Can the HiPhi A prove to be the people’s champion or not
Premium Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer HiPhi has just revealed its Tesla Model S Plaid killer, but can the hype the brand built around this car actually amount to anything or will it be all show and no go? Let’s take a closer look at the HiPhi A sedan and see if it can indeed dethrone the Tesla Model S Plaid.
The HiPhi A is a four-door four-seater sedan co-developed with Germany’s Apollo Automobil, and boasts a tri-motor (similar to the more extreme version of the Lucid Air, the Lucid Air sapphire) electric drivetrain and a 0 to 100km/h sprint time that will make even the most hardcore supercar shake with fear.
Moreover, the all-wheel drive powertrain packs 960kW of power, which enables the HiPhi A to zoom from 0 to 100km/h in just two seconds. As if all this was not impressive enough, the HiPhi A also boasts a top speed of 300km/h. Yes, the premium EV market is really heating up now.
The HiPhi A has an 800V electrical architecture and its motors are developed in-house and oil-cooled, while the rotors have a carbon-fibre construction which, no doubt, is a major factor behind the blisteringly fast speed and also a huge proponent in weight saving on this incredible EV.
What’s more, all of these also contribute to the motors being able to achieve a high rotational speed of 22,000rpm. While the battery size of the HiPhi A is still unknown, the battery was developed in-house and can discharge 1.5 megawatts of power at its peak so it should yield decent range when not being pushed too hard.
On top of that, HiPhi also claims the battery casing is made from composite materials and a “bulletproof coating.” Whether or not it can actually stop bullets remains to be seen but we do know that the design also features fireproof coatings and real-time monitoring to ensure no unexpected fires happen.
To handle all this frankly absurd power, HiPhi has equipped the A with rear-wheel steering, “race-level” carbon ceramic brakes, wider tyres, a torque vectoring system and continuously adjusting air suspension. All of this will go a long way in ensuring the safety of all occupants while still promising a fun ride.
