- Motorsport driver and helicopter pilot Laura-Marie Geissler drives the Aiways U5 SUV from Berlin to Munich
- Strategic routing provided by smart navigation experts Chargetrip
- Aiways U5 SUV: safe, efficient and practical long-range EV
Three electric Aiways U5 SUVs have successfully completed the ED1000 endurance event, journeying 1,000 km across Germany from Berlin via Bielefeld and Fulda to Munich in less than 14 hours – proving that electric mobility is a viable option for day-to-day driving.
With strategic routing provided by Dutch smart EV Routing experts Chargetrip, ensuring that all charge stations along the way were calculated in advance, the three all-electric SUVs from Aiways comfortably finished the long-distance driving event. Pieter Waller, Co-founder of Chargetrip, commented: “What Aiways and Chargetrip have shown is that with EV-specific route planning, it’s possible to drive an electric vehicle across Germany, or any country for that matter, in comfort and in a reasonable time. We hope events like ED1000 will give confidence to people looking to buy an EV.”
The first Aiways U5 to arrive in Munich was driven by Dr. Alexander Klose, Aiways’ Head of Overseas Operations, taking 13 hours to make the trip from Berlin to Munich while respecting the speed limit on the Autobahn. The second Aiways U5 was driven by Laura-Marie Geissler (23), an aspiring motorsport driver and helicopter pilot. Geissler followed a different strategy and did not exceed 115 km/h at any point on her journey but still arrived just one hour later than Klose, proving that speed is not a relevant factor for battery-electric cars during long-distance driving. Ahead of the event, Laura-Marie was looking forward to taking her first long-distance trip in an electric vehicle and was keen to be as comfortable and relaxed as possible.
“I really enjoyed my first proper road trip in an electric vehicle,” commented Laura-Marie. “The Aiways U5 was the perfect companion for a long-distance adventure, and charging was fast and easy. I didn’t realize that electric vehicles were so much fun to drive while offering a stress-free experience. I can’t wait to do more electric driving in the future!”
Dr. Alexander Klose commented: “The ED1000 was an excellent opportunity for us to demonstrate the U5’s tech capabilities among the 13 well-known car brands and its suitability for long-distance driving. Our driver assist technologies were put to the test as we cruised along the Autobahn and comfortably completed the distance between Berlin and Munich.”
The Aiways U5 is fitted with 22 sensors, 12 ultrasonic radars, five high-definition cameras and three millimeter-wave radars to provide Level 2 autonomy and real-time analysis of external traffic conditions. The data collected is used by the SUV’s advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including active cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot warning and the emergency braking assistant, to improve safety and give occupants total peace of mind.
With a starting price of €35,993*, the Aiways U5 offers a compelling price-to-range ratio, and can cover 400 km on a single charge which easily takes care of the range travelled by most families daily. For longer journeys like the ED1000, the Aiways U5 can charge from 30% to 80% in the time it takes for a lunch stop, just 27 minutes. These charge stops are not only a chance to have a break from behind the wheel but also to make new friends and share knowledge within the sociable EV community.
Aiways’ German service and mobility partner A.T.U also participated in the ED1000, using another Aiways U5 SUV as technical support for all brands participating in the endurance drive.
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