The compact dimensions make it ideal for urban commuting and parking in tight spaces, yet the interior still has up to 741 liters of space with the rear seats folded down. The front and rear lighting also appear less premium, going from two circular LEDs that looked like the headlights on the Honda e to a blockier shape that looks more like the c-shaped lights on a a lot of modern trucks. However, the rear seats do individually push down and pull up with a strap, which is essential if you want to transport anything other than people. So such a car, even devoid of bells or whistles, could make electric motoring affordable for a much broader market. The Mini EV is equipped with a 9.2kWh battery capable of a NEDC range of 120km (75mi) or a 13.8kWh battery capable of a NEDC range of 170km (110mi). Last year the Hongguang Mini EV was Chinas best selling pure electric car with roughly 426,000 sales, well ahead of the considerably more expensive .css-vurnku{box-sizing:border-box;margin:0;min-width:0;}Tesla Model 3 (321,000). Adding to the safety, more than 57% of the Hong Guang MINI EVs body consists of high-strength steel. The vehicle comes with an intelligent battery management system which can monitor the battery status in real-time. Check out this review from the Wheelsboy YouTube channel: Latvian-based armoured vehicle manufacturer Dartz last year confirmed it had signed an agreement to import the electric micro car to Europe. However, cramming folks into those back seats isn't exactly pleasant. } )( window, document, 'script', 'dataLayer', 'GTM-WT4MKNJ' ); Which, again, in the case of the ForTwo is not completely unfair. If we arent limited by business model, the data could be used to develop a shared car, or a ride-hailing city car, that could be used in city centers where passenger cars are banneda growing and likely permanent trend, he says. However, with only a slow charger interface, refilling the latter takes nine hours. Watch Tesla Model Y Vs Volkswagen ID.6 CROZZ Crash Test, Renault ZOE Gets Devastating 0 Stars From Euro NCAP, Watch Tesla Cybertruck Vs Tesla Semi Launches Side-By-Side In Texas, Devastating Price Difference: Hyundai Kona Electric Vs Chevy Bolt EV, Tesla To Offer Unlimited Overnight Charging For About $1 Per Day, Tesla Models Among EVs With Worst Predicted Reliability: Consumer Reports, Tesla's Next-Gen Electric Motors Will Get Rid Of Rare Earth Elements, First Tesla V4 Supercharger Spotted In The Netherlands, Considering A Tesla Or Another EV? Being two-seaters, theyve never really sold well, but the E300 (aka Kiwi EV) in many ways replicates the Mini EV formula, except it costs around twice as much and features a chunky robot-like appearance and desirable features such as fast charging. Enter your email below. A few videos of the convertible circulated around since then, but not much else besides the statement from Wuling. The controls for the electric windows are located on the center console, next to the drive selector knob. [14] The vehicle has been such a success that it has inspired a number of copycats and competitors, including the Chery QQ Ice Cream, Dongfeng Fengguang MINI EV,[15] and BAW S3. Guide to safely buying & selling a car online, Police forced to pay for car tracking app to find abducted toddler report, Hundreds of electrified cars deregistered in Victoria due to road-user tax report, 2024 Volkswagen ID.3 facelift unveiled, due in Australia next year, Renault Espace five- and seven-seat SUV under consideration for Australia, Upcoming Lotus electric sedan spied on a tow truck in the Arctic. EV Charging explained: Home and public charging, power levels and plugs, Australia's EV policies: What's happening in each state and territory in 2021 UPDATED, No ICE reduction target included in Australia's net zero 2050 plan. The battery is barely bigger than your phone's at 5.5kWh and the top speed roughly comparable to jogging, but if you've seen Sydney or Melbourne Saturday traffic 45km/h is a distant dream. The Cabrio is set to go into production in China in 2022, with a rebadged variant called the Freze Nikrob Cabrio being available in Europe. We take a look at the cars that could kickstart an EV love affair. s = d.createElement('script'); However, as a low-cost start to electric family transportation, the automobile is far superior to a scooter or motorbike. Classified as a microcar, this Mini EV has done a fairly good job at keeping up with Tesla for worldwide EV shipments in 2021 (approx 424,138 shipments / deliveries). WIRED may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. William Davis has written for Drive since July 2020, covering news and current affairs in the automotive industry. Wayward steering.) The Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV sells in China like hot cakes, as it fulfils the basic transportation needs at affordable price of 28,800-43,600 CNY ($4,521-$6,844). While there is a hatch at the back, there is no real trunk to speak of. It is legal to drive on public roads, despite its wheels being just 12 inches in diameter and having a peak speed of only 62 miles per hour. Charging cables fill up the space at the bottom of the boot. But is it safe? But as a cheap introduction to electric family motoring, the car is infinitely safer and better than a scooter or motorbike. Yes, I wish to receive exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions from our partners. [11] The car has attracted a cult following in China, with owners frequently modifying their vehicles. var f = d.getElementsByTagName( s )[ 0 ], Wuling Motors designs and manufactures tiny electric automobiles, school buses, engines, and automobile parts. According to Tu Le, founder and managing director of Sino Auto Insights, there are two possibilities. A Detailed Look At The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV, The Tata Avinya Concept Puts India On The Global EV Map. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV ( Chinese: MiniEV) is a battery electric city car manufactured by SAIC-GM-Wuling since 2020. Powering the rear wheels is an electric motor delivering 20 kW (27 hp) and 85 Nm of torque. On the plus side, given the sub-two-meter wheelbase, the turning circle is incredibly tight. Or the same as a specced-up V8 Ram. GM unveils Wuling Hong Guang Mini cabrio This cute little cabrio makes our top billing not only because it is super-cute, but also because it is the newest version of the Wuling Hong Guang Mini that sells in China for less than $A8,000, and in February outsold the ever-popular Tesla Model 3 there. A battery-powered motor lets you enjoy most of the benefits of biking, minus the sweat. [10], In 2020, the Mini EV had a price starting at US$4,162, and topped out at US$5,607 for a fully-loaded model, making it China's cheapest electric car. The Mini EV has appealed to younger buyers in China, and he feels GM could target a similar demographic in the US, or in an emerging market, where a small city car would appeal. Apple has several models in its lineup, from the iPhone SE to the iPhone 14 Plus. Perhaps the local arm should consider Ford's idea of a much larger unit, the Master Z.E.? However, in the case of the Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV, things look much better. It is 2,917 millimeters long, 1,493 millimeters wide and 1,621 [] w[ l ] = w[ l ] || []; The space might be able to fit something very thin, but the bottom is taken up with charging cables. We're here to help you find the right slate for your needs. Avocado Green, Lemon Yellow, and White Peach Pink are the colors created by Wuling in partnership with Pantone Universe. margin-top: -19px; Chinese government incentives include extending subsidies on NEV purchases, expediting a clear-out of older polluting vehicles, reducing taxes on used-car dealers and promoting electric-car sales in rural areas. The reason the little Hong Guang MINI EV is beating the Tesla Model 3 is simple: Its dirt cheap. In the end, all the states can do is lead a punter to a beer, it's up to the product makers to make one nice enough to drink. It also weighs a . No spare tire is given as well. First, the driving position is very high and the seats are non-height-adjustable. State-backed SAIC-GM-Wuling, a company partly owned by GM,. That said, stuffing adults into those rear seats is not exactly comfortable. The Battery Capacity, which is one of the most important parts of an Electric Vehicle, is 9.3 kWh or 13.9 kWh. Unfortunately, Wheelsboy says youll never forget how cheap it is. [20] Its exterior has been completely restyled with larger dimension, while the power remains to be unchanged and carried over from the standard Mini EV producing 27hp (20kW; 27PS) and 85Nm (63lbft) or 40hp (30kW; 41PS) and 110Nm (81lbft), mated to a 9.2, 13.9, or 25.5 kWh battery. They're both short on driving range and in the ForTwo's case, size, but these are resolutely urban vehicles. [25], "Popular Wuling EVs to hit global markets in 2022", "SGMW to unveil Wuling brand's first two-seater NEV model 'NanoEV', "The tiny Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV costs just P200,000", "Tiny Wuling Hongguang Mini EV Has Locked In 50,000 Orders", "China: Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV Sets Massive Sales Record", "This Adorable Four Seat Electric Hatchback is Selling Like Crazy in China", "Check Out This Must-See Review Of The Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV", "Wuling Mini EV gets a long-range version of 280 km range", "GM scores a bestseller in China with $4,200 electric micro car", "Dongfeng Fengguang MINI EV official images released", "Worry For The Wuling MINI EV (or not): BAW S3 & S5 Mini EVs Unveiled", "New Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV Macaron Launches In China", "Wuling Launches Hong Guang MINIEV Cabrio in China", "Chinese/U.S. But the Mini EVs diminutive size also makes darting in and out of traffic quite satisfying. if(typeof window.DotMetricsObj != 'undefined') {DotMetricsObj.onAjaxDataUpdate();} The Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV, introduced by the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture (between SAIC, GM and Liuzhou Wuling Motors), is no one of the most popular EVs in China. [9], A 26.5kWh model is due for 2022, with 280 kilometres (170mi) (CLTC) estimated range, an optional more powerful 30kW (40hp; 41PS) motor, and an improved interior. With seven seats (that'll be popular, don't you think?) if(typeof window.DotMetricsObj != 'undefined') {DotMetricsObj.onAjaxDataUpdate();} The area might hold something extremely tiny; however, the car contains charging cords on the bottom. j = d.createElement( s ), dl = l != 'dataLayer' ? In . You dont get airbags, and the passenger doesnt even get a seatbelt reminder. Can seat four. The results: left - driver, right - passenger in the rear: Well, if this is the result of a 50% frontal crash with a light neighborhood electric vehicle, it's scary to think what would happen if it would be a standard car (1,200-2,400 kg). China's best-selling EV is tiny and incredibly affordable, and will soon become one of the few convertible EVs available today, or ever. Mahindra eXUV300 Expected Launch Date & Estimated Price, Mahindra eKUV 100 To Be Launched By End Of 2022, 2023 Mazda MX-30 Crossover SUV Mazdas First Electric Car, Maserati GranTurismo Folgore EV All-Electric Super Sports Car, Mahindra XUV400 EV New Electric compact SUV. The same is not said for the steering, which is quite sloppy. The Macaron version gains a reversing camera, which the screen also shows. Recently we came across a crash test conducted earlier this year in China, which might give us glimpses of what to expect. 'gtm.start': General Motors (GM) has released new, colorful versions of China's best-selling electric car, the tiny Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV. Release date - 2020. It is a three-door electric microcar that . Mind you, access to the back is predictably quite tight from both sides, and once youve squeezed yourself in there, legroom is minimal. Upgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy WIRED-tested seats. The ForFour is somehow slightly cheaper, so would cost about the same. Surprisingly, the EV has a selector button hidden behind the steering wheel that lets you choose between Eco and Sport modes. One-pedal driving isn't practical since the automobile takes too long to slow down, owing to its lightweight of 1,543 pounds. margin-top: -19px; It is a three-door electric microcar that, while not new in China, is the first to achieve widespread success. It would be easy to compare the Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV unfairly with pricier and better-equipped cars. We already know the e-2008 compact SUV is on its way but the French car's importer remains cagey on the e-208. 38 Photos Wuling - Hong Guang MINI EV specs: Two battery/range options 120 km (75 miles) of range using 9.3 kWh battery 170 km (106 miles) of range using 13.9 kWh battery top speed of 100 km/h. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV is a little electric vehicle (EV) that's been making waves bigger than its 12-inch wheels can ever suggest: it's been outselling Teslas and traversing floods in China, and its entry into Thailand and Indonesia have also got Malaysians excited.. Part of the massive sales numbers and interest - Chinese customers have bought over 500,000 of these since June 2019 . Cutting Edge Mini City EV - the Hong Guang MINI EV has a practical "small on the outside, big on the inside" design Left Hand Drive Only (steering wheel on left) Taking orders now for export direct (shipping, duties, taxes in your country additional) It is available in 2 versions: 2-seat with 120KM range battery / $5500 4-seat with 170KM range battery / $6600 Exterior dimensions: 2,917 mm .