive System, as the industry’s first intelligent system designed for pure electric high-performance experience, has even been called “JiKe-style handling” by users. Based on the vast architecture and 4,000+ APIs, 7 major core controllers command 33 intelligent drive hardware and realize the coupling and cooperation of software and hardware through code. Along with the newly launched lightning switch intelligent four-wheel drive system and intelligent anti-skid system, JiKe 001 can balance high performance and long-lasting endurance while improving the handling and safety of the entire vehicle.

Thanks to the front double-wishbone virtual dual-ball-head suspension and the rear integrated multi-link all-aluminum suspension, Zeekr001 achieves excellent filtering. Together with the high-performance air suspension, CCD electromagnetic shock absorption system, and 7 driving modes, as well as the application of ITT high-performance brake pads, four-piston calipers, Bosch ESP 9.3 high-dynamic version system, iBooster 2.0 electronic power braking system, etc., Zeekr001 achieves an outstanding braking distance of 34.5m at 100 km/h.

In addition, Zeekr001 is also equipped with two major black technologies, namely “Lightning Switching” and “Intelligent Anti-skid”.

Lightning Switching: With a blink time of 0.4 seconds, the intelligent switching between rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive can be achieved. By means of various driving modes, intelligent switching among three driving modes of full-time rear-wheel drive, on-demand four-wheel drive, and full-time four-wheel drive can be achieved, achieving a performance of 3.8 seconds and an increase of 34km in the comprehensive cruising range under the CLTC condition. In different scenarios, the three modes are respectively suitable for different situations.

Full-time rear-wheel drive is suitable for daily commuting, which can reduce energy consumption and has a better cruising range than the comprehensive working conditions; On-demand four-wheel drive is suitable for urban, highway, and mountain roads. On ordinary roads, single-motor drive can be selected. When encountering uphill and gravel roads, four-wheel drive mode can be intelligently switched; Full-time four-wheel drive is suitable for bad road conditions, such as snow and rain, and can solve the safety hazards of the vehicle’s insufficient steering, oversteer, and side slip during driving.

Intelligent Anti-skid: With a processing speed 10 times faster than that of the TCS traction control system, it takes only 6 milliseconds from wheel slip to response loop, which can provide higher protection for high-speed safety evasion. After testing, this system can make the vehicle react 0.8 seconds faster when accelerating from 0-60 km/h on snow and achieve a maximum controlled speed increase of 5-15 km/h when making extreme turns on a -200-250m diameter ice and snow circle.

At the launch event, Zeekr also officially announced the launch of a new car, the Zeekr001 Long-range Dual-motor ME version, with a retail price starting at RMB 349,000, equipped with the “Double Hundred Combination” dual-motor layout + 100 kW [Extreme Core] battery pack, which has a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 3.8 seconds and a CLTC cruising range of 616 km.

Controversy

The welfare announced by Zeekr this time, especially the “zero-yuan purchase” of 8155 for new and old users, has sparked a great deal of discussion in the industry, and even directly sparked public opinion. Of course, some companies have also been unfairly targeted.During the evening, William Li, the CEO of NIO, stated in a social media group, “We cannot afford to provide free upgrades. Over 20 billion RMB is too much for us to bear.”

In the era of smart cars, onboard chips symbolize an enterprise’s technological strength and production power. The chips determine the fundamental experience of the intelligent cockpit, and serve as the control medium for various commands such as entertainment and navigation assistance. In summary, their underlying capabilities provide support for upper-layer applications.

When it comes to functionality, the 8155’s 8 TOPS computational power is nearly four times higher than the 820A in terms of image processing, with 2x improvement in CPI and 4x improvement in CPU compared to the 820A Prem in the current model, providing greater support for AI algorithms.

In terms of price, it is reported that the 820A chip costs around 40 US dollars, equivalent to approximately 250 RMB, while the 8155 chip’s price is around 250 US dollars, approximately 1600 RMB.

Based on this price calculation and the cumulative delivery of approximately 25,000 NIO 001s, the free upgrade to the 8155 will cost approximately 40 million RMB, in addition to the more than 300 million RMB that NIO invested in the R&D of the new generation of intelligent cockpits. This decision by NIO therefore hides a high cost.

Some people say that NIO is very kind-hearted, while others suggest a possibility that NIO is compensating for the 001’s lack of product strength.

Many car owners of the previously delivered NIO 001 models have reported problems with the navigation software and glitches in the car’s software optimization, as well as missing functions in the autonomous driving system. Until March of this year, NIO released the ZEEKR OS 2.0 update, which added new features to the autonomous driving system, but many car owners still complained about the car’s functions. Navigation issues were the most common problem among NIO 001 owners. The main reason for the sluggish performance of the navigation system is due to the outdated chip, and this free upgrade is a remedy for the initial NIO 001.

The specific reason for this remains unclear, but the important thing is that NIO’s introduction of the “0 yuan purchase” of the 8155 for new and old users is a plus for user experience improvement as well as for NIO’s reputation in the market.### The Voice of Electromotive Force

With this round of intelligent evolution, the long-criticized intelligence experience of Zeekr 001 has undoubtedly been strengthened and is no longer a significant weakness. Coupled with its unparalleled operation power, a more powerful Zeekr 001 has emerged.

From Zeekr’s inception to its evolution, although it is a start-up company, it is also the first brand in the industry to allow users to choose their suppliers. Zeekr acknowledges its shortcomings in the aspect of creating cars from scratch, but is willing to take responsibility and face consumers with a more open attitude, and the future with a more confident management strategy. This may be the best interpretation of “new power.”

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.