In this video, I cover the bestselling electric vehicle in China and explain its significance. You may have heard that the bestselling EV in China was the Tesla Model 3. You would have been right earlier in 2020 when the Tesla Model 3 was indeed the bestselling EV this year.
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That changed this fall as the Wuling HongGuang Mini EV was the bestselling EV with over 20,000 units sold in October of 2020. Tesla Model 3 sold about 12,000 units in the same month. The HongGuang Mini EV has outsold Tesla Model 3 for three months in a row.
So what’s the big deal about the Hong Guang Mini EV? It’s not a Tesla competitor but competes at the lower end of the EV market. The Mini EV is a four-seat pure electric vehicle that’s got a simple boxy shape. It’s pretty tiny by US standards, measuring 2917mm in length or 115 inches. That’s about the size of the Smart ForTwo or Japanese Kei cars.
It’s made by a joint venture between SAIC Motor, Wuling Motors, and General Motors. Yes, GM. I hope GM is learning a lot by making this affordable EV in China.
The key thing to keep in mind is that the Hong Guang Mini EV only starts at $4,200 USD and the loaded version is $5,600. For comparison, the cheapest new EV for sale in the US is the MINI Cooper EV which starts at over $30,000. There is another Chinese EV company Kandi that is taking preorders for its Model K27. The K27 starts at $17,500 and has 59 miles of range on a 17.7 kWh battery. The K27 has already met regulations to sell in the US so it’ll be exciting to see how it performs.
The Hong Guang MINI EV has 27 horsepower (20kW) and 63 lb-ft (85 Nm) of torque. That sounds pretty anemic but the Mini EV only weighs 1470 lbs or 665kg. That’s a light vehicle.
The top speed is 62 miles per hour or 100 km/hour. That’s completely adequate for city driving.
It’s rear wheel drive so probably pretty fun to drive.
The New European Driving Cycle NEDC range is 75 miles (120 km) with the 9.3 kWh battery and 106 miles (170 km) with the 13.9 kWh battery. The NEDC is a bit generous when compared to the EPA so real life mileage will probably be closer to 60 miles for the smaller battery and 85 miles for the larger battery.
Charging time takes about 6.5 hours for the small battery and 9 hours for the larger battery on a slow charger.
The Hong Guang MINI EV has safety features like anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution, tire pressure monitor, and parking sensors.
Here’s the Hong Guang EV getting crash tested. This doesn’t tell us much since it’s not like a US or European crash test. But hey, at least it didn’t crumple into pieces. Meeting international safety regulations will definitely add to the cost of the Hong Guang MINI EV if it makes it international. Wuling states that the MINI EV has 57% high-strength steel body.
The battery has low temperature pre-heating technology and insulation. The battery has passed 16 rigorous safety tests and received an IP68 waterproof and dustproof rating. The battery functions can be monitored via a smartphone app.
It’s a box on wheels but cute in the same way that the Kia Soul or the retired Scion xB from back in the day.
So why are the Chinese buying the Hong Guang Mini EV like crazy? I think it’s the combination of the very practical design with lots of space inside but being tiny so it’s easy to maneuver and park. It has 26 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down. It’s also got solid specs for a city or commuter electric car. And of course, it’s the price. $4200 is amazing for a brand new EV.
THe Wuling MINI EV is only available in China but Wuling hopes to sell it abroad in the future. I would love to see it in the US. It’s more likely to be in Europe where small cars are more popular. Assuming it can pass worldwide safety regulations, I think there’s a market for affordable EVs like the Wuling MINI EV. What do you think of the Wuling MINI EV? Would you consider buying one if it came to your country? And at what price would you pay?
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