Xiaomi has debuted its new Dragonscale EV battery, bringing in an interesting guarantee for drivers of its Skynomad SUVs. Drivers in vehicles toting the new EV battery tech will receive a replacement vehicle, some questions (but not many) asked, if the battery spontaneously combusts. There are also concessions if the battery catches fire in an accident.
There are terms and conditions, because not every customer is honourable. The guarantee applies to the first owner of the vehicle and excludes Skynomads used for ride-sharing or rental, as well as second-hand vehicles. But anyone qualified who experiences problems will have their car replaced with a new unit of the same size and trim, according to Xiaomi.
Skynomad’s Dragonscale armour
Part of the qualification also includes using Xiaomi service centres, as well as an active connected services subscription. Presumably, this is to ensure nobody is taking a crowbar to an aging SUV in hopes of a replacement. The company obviously believes in its Dragonscale battery enough to offer the “Xiaomi Dragon Armor Battery Peace of Mind Guarantee Plan” (translated).
The battery powering the Skynomad lineup sports “higher quality control standards [than a new Chinese standard], with 7,985 cell control points, 383 battery pack control points, and 1,230 comprehensive extreme verifications.” It’ll supposedly avoid ignition during single-cell thermal runaway while fully charged, provided the battery is under 55°C. Finally, it’ll also shrug off a 500-Joule bottom impact without igniting.
That sort of impact hitting a human in the chest would probably kill them, so it’s a handy benchmark for how safe the Chinese SUV actually is. The 76kWh Dragonscale battery is set to debut in the Skynomad N70 and N90, which are launching in China this year. There’s also talk of a European release, which makes us optimistic about an eventual South African launch.
