"The sales of the Wuling Hongguang MINI EV exceeded 15,000 units within only 20 days after it hit the market at the Chengdu Motor Show that kicked off on July 24, the first mini-sized EV. Trendysort of. The model is equipped with the BMS intelligent battery management system, as well as low-temperature pre-heating technology and battery insulation. Your email address will not be published. As a result, Ford Australia's first electric car is going to be a van, the e-Transit. It would also ward off one of the Ami's drawbacks it's left-hand drive only. On top of that, there's a cargo version, which would be brilliant for the suburbs. First, the driving position is very high and the seats are non-height-adjustable. The Mini EV has a top speed of 62mph, and on an expressway, we managed to reach just over 50mph an experience that was much less unnerving than expected. DAP Pricing Unless otherwise stated, all prices are shown as Manufacturer's Recommended List Price (MRLP) inclusive of GST, exclusive of options and on road costs. The area might hold something extremely tiny; however, the car contains charging cords on the bottom. A convertible variant of the Hongguang Mini EV - known as the Cabrio concept - was unveiled overnight at the Shanghai motor show. It was difficult to open the doors of the Wuling, but the battery appears to be mostly intact with only some damage. Given all of its other flaws, that's probably not a terrible thing. Sport seems to be the better of the two modes, providing not only slightly smarter acceleration but also more noticeable braking regeneration. 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? Hard plastics are everywhere, and you can see the screw that attaches the door handle insert to the door. Derek Fung would love to tell you about his multiple degrees, but he's too busy writing up some news right now. It's time for car companies to step up and offer us some product that we all know would fly off the forecourts. Wuling is a Chinese car firm youre probably not too familiar with. It can be used on normal roads without restriction, although its wheels are only 12 inches and its speed tops out at just 62 mph (100 km/h). Id love to get my hands on one of these cars, but we arent likely to see these here for a long time, if ever. Fees, charges, conditions and eligibility criteria apply. 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 . When compared to one of the cheapest EVs on the market in the United States, the almost $28,000 Nissan Leaf, it's simple to understand why. Production will initially be limited to between 100 and 200 cars per month. It also features 12 storage spaces. Onboard is a 9.3 kWh or 13.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack good for 75 or 169 km, respectively. (function() { s.src = 'https://au-script.dotmetrics.net/door.js?d=' + document.location.host + '&t=other'; h.appendChild(s); The Hong Guang MINI EV has a top speed of about 100 km/h, seats four and looks like a Japanese kei car. MORE: Everything micro carsMORE: Everything ChinaMORE: Everything 2021Shanghai motor show. SAIC Motor is the largest partner, with 50.1 percent ownership. Apollo Air & Air Pro eScooter With The Best Build Quality, EMOVE Cruiser : Best eScooter Under $1500, AnyHill UM-2 : Unique Heavy Duty eScooter, Maxus Euniq 6 - The All New Chinese Electric SUV, Kandi K27 - Cheapest Electric Car in America, Price at $10,000, Chevrolet Blazer EV Design, Specifications, Features, Price And Launch Date, Voyah Free - Premium Electric SUV Like Yacht, Tata Punch EV - Design, Features, Performance & Price. Electric vehicles should be going great guns at the moment we've all been trapped in the country (and mostly our states) for months, there's nothing to do and for some reason we're paying pre-GFC prices for our petrol. Nikes most popular racing shoe is getting a reboot, The bird flu outbreak has taken an ominous turn, New Zealand faces a future of flood and fire, Explore AI like never before with our new database, Want the best tools to get healthy? Surprisingly, the EV has a selector button hidden behind the steering wheel that lets you choose between Eco and Sport modes. The Macaron and Cabrio versions are likely to strengthen the Hong Guang MINI EV's market share in China, where it has already surpassed Tesla as the best-selling electric vehicle. Information regarding this small but impressive electric car that is a part . A single electric motor sends 13kW to the rear wheels, and voltage is drawn from a 9.2kWh lithium-polymer battery, permitting a claimed range of 120km. We may not legally be able to get ahold of the Mini EV as it sells in China, but there is an outside chance GM will be using the know-how gained from producing this budget electric car to release a US or European EV that retails below the $10,000 mark. It has received an advanced IP68 waterproof and dustproof rating and been put through 16 rigorous safety tests. However, as a low-cost start to electric family transportation, the automobile is far superior to a scooter or motorbike. Check out this review from the Wheelsboy YouTube channel: Despite its cheap price, it also comes with a suite of handy features like radar for reversing, antilock brakes and a tire pressure monitoring system. Which is probably holding back the funky hatchback from a local release in electric form, just as it's hugely unlikely we'll ever see the ICE 208 here. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV (Chinese: MiniEV) is a battery electric city car manufactured by SAIC-GM-Wuling since 2020. 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. This is paired to either a 9.2kWh, 13.9kWh, or 25.5kWh battery. [12][13] The popularity has been compared to that of kei cars in Japan. WIREDs is in avocado green, but the model is also available in lemon yellow and white peach pink. Now, a new entry into Chinas Ministry of Industry and Information Technology confirms that the Mini EV Cabrio is coming to market, per Car News China. SHANGHAI - Wuling launched the Hong Guang MINI EV today. Mechanically, the Hong Guang MINI EV Macaron is equipped with a small electric motor that generates 20 kW (27 horsepower) and 85 Nm (62.7 pound-feet) of torque, up from the 13-kW (17.4-horsepower . The Mini EV is actually higher than it is wide due to its 1,621 mm height; thus, headroom is adequate. One-pedal driving is not really possible, as the car simply takes too long to slow downprobably because it only weighs 700 kg (1,543 lbs). Your email address will not be published. As EVs make their inroads, the little Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV is leading the way. China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) data has revealed that the Hong Guang Mini EV . Powering the rear wheels is an electric motor delivering 20 kW (27 hp) and 85 Nm of torque. Exterior specifications of Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV This Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV car is 2917 mm long, 1493 m wide, and 1621 mm in height with a wheelbase of 1940 mm. The colors are Avocado Green, Lemon Yellow and White Peach Pink, which are the results of the collaboration of Wuling and Pantone Universe. Wuling is coy regarding acceleration figures, but since the vehicle is electric and has instantaneous torque, it isnt unduly slow in town traffic. img#wpstats{display:none} So such a car, even devoid of bells or whistles, could make electric motoring affordable for a much broader market. The e-Crafter van would be a good idea too if it wasn't left-hook only. [17], The Macaron is equipped with a small electric motor that generates a more powerful 20kW (27hp; 27PS) and 85Nm (63lbft) of torque compared to the previously launched base trim while range remains unchanged. The Master is a versatile panel van, available as either a platform cab or cab chassis, with a ton of space and a usable city driving range. Similar to the Rivian, the Ford F-150 Lightning would surely go off here too. The Mustang nameplate has been a giant success for Ford locally, and once buyers got over the high-riding SUV vibe of the Mach-E, I reckon we won't be able to get enough of them. [11] The car has attracted a cult following in China, with owners frequently modifying their vehicles. [4] Retail deliveries began in China in July 2020. It's called the Hong Guang Mini EV, and one of its major selling points is the fact it only costs $4,500 (or $5,000 with air conditioning). The special edition Mini EVs have a redesigned front fascia with an additional LED strip connecting the two light clusters, in addition to revised headlights with LED daytime running lights. Stepping up into the niche is the smallest mass-market EV, and one of the best selling EVs of all time: the Wuling Hongguang Mini. But is it safe? var d = document, Perhaps the biggest surprise is that the Mini EV can seat four. 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 . Of course there are more out there and many of them will come from China. The Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV car body is a Hatchback. There are also two USB type A ports that allow you to play music or charge a device. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. 2023 CarExpert Pty Ltd - ABN 71 636 729 836, Don't get ripped off, find out what others have paid, This week in news: 27 February to 3 March. Depending on the spec, the Mini EV is powered by either a 20kW/85Nm or 30kW/110Nm electric motor driving the rear wheels. The neighborhood EV was completely destroyed, not giving the occupant's a chance to survive (at least the front row). The ForTwo is about 19,000 in the UK which could translate to a low to mid-$30k price tag. [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. Bizarrely, it's the EV we're most asked about after Tesla, despite its much lower profile. It can be charged using a normal 220-240V outlet. That's a considerable price premium over the regular Hongguang Mini EV, which starts from just 32,800 yuan ($6900) and stretches to 69,8000 yuan ($14,700) for a fully-loaded Game Boy edition. Check out this review from the Wheelsboy YouTube channel: Yes, I wish to receive exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions from our partners. EV Auto Explorer is India's leading Electric Vehicles news website. The Wuling MINI EV from GM costs between $4,000 and $6,000. 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. all we can say is this EV has every right to be on the top of the affordable EVs list. A convertible variant of the Hongguang Mini EV known as the Cabrioconcept was unveiled overnight at the Shanghai motor show. The Peugeot e-Expert has a silly name and isn't much to look at, but has an impressive driving range for a commercial vehicle (330km WLTP) and decent power and torque. Both of these only seat two people, and the E200 is also sold in a slightly restyled manner as the Wuling Nano, with a more powerful motor and longer ranges. margin-top: -19px; It is a three-door electric microcar that, while not new in China, is the first to achieve widespread success. It is 2,917 millimeters long, 1,493 millimeters wide and 1,621 [] And the lack of rear headrests would make anything but short journeys tiring on the neck. Some of this is due to its development: the model had gone from concept to manufacturing in less than a year, which seems utterly implausible until you get close to one. In September, only its 4 th month on the market, the Hong Guang Mini EV racked up sales in excess of 20,000, propelling it to the top of China's electric vehicle market," Kang said. Dartz's decision to redesign the car's body highlights one of the obvious problems with selling the Chinese car in Western markets: safety. And, like any good motoring journalist, we will insist that not only must the VW Up! The boot is almost non-existent when the seats are up: at best, you might be able to fit in one very thin painting. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV is the result of a three-way joint venture. body #page { We take a look at the cars that could kickstart an EV love affair. new Date().getTime(), event: 'gtm.js' The Wuling Mini EV features an electric motor providing 27 hp and 62.7 lb-ft of torque that powers the rear wheels and comes with either a 9.2 kWh battery or a bigger 13.8 kWh battery with a range of 110 miles, according to the NEDC. Required fields are marked *. It would cost more to spec the cigar humidor glove box option on a Rolls-Royce or add Apple CarPlay to a Ferrari than to buy the Mini EV outright. Luxury is relative, especially when you are dealing with a car as bare-bones as the original Mini EV. The colors areAvocado Green, Lemon Yellow, and White Peach Pink, which are the results of the collaboration of Wuling and Pantone Universe. 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). 145/70R12 With such small tires, any potholes you encounter are keenly felt in the cabin. Under the extreme cold and high temperatures of -25 to 45 C, the vehicle has completed 28 tests over 300,000 kilometers. Aluminum Alloy is also offered in this EV. 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 front brake is a disk brake and the rear one is a drum brake. Theres a choice of a 9.3kWh or 13.8kWh battery pack. Wuling Motors designs and manufactures tiny electric automobiles, school buses, engines, and automobile parts. h = d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0], Astonishingly, the company is reportedly making less than $14 profit on each car. Powering the rear wheels is an electric motor delivering 27 hp of power and 85 Nm of torque. 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. When compared to one of the cheapest EVs on the market in the United States, the almost $28,000 Nissan Leaf, it's simple to understand why. Dartz, a Latvian company known for bulletproof SUVs, was planning to sell the Mini EV as the Freze Nikrob in Europe, but those plans appear to have changed. [22][23], In January 2021, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), the Mini EV topped new energy vehicles sales with 25,778 units, compared to the Tesla Model 3 with 13,843 units sold in China. E lectric vehicles should be going great guns at the moment - we've all been trapped in the country (and mostly our states) for months, there's nothing to do and for some . As of January2022[update], sales since inception have passed 500,000 units, and the Mini EV has become the best-selling electric car in China. Take a bite of these third-party apps instead. Earlier this month five Chinese. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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 Macaron is a customized version that is available with three exclusive paint colors and more standard features. The Blue Oval is keen to woo those who carry gear around for a living and knows that these folks are offended by the cost of fuel. if(typeof window.DotMetricsObj != 'undefined') {DotMetricsObj.onAjaxDataUpdate();} The 116 Absolute Best Black Friday Deals Right Now. With our Prime Minister embarrassing himself at COP26 by walking down the steps from his plane waving a piece of paper guaranteeing net-zero by relying on technology that is either discredited (carbon capture and storage) or non-existent (TBA), it's up to the states to make electric vehicles appealing. This electric car is so popular among Chinese drivers that Wuling is making a cabrio model for 2022 despite convertibles not selling well in the country, as Car News China reports. The latest on tech, science, and more: Get our newsletters! Adding to the safety, more than 57% of the Hong Guang MINI EVs body consists of high-strength steel. After all, the automobile is just 2,921 millimeters long, or less than 3 meters. [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. 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id=' + i + dl; With the 40kWh battery, it has a healthy city driving range of up to 300km, which is probably a week's driving for a good number of businesses. Safer than a scooter. SHUHEI YAMADA, Nikkei Asia Tech chief editor December 20, 2021 11:23 JST. The three variants of the brand's first four-seat new energy vehicle are priced between RMB 28,800 and RMB 38,800. People in China arent buying the Mini EV for its design; theyre buying it at a reported rate of 1,800 models per day because its cheap and its range is good enough. Alongside the truck is the R1S, an attractively boxy SUV starting at around seventy grand in the States, so probably a $160,000 bet here. Wuling had always produced microvans aimed at rural farmers and commercial buyers, so producing the Mini EV was a surprising move. Upgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy WIRED-tested seats. Rivian has two giant electric trucks, which will upset people who don't want these massive things bearing down on them, and the company says it has strong interest from local buyers. His favorite cars are anything with a manual transmission, and he's been known to spend hours just shifting through all the gears. In 2003, China became, for a time, the second-largest single market for GM, selling Chinese-only versions of Buicks and launching Chevrolet in the jurisdiction in 2005. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV is China's best-selling electric vehicle, outselling Tesla and all others. In . Nissan's Leaf is the company's only electric passenger car here in Australia and our suggestion here is not going to add to that list. And who doesn't want to see F-Series based ambulances again? This EV is not available outside China, but we got behind the wheel of the luxury Macaron version in China to see if this super-cheap electric car was any good, and what US and European manufacturers could learn about how to make more affordable electric cars. There's no dreamland Ford e-Ranger or Toyota e-HiLux talk here because they don't exist yet and we already know whoever gets to the dual-cab ute market with a sensibly-priced electric version could end up ruling the world. s = d.createElement('script'); Privacy Policy. Thats actually not too bad for the price of four Changlis. The ground clearance offered is 125 mm. Could General Motors at least apply lessons learned from producing this super-cheap EV to other markets? The score not being a 4 is mainly down to the considerable value on offer here, but we'd find it hard to ignore that lack of safety kit. electric van, but we can't for the life of us remember if we've ever seen one in the wild. The Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV car measures a diminutive 2920mm yet four adults can fit in without too much contortion. The Hongguang Mini EV, a joint venture between the Chinese-owned SAIC Motor and US auto giant General Motors (GM), retails for $4,500 (around 3,200 / AU$5600) and is proving a hit against its. An electrified version of Tatas Nanowhich is dubbed the world's cheapest car, costs just over $2,000, and is getting surprisingly decent reviewshas been rumored for some time now. The Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV was crash tested against another EV - an ultra-cheap neighborhood electric vehicle (with lead-acid batteries) that's hilariously trying to resemble the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. The poor profit margin hasnt stopped Wuling and its sibling brand Baojun from creating more cars in the same vein. The convertible electric microcar which was built as part of a collaboration between SAIC and General Motors could come onto the market as soon as 2022. China Sends a Warning to the U.S. About Domestic EV Battery Production, Global EV Adoption Hits New High of 20 Million Thanks to Tiny Electric Cars, Electric Cars Sold In Record Numbers Globally In 2021, A Serious Threat to Tesla Emerges in Nissan. He has maintained a primary focus on industry trends, autonomous technology, electric vehicle regulations, and local environmental policy. China is the worlds largest car market and it has some tricks up its sleeve to entice people to go electric. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV ( Chinese: MiniEV) is a battery electric city car manufactured by SAIC-GM-Wuling since 2020. It was developed by General Motors, Wuling Motors and state-sponsored SAIC Motor. The compact zero-emission hatchback reportedly weighs just 665kg. That said, stuffing adults into those rear seats is not exactly comfortable. The GT versions pack a staggering dual-motor set up with 358kW and either 814Nm or 860Nm. 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. Posted on April 19, 2021. s = d.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; But the Mini EVs diminutive size also makes darting in and out of traffic quite satisfying. Slightly more substantial than the Ami, and rather more expensive, is Smart's ForTwo and ForFour which could probably land here well under forty grand. Given all the other foibles detailed here, that is probably not a bad thing. 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. The Mini EV Cabrio: Wuling unveiled the Mini EV Cabrio, a convertible version of the Mini EV with a folding soft top, at the Shanghai Auto Show in 2021. The steering is imprecise and when cornering at over 30mph you feel as if youre fighting the cars inertia. } ()); As of January 2022, sales since inception have passed 500,000 units, and the Mini EV has become the best-selling electric car in China. While electric sedans and SUVs rapidly proliferate, there continues to be a dearth of drop-top EVs beyond the likes of the cabriolet versions of the Smart ForTwo and Fiat 500e. j.src = Luckily as youre unlikely to ever get the Mini EV much above 50 mph this never becomes too much of a problem. At least there are some concessions to safety: while the original Mini EVs featured little more than the steel body cage, anti-lock brakes, and Isofix anchors for child seats, the Macaron adds a drivers airbag. One of China's biggest automotive companiesin 2021 it. 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. We believe that most of the Wuling Hong Guang MINI EVs are driving on the streets and there is always a risk that such a crash might happen. The Macaron version gains a reversing camera, which the screen also shows. A dual waistline along with obvious arches for the 12 inches wheels accent very boxy looks. The Mini GameBoy Edition is outfitted in four different variations: Hurricane Phantom, Jungle Traveler, Star Rover, and Party Sweetheart. All the Settings You Should Change on Your New Samsung Phone, Give Your Back a Break With Our Favorite Office Chairs, What to Do When Netflix Wont Let You Share Your Password, The 12 Best Electric Bikes for Every Kind of Ride, The Best iPad to Buy (and a Few to Avoid). The hardtop model starts at 28,000, or about A$6,177, and has a range of 169 km. Priced this low, there is not much insulating the car from road noise. } )( window, document, 'script', 'dataLayer', 'GTM-WT4MKNJ' ); The Hong Guang Mini EV saw sales of 112,000 for the second half of 2020, ranking second behind Tesla's Model 3 which are made in its Shanghai factory. Unfortunately, Wheelsboy says youll never forget how cheap it is. Among the Macaron's many improvements over the basic Mini EV is a key safety featurethe driver now gets an airbag standard. window.dm.AjaxEvent = function(et, d, ssid, ad){ Its curb weight is around 665 kg. It was founded in 2007 in the city of Liuzhou, near the border with Vietnam. Whether you want a new keyboard or a robot vac, theres something for everyone. This change is because the new version will have a . Every pothole is felt with such small wheels, which is made worse by the badly cushioned seats. MacOS may be the apple of your eye, but some of its stock apps are a little rotten. Charging on a 220V supply takes 6.5 hours for the smaller battery and a full 9 hours for the 13.8 kWh pack.