If you are looking for a new electric SUV that can take you far without breaking the bank, you might want to check out the Voyah Free, a new model from China's Dongfeng Motor. The Voyah Free is a mid-sized SUV that claims to have a range of 1,221 km (759 miles) on a single charge, which is more than twice the range of some of the best-selling electric vehicles in the US, such as the Tesla Model Y and the Ford Mustang Mach-E.
What is the Voyah Free?
The Voyah Free is the first model from Voyah, a new sub-brand of Dongfeng Motor that focuses on premium electric vehicles. Voyah was launched in July 2020 and aims to compete with other Chinese electric car makers such as Nio, Xpeng, and Li Auto. The Voyah Free was unveiled in August 2020 and went on sale in China in October 2020.
The Voyah Free is based on the Dongfeng Fengshen H97C, a concept car that was shown at the 2019 Shanghai Auto Show. The Voyah Free retains most of the design elements of the concept car, such as the sleek and futuristic exterior, the large grille with LED lights, and the spacious and luxurious interior. The Voyah Free also features a large panoramic sunroof, a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a digital instrument cluster, a wireless charging pad, and a smart voice assistant.
The Voyah Free is powered by a 95 kWh battery pack that supports fast charging up to 150 kW. The battery pack is made by CATL, one of the world's largest battery suppliers for electric vehicles. The Voyah Free has two electric motors, one on each axle, that deliver a combined output of 402 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. The Voyah Free can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds and has a top speed of 112 mph.
How does the Voyah Free achieve such a long range?
The most impressive feature of the Voyah Free is its claimed range of 1,221 km (759 miles) on a single charge. This figure is based on the NEDC cycle, which is a testing standard used in China and Europe that tends to overestimate the real-world range of electric vehicles. However, even if we use the more realistic WLTP cycle, which is used in other markets such as the US, the Voyah Free still has an estimated range of 900 km (559 miles), which is still remarkable for an electric SUV.
The Voyah Free achieves such a long-range by using several technologies and strategies, such as:
- A high-energy-density battery pack that can store more energy per unit weight and volume than conventional batteries.
- A low drag coefficient of 0.28 reduces air resistance and improves aerodynamics.
- A regenerative braking system that recovers kinetic energy and converts it into electricity.
- A smart energy management system that optimizes the power consumption of various components and functions.
- A heat pump system that reduces the energy loss from heating and cooling.
- A solar roof that can generate up to 10 km (6 miles) of extra range per day.