Tank 700 New Energy: Testing in China's Harsh Winter Zones
The concentrated testing of the Tank 700 New Energy car, part of the 2024 Auto Electric Super Test, has concluded. This article will analyze the results of the test in two harsh winter zones in northern China.
For this year's electric vehicle (EV) super test, we selected two test sites in Beijing and Inner Mongolia. These locations represent the cold conditions found in most parts of China during the winter season. The test aimed to assess the car's energy, charging times, and range as well as its overall comfort and reliability.
The Tank 700 New Energy was tested under these extreme conditions, powered by a 3.0T V6 engine and an electric motor with an output of maximum 120kW, coupled with a 37.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The WLTC test range is set at 90km.
Cold Winter Zone Test
The cold winter zone test took place in the Baarinxi county of Inner Mongolia, covering a route that went from -20°C to -15°C through driving to Cold River on both return trips under various conditions (50% urban and 50% highway). The final range was 72.5km of pure electricity with an efficiency rate of 80.6%, ranking first in the group.
After completing the electric-only test, the tank's fuel tank was re-filled for subsequent non-electric (hybrid) consumption tests. Under these conditions, after driving through both highway and urban routes, the vehicle consumed 12.28 liters per 100km, including an additional 14L for refueling. The total distance traveled was 110 km.
Once cooled down for an hour, the tank's battery was re-energized at a rate of 120kW to ensure it entered "cold car state". Then, we started charging tests. We observed that a full charge from SOCs (State of Charging) 15% to full took just over 44 minutes and reached a peak power output level (SOCS) before going at around MAX 52kW consistently until SOC 80%. From the consumption energy test result, with an electricity charge volume of approximately 33.64 kWh and an electricity-only range of 72.5 km we determined that Tank 700 electric energy utilization in the cold weather zone was estimated as a per 100km distance of around 46.4kWh.
The driving experience also tested the comfort aspect of this vehicle with temperature controls showing continuous and proper adjustments during the long test, not surpassing even its upper limit to exceed comfort levels, the inside air did feel cool without getting below 21 degrees while all passengers experienced an excellent range.
Low Temperatures Test
The second testing phase focused on low temperatures set from -5°C to 15°C. For the tank, this route tested between Hohhot in Outer Mongolia and a journey to Tianjin with backtracking for both highways and low speed roads. The electric-only travel reached 93.5 km resulting in an efficiency of 103.9%. This took first place overall in testing.
Similar energy assessments from fuel as per before were also completed following non-electric cycles where electricity demand rates showed at best 9.33 litres during every 100km distance travelled including charging by the same rate, as with previous low temperatures tests, recharging full batteries on these journeys also resulted in a very short duration of around just over 44 minutes and for the portion between SOCS levels 14% to 80%, all tests took only 24 minutes.
Comfort assessments, again the main focus tested for this new vehicle model. It demonstrated excellent consistency not even dipping below 21 degrees despite low temperatures experienced both fully electric mode and normal operation under normal temperature.
All in all Tank 700 is doing more than well compared to its performance tests - it earned four badges of energy efficiency ("节能"), fast charging ("快充"), comfort and reliability ("舒适、可靠") with the latter taking second place after overall electric usage results which we think may be adjusted in production based on such comparison data, read more about the Tank 700’s test here with Auto Electric.
