Xiaomi SU7 vs. Tesla Model 3! 800 km test, the gap is so big? Xiaomi SU7 and Tesla Model 3 are the two models with the largest traffic in the electric vehicle circle, and they should be the first choice for many people.
So, should you choose the Xiaomi SU7 or the Tesla Model 3?
As an old manufacturer with 10 years of experience in the electric car industry, today I want to talk to you about the two most popular pure electric sedans on the market recently-Xiaomi SU7 and Tesla Model 3.
Which one has better motor power performance between Xiaomi SU7 and Tesla Model 3?
Motor Performance
Both the Xiaomi SU7 and Tesla Model 3 are equipped with dual-motor layouts. The former has two permanent magnet synchronous motors, while the latter has one induction motor and one permanent magnet synchronous motor.
Xiaomi SU7 motor:
Total power: 495kW
Total horsepower: 673 HP
Total torque: 838 Nm
Standard 800V high-voltage fast-charging platform: charges from 10% to 80% in just 0.32 hours.
Tesla Model 3 motor:
Total power: 343kW
Total horsepower: 460 HP
Total torque: 723 Nm
Standard 400V high-voltage fast-charging platform: requires 1 hour to charge from 20% to 80%.
Not to mention the battery life, SU7 can run 800 kilometers, while Model3 can only run 623 kilometers. This gap is truly remarkable.
Why is the Xiaomi SU7 So Powerful?
In my previous blogs, “Xiaomi SU7 Motor: HyperEngine V6/V6s and V8s” and “Xiaomi SU7 – EV HyperEngine V8s Motor Technology”, I conducted an in-depth analysis of the Xiaomi SU7 motor. If you’re interested, you can check out those links.
Are you also curious about why the power difference between the two is so big? What are the differences between the stators and rotors of the PMSMs used in the two?
Motor Stator Technology
Stator Laminations
Xiaomi SU7 HyperEngine V8s motor stator: 0.2mm thick silicon steel sheets with 54 slots.
Tesla Model 3 3D6 motor stator: 0.28mm thick silicon steel sheets with 54 slots.
Stator Flat Wire Winding Technology
Xiaomi SU7 Winding:
The Xiaomi V8s stator adopts a 54-slot 6-pole design with 8 layers of hairpin flat wire winding. The slot filling rate of the stator is 77%.
Tesla Model 3 Winding:
The 3D6 motor equipped with the 2022 Tesla Model3 is Tesla’s first flat wire motor. It adopts a 54-slot 6-pole design with 10 layers of hairpin winding.
Tesla changed the winding from round wire to flat wire, reaching 19,000 RPM and 440 Nm in power density and torque density respectively.
Most automotive motors still use round copper wire windings, such as Huawei DriveOne.
Why are more automakers turning to flat wire windings? What advantages do they offer over round wire windings?
(1) Flat wire motors benefit from the rectangular cross-section of their wires, which better conforms to the shape of the stator slot. This design allows for a higher slot fill factor, about 29.5% more than round wire motors.
(2) Round wire motors achieve an efficiency of about 96%, while flat wire motors can reach up to 97.5%.
(3) The wider cross-section reduces resistance and temperature rise by approximately 50% and 10%, respectively, offering higher output power with peak power density reaching 4.4 kW/kg, significantly surpassing the 3.2–3.3 kW/kg of round wire motors.
(4) Flat wire motors have better cooling performance. Copper loss accounts for 65% of heat generation during vehicle operation.
Speaking of cooling technology, aren’t you curious about the oil cooling technologies used by the SU7 and Model 3?
Stator Cooling Technology
Xiaomi SU7 Dual-Circuit 3D Oil Cooling Technology
The interleaved lamination design increases contact area with the oil, improving heat transfer efficiency.
Xiaomi developed a dual-circuit 3D oil cooling technology for the stator, allowing cooling oil to flow bidirectionally inside the stator.
Stator temperature is reduced by over 20°C, with a temperature difference of less than 5°C between both ends.
Tesla Model 3 Stator Oil Cooling Technology
Features 162 square oil channels on the stator core surface.
Forms oil paths with the housing interference fit, and both ends are equipped with plastic oil rings (16 oil holes evenly distributed) for spray cooling at the winding ends.
Motor Rotor
Rotor Laminations
Xiaomi SU7 rotor:
0.35mm silicon steel.
Dual permanent magnet structure with a 6-section noise reduction slot design.
Tesla Model 3 rotor:
0.28mm silicon steel.
Classic single-V permanent magnet structure with a 3-section noise reduction slot design, where the middle section is twice as wide as the edges.
Rotor Cooling Technology
SU7 Rotor Oil Cooling
The Xiaomi motor rotor adopts an S-shaped oil circuit design. The rotor shaft and the core are cooled at the same time, and the oil enters and exits at both ends.
This cooling technology can reduce the rotor temperature by up to 30°C, thereby reducing the risk of deformation and demagnetization caused by temperature increase, and ensuring stable operation of the motor at high speed.
Model3 Rotor Oil Cooling
The Model3 rotor shaft is hollow and has oil-swinging holes. While the rotor is actively cooled, the inner ring of the stator winding can be cooled by rotor oil-swinging.
The Model 3 stator + rotor composite oil cooling technology significantly improves the power density and torque density of the motor. Compared with ordinary water-cooled motors, the continuous torque can be increased by 40%-50%.
Aesthetics Comparison
Honestly, the first time I saw the Xiaomi SU7, I was captivated by its stunning appearance. Its low-profile body, teardrop-shaped headlights, and petal-style rims make it a “mobile photo machine.”
While the Tesla Model 3 also looks good, its minimalist design doesn’t quite grab attention like the SU7.
Interior Comparison
Xiaomi SU7: Features a 16.1-inch central control screen equipped with the Snapdragon 8295 chip and five-zone voice recognition, making Tesla’s 15.4-inch screen seem rather basic.
Tesla Model 3: Takes a minimalist approach, which, to be frank, feels overly simplistic.
Space Comparison
Xiaomi SU7: With a 3,000mm wheelbase.
Tesla Model 3: The 2,875mm wheelbase means the rear seats feel noticeably more cramped.
Which One is Worth Buying?
If you value cost-effectiveness and technological innovation, the Xiaomi SU7 is undoubtedly a great choice. However, if brand reputation and cutting-edge technology are your priorities, the Tesla Model 3 is still worth considering.
Custom Motor Lamination—Choose Lamnow
Lamnow, as a leading motor core lamination manufacturer in China, designs and manufactures stator and rotor laminations for electric vehicle motors. Our professional team has assisted clients in developing new EV motor core projects with great success. If you need motor cores or technical support, please contact us.
