Self-driving electric car takes to the track

William Li, founder and chairman of NextEV, said: ‘The automotive industry is on the cusp of profound change. In the next decade, the car will be the smartest device that people will own.’

As if to underline that, the Chinese company has launched its Nio EP9 electric supercar around the Circuit of the Americas in Texas, without a driver. In full autonomous mode, it lapped in 2min 40.33sec, which is 19sec slower than when it was driven.

However, the Nio EP9, of which just six will be built, is not a racing car. It weighs in at 1735kg and powers two lithium ion batteries that together can power the four electric motors with up to 1360bhp. The all-wheel drive two-seater is claimed to hit 62mph in 2.7sec on its way to 194mph.

At about 150mph, the EP9 can deliver double the downforce of a Formula One car – double – and can handle 2.53g in lateral loading. It’s built to FIA LMP1 spec, yet, again, NextEV says this is not a car built for racing.

However, it is certainly a notice of intent to everyone else that the company is serious. The word is that NextEV will launch a mainstream mass-market EV in China this year, with the possibility of it coming to the US and Europe – that would be pretty soon.