Richard Hammond Test Drives an Electric Chinese Supercar at 200 mph | The Grand Tour

This is a comparison between this Nio EP9 and the Rimac Concept One in which I fell from a Swiss mountain. In the Rimac Concept One. Power: 1207 EPK. This Nio has 1341 EPK. The power/mass ratio on the Rimac is 652 EPK per 1000 kg. On this Nio that's 773 EPK per 1000 kg. Oh, beautiful. 750 VOLTS - ACTIVE HIGH VOLTAGE No pressure. The high voltage system is active, so we're leaving. To launch it, it must be running. Left foot on the brake. Right foot on the accelerator. This one comes back for one, two, three, four, five. Take your foot off the brake.

Heavens. This is crazy. Goes from zero to 90 in 2.7 seconds. Zero to 200 in seven seconds. Seven seconds. The instant power that

electric

supercar

s provide is unparalleled. One minute I'm here and then I'm there. It's like driving a jet engine, something I also have bad memories of. This is a bad place. But there is good news for people like me. The breaks. Everything should be back in place. My eyes have advanced, my lungs are fine again. If you want to experience this phenomenal speed for yourself, you need two things. First of all, a lot of money. It costs £1.15 million.

Second, a race track. It works like the Ferrari FXX. You buy it and they come and take it to the track with a support team. You drive it and shit your pants. Then they take it and wash it for you. Since it is an

electric

car, you want to know the range. If you drive with it, the batteries will drain quickly. The advantage is that they charge in 45 minutes. The disadvantage is that you have to remove the batteries. Each one weighs 317 kg. So you can't do it yourself. It's a little harder than a gas can. If you're crazy about electric cars and the Nio appeals to you, you'll probably want to know that it has pedigree.

There is evidence that the people behind this really know what they are doing. The team that makes the EP9 also runs a Formula E team. One that won the first championship in 2015. Until recently, the EP9 had the fas

test

time around the Nürburgring, an astonishing time of six minutes and 45.9 seconds. Therefore, it doesn't just go fast on a straight stretch. It's got active suspension, active aerodynamics, torque vectoring and it all means one thing. Grab-grab-grab. Each wheel has a monitor for a four-wheel drive system controlled by the car's brain. Combined with the active aerodynamics of the spoiler and diffuser under the car, it produces more downforce than an F1 car.

Jesus. It's like driving an octopus. Technically speaking, the Nio is undoubtedly extremely impressive. And now at full speed. What I like most is that its phenomenal grip allows me to walk all day without falling. And you can't get a better compliment from me.