Chery’s iCar V23 to feature battery swapping, with a trade-off of over 100 horsepower
China‘s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has released official declaration images for the new iCar V23, confirming the upcoming launch of Chery‘s electric SUV, including a battery-swapping variant.
The iCar V23 presents a rugged, off-road-ready aesthetic, characterised by sharp body lines. Its front fascia features round headlights complemented by double-layer parallel LED daytime running lights. The side profile maintains an angular design, with prominent flared front and rear fenders, hidden door handles, and stylish five-spoke wheels.
In terms of dimensions, the iCar V23 measures 4220 mm in length, 1915 mm in width, and 1845 mm in height, with a wheelbase spanning 2735 mm.
There’s virtually no visible difference between the two versions declared this time. The non-battery-swapping version also uses CATL batteries. Apart from the battery-swapping capability, the only differences between the two are the following two points.:
- Motor power: The battery-swapping version is equipped with a motor delivering a maximum power of 100 kW (134 hp), while the non-swapping version boasts a more powerful 185 kW (248 hp) motor. Both versions are single-motor models.
- Curb weight: The battery-swapping model has a curb weight of 1720 kg, making it 15 kg lighter than the non-swapping version, which weighs 1735 kg.
The iCar V23 is one of the ten “Chocolate” battery-swapping new models jointly unveiled by CATL and five major automakers—FAW, Changan, BAIC, Chery, and GAC—at a special launch ceremony during the Shanghai Auto Show in April.
CarNewsChina estimates that while the non-swapping iCar V23 is expected to be priced around $13,000 USD, the battery-swapping version could potentially retail for less than 8,000 USD.
Editor’s comment
The RWD version of the iCar V23 currently on sale offers 100 kW (134 hp) of power. This latest filing reveals that the iCar V23 has added a 185 kW (248 hp) single-motor model to its lineup. The battery-swapping version, however, retains the 100 kW (134 hp) motor. We may anticipate more powerful battery-swapping models emerging in the future.
As Chery’s international model, the iCar V23 is slated for overseas sales. To avoid trademark conflicts with Apple, it will be marketed as “iCaur” in certain international markets. However, due to CATL’s “Chocolate” battery swapping network being primarily concentrated in China, the battery-swapping variant is unlikely to be offered for sale in international markets.
