Last August 7, Chery New Energy Vehicle Co., Ltd. and Unlimited AI jointly launched Ant Intelligent, a new vehicle model featuring China’s first independently developed L2.99 intelligent driving system for electric vehicles (EVs). This marks a milestone in the history of China’s fast-growing electric and autonomous vehicle industry and a new stage for the localization of Chinese core auto technologies.
While most of the world’s automakers and tech enterprises ae focusing on developing highly futuristic L3, L4, and L5 autonomous driving systems, Chery New Energy believed differently that there is huge market for near-term EV technology for the much nearer future. In 2018, it teamed up with Unlimited AI, a leading tech company focused on automotive electronics, to develop an L2.99 intelligent driving system. After two years of collaborations in R&D and engineering, China’s first independently developed production model-L2.99 intelligent electric vehicle (EV) was launched, filling a domestic gap in this field for autonomous and semi-autonomous EVs that can be used in the real world in the very near future.
Ant Intelligent’s L2.99 intelligent driving system integrates world-leading technologies to create an intelligent mobile terminal. It not only offers a future-oriented driving experience, but also puts customer safety and comfort first. Benchmarked with the state-of-the-art Tesla Model 3, Ant Intelligent matches all its intelligent driver-assist functions and further adds Rear Collision Warning (RCW) and Around View Monitor (AVM) to make driving safer and control easier.
Ant Intelligent boasts features and technologies comparable to those found in luxury electric models. This is the brand and technology vision that Chery New Energy has been developing for more than 20 years. As one of China’s earliest enterprises that predicted the trend of New Energy development, Chery New Energy started to develop energy-efficient and New Energy vehicles early in 1999. It has perfected a New Energy technology R&D system covering vehicle integration and core technology and parts development, having applied for over 1,000 patents and obtaining over 600 patents in the New Energy field, ranking top in the industry.
In the Philippines, Chery has introduced the Arrizo 5e New Energy compact sedan. It is the first mass-market pure electric vehicle (EV) to be introduced for the Philippine market.
A cutting-edge permanent magnet synchronous electric motor (similar to what the all-electric Porsche Taycan uses) generating 120kW (approximately 160hp) and 250Nm of torque drives the Arrizo’s front wheels. It can accelerate from 0 to 50 km/h in 3.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 152 km/h
The Arrizo 5e uses a state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery with a 53.6 kWh capacity — good for a maximum 500-km driving range between full charges (under ideal conditions of a constant cruise at 60 km/h). More realistic driving under the international NEDC standard yields a still-impressive 355-km range.
Driving up to 50 kilometers a day means one can go a whole week between full charges. The Arrizo 5e uses regenerative braking to capture kinetic energy from braking and storing it in the battery as electrical energy. It also offers Eco and Sport modes to suit driving needs.
The Arrizo 5e can charge from 30 percent to 80 percent power in 30 minutes under fast-charge mode and seven to nine hours under slow charging. The car’s charging port is located at the front of the car under the Chery grille logo.
Inside the spacious and finely crafted two-tone interior, you’ll find a large nine-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the central part of the ergonomically designed dashboard. Below it is an eight-inch touch panel for the climate control, similar to high-end luxury vehicles. Unlike most cars which uses lots of plastic in the interior, 65 percent of the Chery Arrizo 5e’s cabin is covered in leather.
Reflecting the high-tech nature of the vehicle, a round polished retractable silver knob, similar to what you’ll find in a Jaguar or Land Rover, takes the place of the traditional gear lever. Smart technologies include battery temperature intelligent control for the lithium-ion batteries, as well as wireless smartphone connectivity, smart entry system, a 360-degree and reversing camera with video monitor and an electric parking brake with auto-hold feature. Much of the Arrizo 5e’s functions and features can be customizable, much like with a smartphone.
Safety features include six airbags, Electronic Stability Program (ESP 9.0) from Bosch (with other driver-assist technologies like Anti-lock Braking System, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Hill Hold Control, DTC, HBA and TCS), a tire pressure monitoring system, and the use of 60 percent high-tensile strength steel in the NCAP five-star-collision test-rated body.
The Chery Arrizo 5e its projected to be priced in the P1.9 million range — a high-value price point for a future-tech car that will never need a drop of oil or gasoline for the rest of its life.