Zeekr 9X: One Beast of a Plugin

So where can we situate the 9X? Think of it as a Mercedes EQS fighter, but then a little bigger in all directions. Given the premium positioning of Zeekr you can also take the target audience of Mercedes as its prime hunting ground. I mean this vehicle is packed for comfort. Dual chamber air suspension and an 48v active stabilizer bar to minimize body roll through the corners should provide for a sereen ride for all passengers. With a 3,2 m wheelbase that should include those on the second row. The active stabilizer allows for a neat party trick in case of a side collision, as it can make sure the vehicle is lifted up when impending d(b)oom is detected. Detection of incoming vehicles should be possible from a hardware perspective as well, with no fewer than 5(!) lidar sensors around the body. Add to that a plethora of big screens and all the goodies that you can expect in this class of vehicles and you get the picture, not a car for the average Chinese buyer.

So what will be driving this monster? The specs read like a proper EV. A 900v system, yes Zeekr is moving on from 800v, and a 6C battery. Remember 6C means that at the top charging speed it can charge the battery 6 times in one hour. Let's just say seriously fast. But then you read the battery size, only 70 kwh? For a car like this it is stupendously small until you realize this is a plugin hybrid. It has a two liter petrol engine that can drive the wheels directly, but boy will you want to keep the battery charged up! With juice in them the top spec version has three electric motors with 1.381 horses to drive this SUV forward. Get used to these kinds of numbers. Big battery PHEVs or EREVs will certainly become more common. They provide the ideal technological mix for buyers with a serious case of EV fear. Daily driving will be all electric, while longer trips can be taken care of old-school. Whether fiscal authorities looking to cut co2 emissions will allow this solution to thrive is another question entirely...