On April 15th, Pulsestacks reported on a thought-provoking perspective amidst the emergence of various cutting-edge smart setups: Does having CDC (Continuous Damping Control) mean the tuning is all set? Can power output vector control replace precise handling?
In the era of L7, SmartSelf, in collaboration with the Williams team, put considerable effort into chassis tuning. They even emphasized athleticism and handling by introducing the SnakePerformance special edition model. However, what truly brought SmartSelf into the public eye were the LS7 and LS6 SUVs—more affordable in price and more feature-packed.
As the more compact L6 arrives, handling is once again in the spotlight. SmartSelf believes that in the era of intelligence, should chassis openness be higher?
Unveiled alongside the L6 is the "Lingxi Digital Chassis." According to Liu Tao, the Lingxi Digital Chassis achieves for the first time the holistic coordination control of the vehicle's attitude with six degrees of freedom across three axes. This breakthrough nearly redefines the capability boundaries of future chassis, enabling the wheels to function like four agile, independent "feet," thus "opening up the imagination space for future chassis. This is truly the core."
In the interview, Liu Tao provided several examples of the application of the Agile Lizard Digital Chassis. For instance, in terms of handling, the Agile Lizard Digital Chassis enables the Smart Ji L6 to achieve a smaller turning radius. Concerning safety, if there is debris ahead, the Agile Lizard Digital Chassis has a response time that is 30% faster than traditional ESP systems. Additionally, in terms of comfort, by dynamically controlling systems such as air suspension, steering, and braking, and equipping them with intelligent and active adjustments, the L6 will provide users with a completely new chassis experience during driving. Moreover, with the Agile Lizard Digital Chassis, it signifies that the foundation has been laid, and there will be continuous innovation in the development of more and more new functions.
Liu Tao stated that the "first generation of Lightyear solid-state batteries" will have a certain limited availability. After all, the "dry process integral forming technology" requires a ramp-up in production capacity, seeking a balance between high quality and quantity, but the ramp-up speed will be very fast. According to current plans, the L6 Lightyear edition models will begin mass production and delivery in the second half of this year. This is primarily to ensure the high safety, quality, and consistency of solid-state battery production, so there will be some capacity limitations in the short term. However, the ramp-up speed will be very fast, and mass production and delivery will be scaled up within the year.
Liu Tao believes that solid-state batteries will certainly be a very important direction and core product for the future development of power batteries.
From a safety perspective, solid-state electrolytes are classified as inorganic oxide materials and are essentially non-flammable. In this regard, solid-state batteries have exceeded the safety standards set by national regulations, achieving "no thermal runaway and no fire" for the entire battery pack.
Liu Tao explained that the "first-generation Lightyear solid-state battery" to be installed in the Smart L6 can provide over 1,000 kilometers of range, with a 12-minute charge giving 400 kilometers of range. "Currently, solid-state batteries are slightly more expensive than liquid ones, but they have become simpler in structure, allowing for better cost control. Once solid-state batteries reach a certain level of mass production, their cost will be cheaper than liquid ones."
