Tesla vs. Nio: The Showdown of the World’s Finest Electric Cars
Most people are familiar with the name Elon Musk. Though it may be that most people categorize him among a list of billionaires, possibly without knowing how he gained his notoriety. His company, Tesla, Inc., was the first to bring an Electronic Vehicle (EV) to the market.
That was the catalyst of his fame. Musk is a stand-out as his products, and his lifestyle seems to be a bit eccentric and somewhat sci-fi-esque in their futuristic ambitions. But, Tesla is no longer the only EV manufacturer in the marketplace. If you’re looking at making the switch to an electrically powered vehicle, it’s worth looking at both companies to see how they stack up.
1 – Charging Method
With an EV, the method and availability for charging the vehicle are of primary importance. The two cars are currently using two different charging models to keep their drivers behind the wheel. Nio utilizes the Power Swap system, which allows drivers to exchange their exhausted battery with a fully-charged one. The exchange is free and takes only minutes. Tesla initially had a similar concept but ultimately decided on the use of fast-charging stations. To charge your Tesla, you need to identify the location of one of these stations and plugin.
2 – Range
Once the vehicle is charged, you must consider the location of prospective charging stations based on the range you can expect the charge to sustain. Tesla is a clear winner on this comparison. The latest Tesla vehicles experience around 400 miles from one charge. But, Tesla has one vehicle, the Roadster, which reports achieving upwards of 600 miles before needing to be recharged. Nio EVs tend to sustain the car from between 220 and 427 miles. No vehicles even come close to the long- lasting battery charge of the Roadster.
3 – Price
The price comparison between the two vehicles is not a simple answer. It seems that both companies have a mode or two that its competitor’s equivalent is over- priced. Additionally, both companies have limited ability to offer vehicles in the respective markets. Altogether, it seems that Tesla purchasers could expect to pay slightly more should both companies have their vehicles side-by-side in the same market. Tesla has expanded into the Chinese market by building a factory to offer the Chinese market a vehicle.
4 – Availability
Unfortunately for American buyers, Tesla is the only option. Nio is only available in China. What’s more, Tesla offers several models to choose from and has announced plans to continue adding to their list of available vehicles. As a newer company, Nio has fewer models available. The EV list available from Nio is limited to two.
5 – Technology
Both companies offer driver-assistance system technology designed to allow the vehicle’s computer to influence acceleration, braking, and steering, with the driver having the ability to override. Both also offer high-tech navigation support. Both companies have shown a commitment to staying on the cutting edge of driving technologies. Rumours reported that Nio was planning to begin production in America before the explosion of Coronavirus and its subsequent stall on businesses and international trade.
No updates since have been publicly reported, but it does seem that Nio aspires to enter the American EV market. So, at some point, American buyers may have to choose which manufacturer to turn to for their EV purchase. Until then, Americans have only Tesla to satisfy that need.