Technical advantage: Aiways U5 SUV with innovative lightweight design

Innovative thermal management: the CATL sandwich battery of the Aiways U5 SUV and Aiways U6 SUV-Coupé ensures high performance even at extremely low temperatures
Simple range maximization: With intelligent charging planning and use of the preconditioning option, a lot of range can be gained in winter

Safe driving: With the seven tips in the Aiways Winter Guide, you are not only safe, but also comfortable and can enjoy the winter season to the fullest

Shanghai/Munich, November 30, 2023 – The onset of the cold season poses a number of challenges for drivers. This is especially true for drivers of electric cars. The combination of low temperatures, icy roads and the need to optimize energy consumption requires special planning and attention. The Aiways Winter Guide offers valuable tips and strategies to get your vehicle through the winter in the best possible way.

The Aiways U5 SUV and the Aiways U6 SUV-Coupé were tested under extreme cold conditions. Both models have withstood a tough testing and validation procedure under real winter conditions in the depths of winter in Heihe in the Chinese province of Heilongjiang. The high-voltage traction battery was exposed to temperatures as low as minus 30°C to ensure the comfortable and safe operation of the vehicles in everyday use.

“The particular challenge for use in extreme climatic conditions at sub-zero temperatures lies in the physical and chemical relationships within the battery cells,” explains Zeeshan Shaikh, Head of Aiways Technical Center Munich. “Temperatures below zero degrees Celsius increase the viscosity of the electrolyte fluid and slow down the transport of electrons, which limits the available discharge capacity and also slows down the charging of the vehicle battery. Our CATL sandwich battery therefore ensures maximum performance in every situation thanks to innovative, state-of-the-art active thermal management.”

EV-specific tips for the winter

To further optimize the range in winter, you can observe the following points, which apply not only to the Aiways models U5 SUV and U6 SUV-Coupé, but to all battery-electric vehicles:

Plan departure times and adjust loading behavior

If you always leave at the same time in the morning and have a charging facility on site, you should end the charging process as close as possible to the departure time.The high charging power of up to 11 kilowatts on a three-phase wallbox heats up the battery pack cells and avoids a “cold start”, which improves the performance of the high-voltage battery compared to a battery that has not been preconditioned.

Use preconditioning of the interior

The new Aiways U6 SUV-Coupé has an efficient heat pump system as standard to heat the interior. Nevertheless, compared to a conventional combustion engine, there is hardly any superfluous waste heat from the drive system to warm up the interior. If you want to maximize your range, you should therefore rely on preconditioning the interior during the charging process. The “auxiliary heating” can also be conveniently started via the Aiways app on a smartphone.

Drive snow-free and with the correct air pressure

The key to maximum efficiency lies in avoiding unnecessary driving resistance. In winter, this applies above all to supposedly mundane things such as meticulously clearing snow from the vehicle. Residues on the hood and roof are a large contact surface for the airstream and thus increase air resistance. The same applies to the tires: too little air pressure results in higher rolling resistance. Both are not only detrimental to driving safety, but also to fuel consumption and thus the range of the vehicle.

General tips for preparing the vehicle for the winter season

1. Adapted tires for optimum safety

Changing to winter or all-season tires is not only required by law in most European countries but is also crucial for your driving safety in the cold season. Below 7 degrees Celsius, winter tires offer better grip and prevent slipping on snow and ice. Check the tread depth and make sure the air pressure is correct. A tread depth of at least 4 mm and regular pressure checks are recommended to ensure optimum driving characteristics.

2. 12V battery check: ready for use even in the cold

The 12V battery also suffers from the cold in winter. Check its condition regularly and keep the connections clean and tight. A battery test before winter helps to avoid unpleasant surprises. In the Aiways U5 SUV, you can easily keep an eye on the battery voltage in the driver info display at all times.

3. Windshield washer system: Clear visibility in all weather conditions

A well-functioning windshield washer system is essential in winter. Top up with antifreeze regularly to prevent freezing. Check that the spray nozzles are working properly and realign them if necessary. This will help you avoid dangerous blind flights caused by dirt and road salt on the windshield.

4. Wiper blades: Effective cleaning of the windshield

Check the condition of your wiper blades. Brittle or damaged wiper blades should be replaced to ensure optimum cleaning of the windshield. Raise the wiper arms in frosty weather to prevent them from freezing and to protect the rubber lips.

5. Interior care against moisture

A clean and dry interior prevents the windows from misting up. Remove dirt and moisture regularly, especially from under the floor mats. Dry floor mats and regular ventilation help to reduce moisture in the vehicle.

6. Check lighting

Good lighting is particularly important in winter. Check all lights regularly to ensure they are working and clean. Replace defective lights immediately to ensure optimum visibility.

7. Don’t forget your winter accessories

Equip your vehicle with an ice scraper and a snow broom. Keep the roof and hood clear of snow to ensure visibility and safety. Snow chains should be ready to hand in the trunk in snowy regions.

With these tips, you and your electric car will be well prepared for the cold season. Regular maintenance and care are the key to safe and comfortable driving in winter.

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Intelligent and economical: Thanks to pioneering technologies in body-in-white construction and drive architecture, the Aiways U5 SUV weighs 350kg less in comparison its competitors
Unrivaled light weight and durability: Advanced recuperative braking system and low vehicle weight ensure long service life of chassis components
Cost-effective and sustainable: 100,000km service interval ensures low maintenance costs

Shanghai/Munich, August 09, 2022 – Battery-electric vehicles score with lower operating costs compared with conventionally powered ones. In developing the U5 SUV, Aiways placed particular focus on intelligent lightweight construction, an efficient powertrain and the best possible thermal management of the battery to keep energy requirements as low as possible. But the result not only pays off at the charging station, but also in generally lower maintenance costs thanks to a 100,000km service interval.

The MAS (More Adaptable Structure) platform developed by Aiways, a Shanghai-based provider of customized mobility solutions, combines innovative technical solutions to create an intelligent architecture. For example, the body-in-white of the Aiways U5 SUV is made of 52 percent lightweight and corrosion-resistant aluminum and 48 percent specially alloyed high-strength steels.

MAS platform with intelligent aluminum-steel lightweight material mix

These are up to four times stronger than conventional special steels used in vehicle construction and ensure maximum safety. Innovative bonding and joining techniques in the body-in-white mean that the torsional stiffness of the aluminum substructure is 50 percent higher than with conventional construction methods. In addition to the Aiways U5 SUV, the U6 SUV-Coupé, which will soon be making its debut, and other models will also be based on this flexibly adaptable platform.

Patented sandwich structure of the high-voltage battery with intelligent thermal management

The MAS platform is also distinguished by its pioneering battery architecture. A patented sandwich structure not only ensures high crash safety for the 24 battery modules supplied by CATL, but also enables the use of an intelligent thermal management system to increase the efficiency of the high-voltage system. A multilayer insulating protective layer separates the battery modules in the dry zone from the cooling plates in the wet zone. This not only increases efficiency but also the operational reliability of the lithium-ion battery, which can be optimally cooled or preheated thanks to the sandwich structure. The thermal management system of the Aiways U5 SUV thus enables operation at the best point of the 63 kWh pack at all times, which helps to ensure a long service life. Aiways guarantees 75 percent residual battery capacity even after eight years of operation. With a power density of 172 watt-hours per kilogram, the high-voltage battery is also among the top performers in its segment.

High-speed permanent magnet synchronous electric motor saves weight and installation space

The engineers at the Aiways Research Center in Jiading also used lightweight designs for the drive system. The permanent magnet synchronous electric motor developed in-house, for example, rotates at 16,000 rpm, about 25 percent higher than the machines used by competitors. It can therefore be smaller and lighter. The drive unit consisting of electric motor, gearbox and inverter generates an advantage of a good 15 percent less installation space and weight and can also be used in a modular fashion. In addition to installation in the front of the vehicle and front-wheel drive with 150kW and 310Nm as in the Aiways U5 SUV, it is also possible to configure a rear-wheel drive and an all-wheel drive based on the MAS platform.

Best-in-class curb weight ensures high efficiency and low wear and tear

The intelligent aluminum-steel lightweight material mix, combined with the innovative sandwich battery and compact electric drive unit, ensures an unladen weight of just 1,720 kg in the standard version of the Aiways U5 SUV. This not only makes it up to 350kg lighter than competing models in its class, it is actually lighter than many conventionally powered mid-size SUVs. The low weight not only ensures low energy consumption, but also high economy thanks to reduced wear. Components such as brakes, tires or chassis bearings are subjected to less stress than in other vehicles in its class due to the relatively light curb weight.

100,000km service interval ensures low maintenance costs

Another advantage of the lightweight concept and the correspondingly low stress on components is the ability to offer a long service interval. The Aiways U5 SUV only needs to be serviced by an Aiways service partner every 100,000 kilometers or 36 months, whichever comes first. As part of the mandatory vehicle maintenance, the brake fluid and coolant of the high-voltage battery, the oil level in the reduction gear of the powertrain are checked, topped up or changed, and the battery of the telematics box is replaced. All other maintenance is performed as needed. The 100,000km service interval thus not only enables very low operating and maintenance costs, it also saves many raw materials in the form of operating supplies or wear parts compared to conventional vehicles.

Dr. Alexander Klose, Executive Vice President of Overseas Operations at Aiways: “With the MAS platform, our engineers have created a real milestone. The technology used for the body, chassis, battery pack and drive unit are groundbreaking and unique in the class of the U5 SUV. During development, it was particularly important to us that the customer ultimately buys a vehicle that is not only sustainable and electric, but also scores with low maintenance costs. Particularly in view of current energy costs, it is becoming increasingly important to take a leading role in this area. Thanks to the high flexibility of the new platform, we are also very well positioned for future models, such as the upcoming U6 SUV-Coupé.”

Mikael Nilsen, Head of After Sales Aiways Overseas: “The operating and maintenance costs of a battery-electric vehicle such as our Aiways U5 SUV have come into the focus of customers, not least with the sharp rise in energy costs. Many studies already attest to cost advantages of up to 20 percent for electric cars over conventional vehicles in almost all application scenarios. With our intelligent lightweight platform and the resulting long service interval of 100,000km, we can score additional points and achieve cost advantages for our customers.”

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Aiways contact for media inquiries

Bernd Abel, Aiways Automobile Europe GmbH

+49 (0) 89 693135269

bernd.abel@ai-ways.eu

Georgia Chapman, Aiways Automobile Europe GmbH

+49 (0) 89 693135278

georgia.chapman@ai-ways.eu

About Aiways

Founded in 2017, Aiways is a Shanghai-based personal mobility provider with its European HQ in Munich, Germany. It was the first Chinese start-up to introduce an electric vehicle to the European market with the launch of the U5 in 2020 – a battery-electric SUV with impressive range, style, and quality. Aiways is rapidly continuing its expansion in Europe and beyond: order books are open in Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, France, Israel, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Sweden, Croatia, Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Slovenia – with more markets to follow. The U5 SUV is produced at Aiways’ smart production facility in Shangrao – one of the most modern car production facilities in China. The IT-controlled processes with challenging quality gates follow the standards of Industry 4.0. With an initial production capacity of 150,000 units per annum, Aiways can increase this number to 300,000 units when global EV demand rises. Aiways’ next model for Europe will be the battery-electric U6 SUV-Coupé. With a focus on sophisticated aerodynamics, highly connected driving, safety technology, and a sporty design, the U6 SUV-Coupé is just the next chapter of Aiways’ promising future.

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Technical advantage: Aiways U5 SUV with innovative lightweight design