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. Marketed as 'commuting tool,' Hong Guang Mini outsells the Model 3. 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. (function() { The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV is China's best-selling electric vehicle, outselling Tesla and all others. 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). Onboard is a 9.3 kWh or 13.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack good for 75 or 169 km, respectively. At the very first look, the car also looks small than usual cars. 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. The colors areAvocado Green, Lemon Yellow, and White Peach Pink, which are the results of the collaboration of Wuling and Pantone Universe. Part of the reason for this is the simplicity of the design. [CDATA[ */ Under the extreme cold and high temperatures of -25 to 45 C, the vehicle has completed 28 tests over 300,000 kilometers. /* ]]> */ Range is claimed to be between 120km on the base battery, and 280km on top-spec versions. A few-times heavier standard car would potentially destroy the Wuling in a similar way as the neighborhood EV was destroyed. 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. Wolf Warrior X Is This The Smoothest eScooter? 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. margin-top: -19px; You already know where this is going the Honda E. We're obviously not privy to the behind-closed-doors discussions that go on at car companies, but the local arm's decision to pass on one of the coolest cars on the planet, EV or not, is bizarre. 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. Earlier this month five Chinese. 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. It was founded in 2007 in the city of Liuzhou, near the border with Vietnam. It also features 12 storage spaces. 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. In a design choice that perhaps speaks to the affordability of display parts, the instrument panel is a full-color digital screen. In this story we're looking at EVs that exist today that we miss out on. The Hong Guang Mini EV's convenience and low price have made it . }. WIRED may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Astonishingly, the company is reportedly making less than $14 profit on each car. As the newest addition to the Drive team, William was brought onboard for his attention to detail, writing skills, and strong work ethic. In this configuration, the EV offers up 741 liters of space. This is enough to accommodate two 26-inch suitcases or a stroller. 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. Still, splashes of color matching the body color around the radio controls, door pulls, and passenger cupholder jazz up the interior. 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 mini EV costs around $5,000 new. The 116 Absolute Best Black Friday Deals Right Now. w[ l ].push( { There are also Isofix child-seat attachments, and the seats are indeed best for childrenthe lack of real headrests for adults makes any extended trip a strain. Pricing for the drop-top version has yet to be determined, but according to .css-vurnku{box-sizing:border-box;margin:0;min-width:0;}Automotive News the convertible will sell for between 100,000 yuan ($20,000) and 200,000 yuan ($42,100).. After hitting the market in July 2020, GM reports that over 270,000 models have been sold. [18], In 2021 Lithuanian company Nikrob UAB announced a rebadged version of the Mini EV called the FreZe Nikrob with knock-down assembly in Vilnius, Lithuania. 'gtm.start': There is no actual trunk even though there is a hatch at the back. 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. The Wuling MINI EV from GM costs between $4,000 and $6,000. The ForTwo is about 19,000 in the UK which could translate to a low to mid-$30k price tag. They're both short on driving range and in the ForTwo's case, size, but these are resolutely urban vehicles. Bit of a slam dunk this one. The Hong Guang Mini EV (really doesn't roll off the tongue, does it?) The area might hold something extremely tiny; however, the car contains charging cords on the bottom. We're here to help you find the right slate for your needs. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV is the result of a three-way joint venture. The Macaron is a more luxury and personalized model with modified darkened LED headlights, two-tone alloy wheels, and unique body colors. Whether youre skiing in the backcountry or trampolining in the backyard, we have an activity tracker for you. Here you can see more details about the technical specification of the Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV. img#wpstats{display:none} Check out this review from the Wheelsboy YouTube channel: It's a small vehicle, without fancy safety systems, but the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture envisioned a front crumple zone. 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. First, the driving position is very high and the seats are non-height-adjustable. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV is the result of a three-way joint venture. 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. Derek Fung would love to tell you about his multiple degrees, but he's too busy writing up some news right now. w[ l ] = w[ l ] || []; Onboard is a 9.3 kWh or 13.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack good for 75 or 169 km, respectively. 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. Your email address will not be published. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This is a demo store for testing purposes no orders shall be fulfilled. (function() { 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 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 . You must appreciate that for many buyers, this will be their first car or their only option, and its infinitely safer than piling a family onto a motorbike or electric scooter. It was difficult to open the doors of the Wuling, but the battery appears to be mostly intact with only some damage. img#wpstats{display:none} The Hong Guang MINI EV has a top speed of about 100 km/h, seats four and looks like a Japanese kei car. Upgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy WIRED-tested seats. 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. 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. SAIC Motor is the largest partner, with 50.1 percent ownership. According toAutohome, the micro electric two-door is slated to hit showrooms in 2022 and (at least initially) will be sold exclusively in China. 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? 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. Enter your email below. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers expects sales to rise for the first time in three years, as it projects 27.2 million units to be sold in the country. Information regarding this small but impressive electric car that is a part . 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. 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. The GT versions pack a staggering dual-motor set up with 358kW and either 814Nm or 860Nm. Every pothole is felt with such small wheels, which is made worse by the badly cushioned seats. Welcome to part one of three price-based EV buying guides, this one focused on the most affordable electric cars available in Australia today. You can get one through the usual JDM importers for not-insane money, but without factory backing, life might be difficult if the battery needs recalling etc. h = d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0], In comparison to the previous standard trim level, the Macaron gets extra safety features, including a low-speed pedestrian alert, a reversing camera with rear parking sonar, and a driver-side airbag. 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). s = d.createElement('script'); Wuling is tight-lipped about acceleration statistics, but the car isn't particularly sluggish because it's electric and has immediate torque. Of course there are more out there and many of them will come from China. The boot is almost non-existent when the seats are up: at best, you might be able to fit in one very thin painting. 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. Australia's list of on-sale electric vehicles is growing at a glacial pace. The lack of proper headrests for adults makes any long journey a challenge. And, like any good motoring journalist, we will insist that not only must the VW Up! [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. TOKYO -- At 28,800 yuan ($4,500), the Hongguang Mini EV has become a big seller in certain Chinese cities and villages. Macaron is written on the drivers side rear pillar black insert, and the car features color-coordinated white wheels and roof. Thanks to the folding fabric roof and rollover hoops, the cabrio version is strictly a two-seater, though. 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. Tesla Teased A Wireless Home Charging Solution On Investor Day, Rad Power Unveils The RadRunner 3 Plus Electric Utility Bike, Scout Motors Will Build Electric Trucks And SUVs In South Carolina, 741 liters of space with the rear seats folded down, 2,917 millimeters long, 1,493 millimeters wide and 1,621 millimeters high, with a 1,940-millimeter wheelbase. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV ( Chinese: MiniEV) is a battery electric city car manufactured by SAIC-GM-Wuling since 2020. Everything You Need to Work From Home Like a Pro. [5], The Mini EV can seat four people, and standard features including air conditioning, power windows, stereo system, storage and compartments. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Aesthetically, the production vehicle is unlikely to change dramatically from its concept form. Heres our ultimate list of more than 120 items, from monitors and desks to webcams and chairs. j = d.createElement( s ), dl = l != 'dataLayer' ? microcar return to our shores, but it should be in e-Up! 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. Produced as part of a joint venture between SAIC the company behind the revived MG and GM, the Cabrio has been designed to appeal the brands hardcore fans, many of whom have been customizing their cars and were asking for a convertible version. SHANGHAI - Wuling launched the Hong Guang MINI EV today. The compact zero-emission hatchback reportedly weighs just 665kg. 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 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. But the Mini EVs diminutive size also makes darting in and out of traffic quite satisfying. Second, the is offset to the center. Mind you, access to the back is predictably quite tight from both sides, and once youve squeezed yourself in there, legroom is minimal. 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. 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. But as a cheap introduction to electric family motoring, the car is infinitely safer and better than a scooter or motorbike. Standard safety features of the Mini EV include anti-lock brakes, tire pressure monitoring sensors, and rear parking sensors. By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use and w[ l ].push( { 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. 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). 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). Depending on the spec, the Mini EV is powered by either a 20kW/85Nm or 30kW/110Nm electric motor driving the rear wheels. The SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture has produced one of the most successful electric cars in China, the Wuling Hong Guan Mini EV.This electric car is so popular among Chinese drivers that Wuling is . f.parentNode.insertBefore( j, f ); 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. "A range . Powering the rear wheels is an electric motor delivering 20 kW (27 hp) and 85 Nm of torque. Its curb weight is around 665 kg. 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. 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. Owner Shares The Good And Bad, US: Ford Significantly Increased BEV Sales In February 2023. To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. Externally, the Macaron version distinguishes itself from the standard Mini EV with a choice of funky pastel colors. Dismiss, Left Hand Drive Only (steering wheel on left), (shipping, duties, taxes in your country additional), Exterior dimensions: 2,917 mm long x 1,493 mm wide x 1,621 mm high, Maximum power:13 kW(4 seat) / 9.2 kW (2 seat), Range:170 km on a single charge (4 seat) / 120 km (2 seat). j.src = Now you can get the top stories from Gizmodo delivered to your inbox. 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. The four-seat Hong Guang Mini, which has top speeds of 62 mph and an estimated cruising range of 120 miles, is being made as a joint venture between SAIC Motor, Liuzhou Wuling Motors, and. This one is a proper long shot, but we stand by it, no matter what you say even if it is entirely reasonable. 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 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. 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. However, the Mini EV's small size makes dashing in and out of traffic extremely enjoyable. VW is so far resisting calls to bring the Golf-sized ID.3 here to Australia, citing Government policy as a blocker. Look out Tesla, SAIC's $4,500 electric car takes China by storm. The WIRED conversation illuminates how technology is changing every aspect of our livesfrom culture to business, science to design. 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. s = d.createElement('script'); 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. More car parks, EV charging stations and battery-swapping facilities will be built, and battery recycling systems developed at a faster pace, Li said. 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. The reason the little Hong Guang MINI EV is beating the Tesla Model 3 is simple: Its dirt cheap. The EV has a lot more room in this arrangement. For short trips to the shops and back, the Ami is the perfect city runabout and might get a few belching dungers off the streets. Apple has several models in its lineup, from the iPhone SE to the iPhone 14 Plus. The Mini GameBoy Edition is outfitted in four different variations: Hurricane Phantom, Jungle Traveler, Star Rover, and Party Sweetheart. Adding to the safety, more than 57% of the Hong Guang MINI EVs body consists of high-strength steel. We break them all down. Among the Macaron's many improvements over the basic Mini EV is a key safety featurethe driver now gets an airbag standard. A dual waistline along with obvious arches for the 12 inches wheels accent very boxy looks. Which, again, in the case of the ForTwo is not completely unfair. The three variants of the brand's first four-seat new energy vehicle are priced between RMB 28,800 and RMB 38,800. [17], A convertible concept version of the Mini EV called the Mini EV Cabrio with a folding soft top was unveiled during the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show, with the vehicle body design based on the Mini EV Macaron. * MINI Finance, Australian Credit Licence 392387. Leading to the assumption . 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. electric van, but we can't for the life of us remember if we've ever seen one in the wild. It was developed by General Motors, Wuling Motors and state-sponsored SAIC Motor. WIREDs is in avocado green, but the model is also available in lemon yellow and white peach pink. The Battery Capacity, which is one of the most important parts of an Electric Vehicle, is 9.3 kWh or 13.9 kWh. Click for Comparison rate warning and T&Cs. ( function( w, d, s, l, i ) { var d = document, The colors are Avocado Green, Lemon Yellow and White Peach Pink, which are the results of the collaboration of Wuling and Pantone Universe. [4] Retail deliveries began in China in July 2020. The production Cabrio is essentially a toned-down version of the concept unveiled last year. Gear can make or break your home office setup. s.src = 'https://au-script.dotmetrics.net/door.js?d=' + document.location.host + '&t=other'; h.appendChild(s); SHUHEI YAMADA, Nikkei Asia Tech chief editor December 20, 2021 11:23 JST. 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. 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. 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. The battery pack is pre-started to warm up and maintain the battery pack temperature at 20-25 C to achieve low-temperature charging efficiency. Uncomfortable. Lets take a closer look at the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV, RELATED: The Tata Avinya Concept Puts India On The Global EV Map. Yamamoto discovered that the parts were largely off-the-shelf and consumer-grade, rather than automotive grade. In . 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. 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. window.dm.AjaxEvent = function(et, d, ssid, ad){ The Mini EV is therefore likely to have issues more frequently, but it will also be cheaper to repair. Your email address will not be published. . With no fast-charging capability, you really are stuck using the Mini EV as a city car. s.type = 'text/javascript'; }. 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. There is no crash test data for the charming car, but GM says that 57 per cent of the cars body consists of high-strength steel. /*