var d = document, Production will initially be limited to between 100 and 200 cars per month. 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. 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). Avocado Green, Lemon Yellow, and White Peach Pink are the colors created by Wuling in partnership with Pantone Universe. var d = document, 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. window.dm.AjaxEvent = function(et, d, ssid, ad){ 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. Sport seems to be the better of the two modes, providing not only slightly smarter acceleration but also more noticeable braking regeneration. According to an IANS report, Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV has overtaken Teslas Model 3 as the top-selling electric vehicle in the world in January and February. This is a low-cost entry, low-cost ownership electric car after all, so the small design touches the production model lost arent a big deal. var f = d.getElementsByTagName( s )[ 0 ], The area might hold something extremely tiny; however, the car contains charging cords on the bottom. 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). The bestselling Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) in China, the Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV has found its way to Thailand. 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. 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? Lets take a closer look at the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV, RELATED: The Tata Avinya Concept Puts India On The Global EV Map. Similar to the Rivian, the Ford F-150 Lightning would surely go off here too. The latest on tech, science, and more: Get our newsletters! Surprisingly, the EV has a selector button hidden behind the steering wheel that lets you choose between Eco and Sport modes. Hard plastics are everywhere, and you can see the screw that attaches the door handle insert to the door. We're here to help you find the right slate for your needs. But is it safe? There are also two USB type A ports that allow you to play music or charge a device. As the newest addition to the Drive team, William was brought onboard for his attention to detail, writing skills, and strong work ethic. That said, stuffing adults into those rear seats is not exactly comfortable. The 116 Absolute Best Black Friday Deals Right Now. Charging on a 220V supply takes 6.5 hours for the smaller battery and a full 9 hours for the 13.8 kWh pack. So equipped, Wuling says its Mini EV will travel 75 miles on a single charge and reach a top speed of 62 mph. 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. Its curb weight is around 665 kg. The tiny EV is made available only as a left-hand drive vehicle by local grey importers and is understood to not offer a warranty of any sort. Theres no Park setting, though: the handbrake is the only way to hold the Mini EV. var f = d.getElementsByTagName( s )[ 0 ], After another 40,000 units or so in November, the total number of Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV soon will reach 500,000 - in just 18 months. 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. The reason the little Hong Guang MINI EV is beating the Tesla Model 3 is simple: Its dirt cheap. The Macaron is a customized version that is available with three exclusive paint colors and more standard features. All rights reserved. Ad Choices. Unfortunately, Wheelsboy says youll never forget how cheap it is. The Hong Guang Mini EV electric hatchback launched in July 2020 and is manufactured through a joint venture between China's Wuling, Chinese state-owned automaker SAIC Motor, and General. It was developed by General Motors, Wuling Motors and state-sponsored SAIC Motor. 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. /* */ Derek Fung would love to tell you about his multiple degrees, but he's too busy writing up some news right now. While power isn't cheap in our privatised power nirvana our politicians were so keen to sell us, it is increasingly moving to renewable sources. The compact zero-emission hatchback reportedly weighs just 665kg. Thanks to the folding fabric roof and rollover hoops, the cabrio version is strictly a two-seater, though. It would be easy to compare the Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV unfairly with pricier and better-equipped cars. The Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV car measures a diminutive 2920mm yet four adults can fit in without too much contortion. } ); Now you can get the top stories from Gizmodo delivered to your inbox. The Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV car body is a Hatchback. Sport seems to be the better of the two modes, providing not only slightly smarter acceleration but also more noticeable braking regeneration. new Date().getTime(), event: 'gtm.js' 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. 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. 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). With no fast-charging capacity, the Mini EV is essentially a city car. if(typeof window.DotMetricsObj != 'undefined') {DotMetricsObj.onAjaxDataUpdate();} General Motors (GM) has released new, colorful versions of China's best-selling electric car, the tiny Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV. 145/70R12 With such small tires, any potholes you encounter are keenly felt in the cabin. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV is China's best-selling electric vehicle. The batterys functions can be remotely monitored via a smartphone app. 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. dm.AjaxData.push({ et: et,d: d,ssid: ssid,ad: ad}); Given the rudimentary nature of the cabin, its no surprise that materials are utilitarian. With sales commencing as early as September 2020. With no fast-charging capability, you really are stuck using the Mini EV as a city car. [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. 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. 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. A few-times heavier standard car would potentially destroy the Wuling in a similar way as the neighborhood EV was destroyed. VW is so far resisting calls to bring the Golf-sized ID.3 here to Australia, citing Government policy as a blocker. At the very first look, the car also looks small than usual cars. Enter your email below. 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. 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. 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. Not only did Wuling sling 15,000 units in only its first 20 days on the market, but its currently beating Tesla Model 3 sales almost two to one, InsideEVs reports. Ford's first EV locally at least as far as we know is a shrewd pitch to the tradespeople of Australia. The vehicle comes with an intelligent battery management system which can monitor the battery status in real-time. Part of the reason for this is the simplicity of the design. Powering the rear wheels is an electric motor delivering 20 kW (27 hp) and 85 Nm of torque. "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. [16], SAIC-GM-Wuling launched a variant of the regular Mini EV called the Mini EV Macaron in April 2021. 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. It also weighs a . Aluminum Alloy is also offered in this EV. China has had a thriving industry in low-speed electric vehicles (LSEVs), which in four-wheel form are more akin to golf carts. 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. 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. There are also Isofix child-seat connectors, and the seats are best designed for children or short journeys. Tesla Giga Mexico To Be Two Times Bigger Than Giga Texas? And with such small wheels, you feel every pothole, all the more so given the poorly padded seats. Which, again, in the case of the ForTwo is not completely unfair. 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. (function() { MORE: Everything micro carsMORE: Everything ChinaMORE: Everything 2021Shanghai motor show. 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. Mind you, access to the back is predictably quite tight from both sides, and once youve squeezed yourself in there, legroom is minimal. The production version vehicle body design is based on Mini EV GameBoy Edition and was launched in September 2022. 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. [19], The Mini EV GameBoy Edition was introduced in March 2022. 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. Yamamoto discovered that the parts were largely off-the-shelf and consumer-grade, rather than automotive grade. If you're stuck in a lift with us for long enough we will start trying to convince you that EV uptake will not be led by private buyers, but by tradies and small business. This screenoffers basic information such as speed, range, and electricity consumption, along with a natty 3D rendering of the Mini EV. The Hong Guang MINI EV has a practical "small on the outside, big on the inside" design. Although not as uncomfortable as first expected, the offset pedal position gets tiring after an hour.