Geely-Backed EV Firm Maple Launches First Battery-Swapping Model

A joint venture called Maple, established by automakers Geely and Lifan, released its first smart battery-swappable electric car and named it “Maple 60S.” The new model is expected to officially enter the market in February, 2022.

The appearance of the new car is very similar to that of the Geely Emgrand GL, but the details all adopt Maple’s design language. The closed front grille features Maple’s logo in the center, and the long and narrow headlight sets are on both sides. It also is equipped with the lower three-section air inlet.

The side body of the car adopts a segmented design on the belt line, also adopting a double five-spoke rim. In terms of the size, its length, width and height are 4730/1804/1530mm, respectively, and its wheelbase is 2700mm.

The new car will be equipped with a permanent magnet synchronous motor with a maximum power of 136 horsepower (100kW) and a peak torque of 230 Nm. With the power battery provided by Gotion Hi-Tech, the cruising range of NEDC can reach 415 km.

According to Geely, the car has the ability of “charging and battery swapping,” which can provide users with 30-minute DC fast charging mode and 60-second battery swapping mode. Its battery swapping structure is provided by Maple.

SEE ALSO: Lifan Technology and Geely Auto Group Set Up Joint Venture Firm

In the construction of battery swapping stations, the new brand will take Chongqing as the starting city and then expand its battery swapping network in key cities in China. According to the plan, by 2025, there will be 5,000 battery swapping stations covering 100 core cities to meet the demand of 1 million vehicles.

Geely’s battery swapping stations are unattended, and can automatically position vehicles. From smart navigation, plate recognition, battery swapping, vehicle self-inspection and order settlement, the whole process is unmanned and takes only three minutes.