Nio, the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker, recently made waves in the automotive industry with the announcement of a groundbreaking aluminum alloy material. This new self-hardening alloy is specifically designed for high-pressure die casting (HPDC) and has already been incorporated into the body-in-white of the Nio ET9 and Onvo L60 vehicles.
The ET9, unveiled in December last year with a starting price of RMB 788,000 ($108,000), is Nio’s most luxurious offering to date. On the other hand, the Onvo L60, the first model from Nio’s sub-brand Onvo, starts at a more affordable RMB 206,900. Both vehicles showcase the innovative use of this new aluminum alloy material, highlighting its performance and cost-effectiveness.
Nio has made it clear that this alloy technology will be open to the entire industry, aiming to drive the adoption of high-pressure die casting with better performance and cost-effectiveness. This move marks a significant milestone as it breaks the monopoly of the C611 aluminum alloy in China’s large die casting market.
The development of this self-hardening aluminum alloy for structural large castings represents a major achievement for a Chinese automotive brand. Nio’s efforts have not only resulted in economic and environmental benefits but have also led to advancements in intellectual property within the automotive industry.
The material was meticulously developed and validated by Nio’s Materials Research and Applications (MRA) laboratory team, in collaboration with other key teams within the company. After rigorous validation processes, the new alloy was deemed suitable for mass production and subsequently integrated into Nio’s vehicle programs.
The new alloy is based on an aluminum-silicon alloy system that has been chemically fine-tuned and extensively tested in the die-casting shop. Nio’s team of researchers has confirmed that the material is ideal for producing large, mega castings for components like rear floors and battery casings.
Throughout the development process, Nio received support from partners such as alloy maker CSMET, high-pressure casting vendors Wencan and Huihan, ensuring a collaborative effort in bringing this innovative material to fruition.
With the introduction of this new aluminum alloy material, Nio continues to push the boundaries of innovation in the automotive industry, setting a new standard for performance and sustainability. This breakthrough is a testament to Nio’s commitment to advancing technology and driving positive change within the EV sector.
