Chinese Automobile manufacturer, GAC’s electric sub-brand Aion has launched its first electric vehicle in Nepal, the GAC Aion Y EV. CG Motors has brought the electric vehicle to Nepal. The electric vehicle was announced by the company’s managing director, Nirvana Chaudhary, on Tuesday.
GAC Motors has a huge lineup in the ICE engine models. The company has been successful in many countries in Asia. The Aion Y EV comes with a futuristic look and comfortable interior. The EV is set to compete against the BYD Atto 3, Omoda 5 EV and the MG ZS EV.
The EV also comes with safety features such as ADAS, making it a more appealing option in terms of safety to people.
Let us see what the EV offers in terms of specs.
Specifications of GAC Aion Y EV
| Dimensions | 4,535mm ×1,870mm ×1,650mm |
| Weight | 1,710kg |
| Wheelbase | 2,750mm |
| Ground Clearance | 180mm |
| Motor power | 100 kW |
| Motor torque | 225 Nm |
| Battery tech | Magazine battery |
| Battery type | Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery |
| Battery capacity | 61.54 |
| Charging | One-way 6.6KW Charger |
| Range | 500km (NEDC) |
| Suspension | Front: McPherson Independent Suspension Rear: Torsion-beam Suspension |
| Brakes | Front: Disc Rear: Disc |
| Steering system | Electric Power Steering (EPS) |
| Price | Rs 5,499,000 |
Design
Exterior
The exterior design of the GAC Aion Y EV is exciting. It has a futuristic EV look. It has an all-around LED setup including LED headlamps and LED DRLs. The headlamps are extended down with strips of LED lights which look like an eye with eyelashes. The front grille has a lower lip with a small air intake. The boney is not that long and has lining for aerodynamics.
From the side, it looks like a rally car with blacked-out fenders. The ground clearance is decent at 180mm, so it won’t be a problem on the Nepali roads. The tyres are stylish with the alloy wheels. The roof line doesn’t slope and extends for a larger and wider rear look.
The rear of the Aion Y EV carries LED lighting. The LED lighting stretches throughout the rear with indicators just beside the boot opening. The rear glass window is large for a clear view of the outside. There is also a spoiler just above the glass for a sporty look.
Interior
The interior of the Aion Y EV is luxurious and simplistic. The front dash has soft-touch materials and a wide angle of view with the huge front glass. The simplistic design has been a trend in the EV market with most of the controls of the entire EV remaining in the infotainment system.
The steering wheel is light and has buttons for menu selection, modes, audio and calls. The windshield wiper and indicator are on either side of the steering wheel. In front of the steering wheel a digital instrument cluster. The graphics and system in the instrument cluster look sleek. It displays speed, battery percentage, trip meter, range and driver assistant system features.
The GAC Aion Y EV has a 14.6-inch infotainment display which controls most of the functions inside the car including climate control, music, modes, navigation, calls, safety features and vehicle information. The large infotainment system is clear and has a simple UI. The centre console is also simple with a place for two cup holders, a wireless charging pad and storage space. There is also an armrest with storage space.
Coming to the seats of the Aion Y, the EV has bucket-like seats for comfortable posture and rides on the front. The driver seat and the passenger sat both are adjustable and can be folded down to 180-degree too. The rear seats can seat three people. The rear seats are slightly lower because of the battery pack beneath. Both the front and rear seats get adjustable headrests.
Performance
The GAC Aion Y EV is a powerful and efficient electric car. The electric motor can deliver 100 kW of power and 225 Nm of torque, making it quick and responsive. It can go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 8.5 seconds, which is pretty fast in the price range.
It has a lithium iron phosphate battery of 61.54 kWh, giving it a range of 500 km on a single charge. It uses Magazine technology which is GAC’s own battery tech. The Aion Y EV features a one-way 6.6 kW charger, enabling efficient charging at home or compatible public charging stations.
The Aion Y EV suspension system further enhances its performance and ride comfort with McPherson’s independent suspension at the front and torsion-beam suspension at the rear. As for braking performance, it features disc brakes at both the front and rear with ABS. The steering system of the Aion Y EV is an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system, which offers precise and responsive handling characteristics.
Safety and Features
The GAC Aion Y EV comes packed with safety features with airbags all around – for the driver, passenger, and sides. It has Seatbelts with pre-tensioners and force limiters, a Tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), ABS, EBD, a Traction Control System (TCS), Hill-hold control and ADAS safety features. The ADAS safety feature includes features like lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, parking sensors, rearview camera, and adaptive cruise control.
The features of the GAC Aion Y EV are as follows:
- 61.54 kW battery
- 500km range
- 100 kW max power
- 225 Nm max torque
- 0-100 km/h in 8.5 seconds
- Larger 14.6-inch infotainment screen
- Panoramic sunroof
- 360-degree camera view
- ADAS features like ACC, blind-spot monitoring
- Airbags
- LED headlamp and taillamp
- Comfortable interior
- Futuristic look
The GAC Aion Y EV is available in Nepal at Rs 5,499,000.
