The Aiways U5[3] (Chinese: 爱驰U5; pinyin: Aì Chí U5) is an all-electric battery-powered compact crossover SUV manufactured by the Chinese company Aiways. It is the first vehicle model from this manufacturer. The production model of the U5 was publicly unveiled at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show.[4] The car was originally previewed as the Aiways U5 ion Concept in 2018.
| Aiways U5 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Aiways |
| Production | 2019–present |
| Assembly | China: Shangrao[1] |
| Designer | Ken Okuyama[2] |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Compact crossover SUV |
| Body style | 5-door SUV |
| Layout | Front-motor, front-wheel-drive |
| Platform | MAS |
| Powertrain | |
| Electric motor | 150 kW (201 hp) Permanent-magnet synchronous motor |
| Transmission | Single Speed |
| Battery | 63 kWh Li-ion |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,800 mm (110.2 in) |
| Length | 4,680 mm (184.3 in) |
| Width | 1,865 mm (73.4 in) |
| Height | 1,700 mm (66.9 in) |
| Kerb weight |
|
Design
editThe exterior styling of the U5 received an update in 2021 although the dimensions remained the same.
Aiways has previously referred to the design as a “connection between modern craftsmanship and technology for the future”.[5] The U5 exterior design has optimized aerodynamics to give a drag coefficient of 0.29.[6]
Production
editAiways U5 is produced at the company's manufacturing facility just outside Shangrao, China.
Powertrain and batteries
editThe Aiways U5 has a 63kWh battery unit[7] and a range of 400 km (410 km in standard trim) according to the WLTP cycle. The battery can be charged from 20% to 80% in 35 minutes using a DC charger or 0% to 100% in 10 hours using a (6.6 kW Type 2) AC charger. The battery energy density stands at 172 Wh/kg.[8]
Aiways has patented a ‘sandwich’ structure battery pack which is made up of 24 high energy density modules supplied by CATL.[9] It has multiple layers which separate the wet (cooling plate) and dry (battery module) areas within the cell. This improves the heating and cooling in the cell and therefore increases capacity (63kWh) and range. This structure is also theoretically safer in the event of a collision as the wet and dry areas cannot mix and cause a short circuit.
The battery pack is paired with a permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor delivering 150 kW (201 hp; 204 PS) of power and 310 Nm (230 lb⋅ft) of torque at up to 16,000 rpm, which allows the U5 to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds in Standard trim.[10]
Safety
edit| Test | Points | % |
|---|---|---|
| Overall: | ||
| Adult occupant: | 28 | 73% |
| Child occupant: | 34 | 70% |
| Pedestrian: | 21.9 | 45% |
| Safety assist: | 7.2 | 55% |
Active safety
editAiways U5 comes with various Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) as standard[11] including:
- Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) - Between 60 km/h and 120 km/h the system warns the driver if they are about to stray from their lane and makes necessary adjustments to the steering if the driver does not. It also makes an audible warning if the driver's hands are off the steering wheel for more than eight seconds.
- Traffic Jam Assistant (TJA) remains active up to 120 km/h and automatically handles the cycles of acceleration, braking and restarting as seen during a traffic jam.
- Blind Spot Detection (BSD) system alerts the driver with a sound and a warning light when a vehicle or cyclist is passing alongside the Aiways U5.
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) also warns the driver when another vehicle passes at the rear of the car.
- Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) automatically applies the car's brakes when a pedestrian, cyclist or vehicle passes in front of the car.
- Forward Collision Warning (FCW) detects vehicles and pedestrians in front of the U5 and makes a warning sound if the vehicle approaches at a speed above 10 km/h.
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) maintains a safe space from the vehicle in front and brings the U5 to a halt when the traffic ahead stops.
- Intelligent High Beam Control (IHBC) automatically operates the vehicles high-beam headlights
- Parking Assistant - automatically manoeuvres the vehicle into a parking space.
Passive safety
edit- Optimized airbag deployment
- A collision-activated circuit breaker unlocks all doors, activates the hazard lights and shuts off power to all electrical circuits in the event of a collision.[12]
Infotainment
editThe Aiways U5 has a large dashboard with a 12.3-inch tablet style screen to access the vehicle and infotainment systems.[13] There is an 8-speaker audio system with DAB+ and traditional radio functionality.
Specifications
editThe Aiways U5 comes in Standard and Premium versions.
| Standard | Premium | |
|---|---|---|
| Length (mm) | 4680 | |
| Width (mm) | 1865 | |
| Height (mm) | 1700 | |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2800 | |
| Ground Clearance (mm) | 150 | |
| Boot volume with seats in place to security cover height (L) | 432 | |
| Boot volume with seats folded to window line (L) | 1555 | |
| Curb Weight(kg) | 1720 | 1770 |
| Battery Capacity (kWh) | 63 | |
| Electric Range (NEDC) (km) | 503 | |
| Electric Range (WLTP) (km) | 410 | 400 |
| Combined power consumption (WLTP) | 16.6 | 17.0 |
| Max power (kW) | 150 | |
| Max torque (Nm) | 310 | |
| 0–50 km/h acceleration Time (s) | 3.1 | 3.2 |
| 0–100 km/h acceleration Time (s) | 7.5 | 7.7 |
| 20%-80% DC (up to 90 kW) charging time (min) | 35 | |
| 0%-100% AC (6.6 kW) charging time (hours) | 10 | |
| Drive System | Front-wheel drive (FWD) | |
| Front suspension | Macpherson front suspension system | |
| Rear suspension | Multi-link rear suspension system | |
Charging
editHome
editCharging from 20% to 100% takes 8 hours using a (6.6 kW Type 2) AC charger.
Out of home
editThe battery can be charged from 30% to 80% in 27 minutes using a DC charger.[16]
History
editThe Aiways U5 production model was publicly unveiled at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show. The car was originally previewed as the Aiways U5 ion Concept in 2018. The Aiways U5 was expected to have a starting price of 197,900 yuan to 292,100 yuan.[17][18][19]
European launch
editIn January 2020, the U5 was planned to be made available to the left-hand-drive European market in April 2020.[20]
As of December 2020[update], the vehicle is available in the Netherlands and Belgium and shows up in the vehicle registration statistics for both countries.[21][22] In the Netherlands, the price starts from €39,950.[23]
The Aiways U5 is also available in Germany and France.
As of May 2021 it is available in Denmark.
Asia launch
editAiways Thailand (Aiways and Phoenix EV joint venture) plans to produce Aiways U5 in Thailand by 2023.[24]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Li, Xing (5 June 2019). "爱驰汽车购入江铃控股50%股权 首款量产车已开始生产" [Aiways acquired a 50% equity in Jiangling Holdings. The first production car has started production]. finance.sina.cn (in Chinese). Retrieved 7 June 2019.
- ^ "U5 | EV". Ken Okuyama Design (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ Stephen Edelstein (12 June 2018). "Chinese startup aims to set design direction for autonomous cars". Digital Trends.
- ^ "AIways U5 - Tirepost". Retrieved 2021-07-27.
- ^ "U5". Media Center of AI-WAYS EU. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
- ^ "Aiways U5: >400 km (250 Mi) Of WLTP Range And Below €40,000". InsideEVs. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
- ^ "Aiways U5: >400 km (250 Mi) Of WLTP Range And Below €40,000". InsideEVs. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
- ^ "ARCFOX Alpha-T sets energy density record for EV batteries - 🔋PushEVs". 8 May 2020.
- ^ "AIWAYS introduces world-first EV battery technology - automobilsport.com". www.automobilsport.com. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Chinese firm Aiways opens orders for Europe-spec U5 EV". Autocar. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
- ^ "AIWAYS all-electric U5: technology engineered for safety". Media Center of AI-WAYS EU. 2019-11-25. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
- ^ "Aiways U5 Europe I Electric car". Aiways EU. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
- ^ "Aiways U5 SUV deliveries to start in August". Auto Express. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
- ^ "Aiways U5". EV Database. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
- ^ "Aiways U5 Premium Technical Specs, Dimensions". www.ultimatespecs.com. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
- ^ "Aiways U5: >400 km (250 Mi) Of WLTP Range And Below €40,000". InsideEVs. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
- ^ de Feijter, Tycho de Feijter (2018-04-18). "Aiways U5 Ion Electric SUV Unveiled In China". carnewschina. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
- ^ "This is the production version of the Aiways U5 ION". carnewschina. 2019-05-18. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
- ^ Zhou, Yi (2019-12-13). "预售19.79万起 爱驰U5将于12月19日上市". Autohome (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 2020-02-06.
- ^ Tisshaw, Mark (23 January 2020). "Chinese firm Aiways to show Europe-spec U5 EV at Geneva". autocar.co.uk. Autocar.
- ^ "Belgium November 2020: BMW leads, Aiways lands, sales off -15.8%". 17 December 2020.
- ^ "Elektrische Auto Kentekenregistraties".
- ^ "Eerste review: Elektrische Aiways U5 - AutoReview.nl".
- ^ "Second production facility: Aiways Thailand plans its own factory". AI-WAYS EU. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.