The vehicle comes with an intelligent battery management system which can monitor the battery status in real-time. Of course there are more out there and many of them will come from China. Notably, the upscale variant of the Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV will have a slightly larger body as the wheelbase grows from 76.4 to 79.1 inches. The Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV car measures a diminutive 2920mm yet four adults can fit in without too much contortion. The Macaron is a customized version that is available with three exclusive paint colors and more standard features. 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. Aesthetically, the production vehicle is unlikely to change dramatically from its concept form. Wuling's Mini EV, made in partnership with General Motors, outsells Teslas Model 3 in China and costs less than adding CarPlay to a Ferrari. Derek Fung would love to tell you about his multiple degrees, but he's too busy writing up some news right now. WIRED is where tomorrow is realized. Given all of its other flaws, that's probably not a terrible thing. 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. EV Auto Explorer is India's leading Electric Vehicles news website. form, despite all indications pointing to its untimely end. Lots of people ask why there aren't any small EVs on the market (we quickly explain there are several), and the talk quickly turns to price. At the end of last year, professor Masayoshi Yamamoto at Nagoya University took apart a car shipped to Japan to see how it was possible to produce the vehicle so cheaply. A distinct whine from the electric motor accompanies you as you drive along. The cars crashed at 64 km/h (40 mph) each, with a 50% offset, which turned out to be deadly to the red neighborhood electric vehicle, despite both being similar in size and weight (560 kg Wuling vs 568 kg red EV). Measuring just 2917mm long, 1493mm wide, 1621mm tall, and riding on a 1940mm wheelbase, the Mini EV is larger than the current Smart ForTwo by 222mm in length, 66mm in height, and 67mm in wheelbase. It is 2,917 millimeters long, 1,493 millimeters wide and 1,621 [] all we can say is this EV has every right to be on the top of the affordable EVs list. The Battery Capacity, which is one of the most important parts of an Electric Vehicle, is 9.3 kWh or 13.9 kWh. The Mini EV Macaron: A version of the normal Mini EV introduced in April 2021. With fossil fuel prices soaring, its hardly surprising that most markets are crying out for cheaper EVs. He has maintained a primary focus on industry trends, autonomous technology, electric vehicle regulations, and local environmental policy. The Lightning would appeal to tradies and adventurers with a solid (if unspectacular) driving range, but its clever vehicle-to-load setup will make work and campsites much easier places to be. Avocado Green, Lemon Yellow, and White Peach Pink are the colors created by Wuling in partnership with Pantone Universe. 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 ground clearance offered is 125 mm. 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. 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. 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). 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). Speaking of value, prices for the Mini EV originally started at RMB28,800 ($4,389), while the 13.8-kWh luxury Macaron version we tested retailed for RMB43,600 ($6,645) until recently. Wolf Warrior X Is This The Smoothest eScooter? The compact zero-emission hatchback reportedly weighs just 665kg. And who doesn't want to see F-Series based ambulances again? The Wuling MINI EV from GM costs between $4,000 and $6,000. 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 . Cheap Minicar Might Spur Europe's Electric Car Mass Market", "GM's All-New Wuling MINI EV GameBoy Edition Revealed", "Wuling Hongguang MINI EV Game Boy Edition Arrives At The Dealer In China", "Chinese 3,200 budget electric car takes on Tesla", "China: Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV Amazes With 35,000+ Sales In December", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wuling_Hongguang_Mini_EV&oldid=1137755227, 15kW (20hp; 20PS) or 20kW (27hp; 27PS) or 30kW (40hp; 41PS), This page was last edited on 6 February 2023, at 07:37. . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This is a demo store for testing purposes no orders shall be fulfilled. The Hong Guang Mini EV's convenience and low price have made it . 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. MacOS may be the apple of your eye, but some of its stock apps are a little rotten. 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. It can be charged using a 220V three-pin plug at a household and is equipped with a high-efficiency charging gun with easy storage. 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. But the Mini EVs diminutive size also makes darting in and out of traffic quite satisfying. It was difficult to open the doors of the Wuling, but the battery appears to be mostly intact with only some damage. Wuling had always produced microvans aimed at rural farmers and commercial buyers, so producing the Mini EV was a surprising move. ( function( w, d, s, l, i ) { [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. A new all-electric car that is tiny in both size and price has again outsold the Tesla Model 3 in China on a month-by-month basis, with sales of the Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV almost doubling those of Telsa's hugely popular global best-seller in January 2021. The Mini EV Cabrio is getting the same 26 horsepower electric motor as the coup, but its price and range is still unknown. Bit of a slam dunk this one. 25,778 MINI EV's were purchased in China in January alone, compared to . Gear can make or break your home office setup. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. The production Mini EV Cabrio looks less premium than the concept. The production version vehicle body design is based on Mini EV GameBoy Edition and was launched in September 2022. Look out Tesla, SAIC's $4,500 electric car takes China by storm. Car sales in China saw astounding growth until 2018, when sales dipped for the first time since the 1990s. A digital dial screen is the only real concession to modern technology and shows driving data such as speed and range along with a nice graphical rendition of the car, plus it acts as the reversing cameras display. Despite writing for a diverse range of outlets including the Australian Financial Review, Robb Report, and Property Observer since completing his media degree at Macquarie University, William has always had a passion for cars. Your email address will not be published. Mind you, access to the back is predictably quite tight from both sides, and once youve squeezed yourself in there, legroom is minimal. }. The three variants of the brand's first four-seat new energy vehicle are priced between RMB 28,800 and RMB 38,800. The space might be able to fit something very thin, but the bottom is taken up with charging cables. 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. Wuling is a Chinese car firm youre probably not too familiar with. window.dm.AjaxEvent = function(et, d, ssid, ad){ Priced this low, there is not much insulating the car from road noise. Change These Settings on Your New Samsung Phone. Being a compact van, it's not too big so would be good for the urban cut and thrust. f.parentNode.insertBefore( j, f ); We could live with sitting on the wrong side of the Ami, which is barely wider than the Renault Twizy, but driving on the wrong side of a massive van would be no fun at all. One of Chinas biggest automotive companiesin 2021 it was second by volumeSAIC is perhaps best known in Europe as the new owner of MG. Casual observers of the auto industry may be more surprised to learn that the second-largest Wuling owner, with 44 percent, is General Motors (the small remainder of the joint venture belongs to Wuling itself). RELATED: This Heritage Series Grandeur EV Celebrates Hyundai's 1986 Flagship Sedan. Privacy Policy. At the very first look, the car also looks small than usual cars. Onboard is a 9.3 kWh or 13.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack good for 75 or 169 km, respectively. Powering the rear wheels is an electric motor delivering 27 hp of power and 85 Nm of torque. Click for Comparison rate warning and T&Cs. One-pedal driving isn't practical since the automobile takes too long to slow down, owing to its lightweight of 1,543 pounds. "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. The ID.4's SUV-like approach is also likely to play well with Australians, and we know it's already coming so one imagines the local business just doesn't think the ID.3 will resonate with Australian buyers. Information regarding this small but impressive electric car that is a part . Fees, charges, conditions and eligibility criteria apply. SHANGHAI - Wuling launched the Hong Guang MINI EV today. j.async = true; The Gameboy Edition: A version introduced in March 2022. Thats 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. Owner Shares The Good And Bad, US: Ford Significantly Increased BEV Sales In February 2023. [CDATA[ */ By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use and William Davis has written for Drive since July 2020, covering news and current affairs in the automotive industry. Check out this review from the Wheelsboy YouTube channel: And the lack of rear headrests would make anything but short journeys tiring on the neck. 'gtm.start': 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. 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. You dont get airbags, and the passenger doesnt even get a seatbelt reminder. Safer than a scooter. Aluminum Alloy is also offered in this EV. Surprisingly, the EV has a selector button hidden behind the steering wheel that lets you choose between Eco and Sport modes. [12][13] The popularity has been compared to that of kei cars in Japan. It also comes with the anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and reversing radar. His favorite cars are anything with a manual transmission, and he's been known to spend hours just shifting through all the gears. The BYD Han EV, which could arrive in Australia some time soon, sold 9,298 units, followed by GW (Great Wall) ORA Black Cat and GAC Aion S, both selling 6,092 units. In January,CarAdvice reported a hard-top variant of the Hongguang Mini EV designed and built as part of a collaboration betweenSAIC and General Motors outsold the Tesla Model 3 in Chinathroughout January 2021, thanks in part to its impressive AU$5700price tag. }; var f = d.getElementsByTagName( s )[ 0 ], The latest on tech, science, and more: Get our newsletters! The breakthroughs and innovations that we uncover lead to new ways of thinking, new connections, and new industries. [19], The Mini EV GameBoy Edition was introduced in March 2022. Latvian-based armoured vehicle manufacturer Dartz last year confirmed it had signed an agreement to import the electric micro car to Europe. China has had a thriving industry in low-speed electric vehicles (LSEVs), which in four-wheel form are more akin to golf carts. First, the driving position is very high and the seats are non-height-adjustable. The hardtop model starts at 28,000, or about A$6,177, and has a range of 169 km. In his spare time Derek loves chasing automotive rabbits down the hole. j.src = Despite its ultra-compact dimensions, it somehow boasts 741 liters of storage space (with the rear seats folded) and 12 storage compartments. Or the same as a specced-up V8 Ram. Second, the is offset to the center. The mini EV costs around $5,000 new. var f = d.getElementsByTagName( s )[ 0 ], [6], Power is produced by an electric motor making a peak 20kW (27hp; 27PS) and 85Nm (63lbft) of torque[7] with rear-wheel drive, propelling the car to a stated top speed of 100km/h (62mph). The wheels look nearly identical, though, and so does the A-pillar and most everything above the door. Ford's first EV locally at least as far as we know is a shrewd pitch to the tradespeople of Australia. Under the extreme cold and high temperatures of -25 to 45 C, the vehicle has completed 28 tests over 300,000 kilometers. Sitting at a desk for hours? (function() { The interior is utilitarian at best and its plastics have the tactility of an emery board. China's best-selling EV is tiny and incredibly affordable, and will soon become one of the few convertible EVs available today, or ever. 'gtm.start': The neighborhood EV was completely destroyed, not giving the occupant's a chance to survive (at least the front row). The Hong Guang Mini EV (really doesn't roll off the tongue, does it?) The Macaron version gains a reversing camera, which the screen also shows. Thats actually not too bad for the price of four Changlis. But you will know the others involved in the joint venture that builds the Mini EV: General Motors has a 44% share andMG parent firm SAIC 50.1%, with Wuling the remaining 5.9%. After all, the automobile is just 2,921 millimeters long, or less than 3 meters. With seven seats (that'll be popular, don't you think?) 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. margin-top: -19px; That the colors are a collaboration with Pantone speaks volumes; the Mini EV has managed a cult following, and the Macaron is clearly aimed at the young and cool. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV is the result of a three-way joint venture. 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. The car costs around $US4,400 ($5,716), compared with the $US38,000 ($49,362) that a Tesla Model 3 costs in China at current exchange rates. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV ( Chinese: MiniEV) is a battery electric city car manufactured by SAIC-GM-Wuling since 2020. The system power is 17 Horsepower (13 kW). 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. The production Cabrio is essentially a toned-down version of the concept unveiled last year. More car parks, EV charging stations and battery-swapping facilities will be built, and battery recycling systems developed at a faster pace, Li said. Perhaps the biggest surprise is that the Mini EV can seat four. However, cramming folks into those back seats isn't exactly pleasant. Nikrob was a temporary inter-step, says company founder Leonard Yankelovich. 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 . Sport seems to be the better of the two modes, providing not only slightly smarter acceleration but also more noticeable braking regeneration. 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. 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 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. Wuling is coy regarding acceleration figures, but since the vehicle is electric and has instantaneous torque, it isnt unduly slow in town traffic. Similar to the Rivian, the Ford F-150 Lightning would surely go off here too. body #page { The Macaron is a more luxury and personalized model with modified darkened LED headlights, two-tone alloy wheels, and unique body colors. s.src = 'https://au-script.dotmetrics.net/door.js?d=' + document.location.host + '&t=other'; h.appendChild(s); Get weekly updates with the latest car news and reviews. So successful is Wulings Mini EV that not only are Chinese producers rapidly coming up with copycat cars, Wuling itself is busy making different versions of the vehicle, including a forthcoming cabriolet and a long-range version. The driver would have a chance to survive with some leg and head injury. One must resist the car's urge to travel in a straight line over 30 mph. Weve mentioned this car a few times in the past, but its made some amazing progress. I imagine it wont be that different from the roofed models. Above 30 mph, you end up fighting the cars desire to go in a straight line. There is no actual trunk even though there is a hatch at the back. But thanks to the 1,621 mm height, the Mini EV is actually taller than it is wide, so head room is reasonable. As a result, Ford Australia's first electric car is going to be a van, the e-Transit. [11] The car has attracted a cult following in China, with owners frequently modifying their vehicles. 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. Nissan's Leaf remains the cheapest electric car in the US market, with the entry-level model priced at $20,875 (after the $7,500 federal tax credit). General information. Once in the drivers seat, you immediately notice two issues. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. /* ]]> */ 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. With no fast-charging capacity, the Mini EV is essentially a city car. body #page { 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. Although not as uncomfortable as first expected, the offset pedal position gets tiring after an hour. Given all the other foibles detailed here, that is probably not a bad thing. [17] The Macaron also receives more safety equipment compared to the previous base trim level, including low-speed pedestrian warning, a reversing camera with rear parking sonar and a driver-side airbag. And with such small wheels, you feel every pothole, all the more so given the poorly padded seats. In October last year, Tesla cut the price of the Model 3 . The four motor R1T ute starts at under 70 grand in the US and would probably still be competitive after the usual taxes, charges and Government obstacles were cleared most likely walloping buyers around $150k in local trim. First, there's the Mustang Mach-E, a car that made so many people incredibly mad until they started selling like mad (for an EV). Uncover exclusive deals and discounts with a VIP referral to Australia's best dealers, Tesla details Model Y suspension changes, more updates coming, Mazda's largest SUV here in August with hybrid-beating efficiency. Enter your email below. 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. 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. SHUHEI YAMADA, Nikkei Asia Tech chief editor December 20, 2021 11:23 JST. However, with only a slow charger interface, refilling the latter takes nine hours. window.dm = window.dm ||{ AjaxData:[]}; 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. [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. [24], The Mini EV listed as the world's top selling plug-in car in January 2021. 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. Australia's list of on-sale electric vehicles is growing at a glacial pace. Could General Motors at least apply lessons learned from producing this super-cheap EV to other markets? Discover the city streets in a MINI Electric Hatch or MINI Countryman Hybrid with a 5.99% p.a comparison rate on a 36-month MINI Flex agreement*. } )( window, document, 'script', 'dataLayer', 'GTM-WT4MKNJ' ); The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV is China's best-selling electric vehicle. By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use and Charging on a 220V supply takes 6.5 hours for the smaller battery and a full 9 hours for the 13.8 kWh pack. window.dm.AjaxEvent = function(et, d, ssid, ad){ Can seat four. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV is a battery electric vehicle (BEV). The front suspension is McPherson and the rear one is Multi-link dependent type. VW is so far resisting calls to bring the Golf-sized ID.3 here to Australia, citing Government policy as a blocker. The boot is almost non-existent when the seats are up: at best, you might be able to fit in one very thin painting. It is a three-door electric microcar that . I know Id rather have to change out that tiny bulb when it goes out than have to mess with an entire LED array. However, the Mini EV's small size makes dashing in and out of traffic extremely enjoyable.