As European customers, we have little choice: if you want an electric car, you have to dig deep into your pockets. But that doesn’t have to be the case, as a Chinese manufacturer proves. With the Wuling Bin Guo, the brand will stir up the market and make bargain hunters happy – hopefully in this country too.
China manufacturer brings cheap e-car, which should also please Germans
Really cheap electric cars you have to search in Europe with a magnifying glass. On the one hand they are so rare and well hidden, on the other hand they are tiny. A model has now come onto the market in China for which neither applies.
The Wuling Bin Guo, built by the joint venture SAIC-GM Wuling, measures an impressive 3.95 m in length for Chinese small car standards, is almost 1.71 m wide and 1.58 m high. This means that the small electric car is even slightly larger than, for example, the Opel Adam, which the Chinese are also visually based on:
But the decisive factor with this model is the price anyway: converted the small e-car in China comes at a time Starting price of around 8,003 euros. Chinese customers can choose between five versions, the price increases to a maximum of around 11,215 euros (source: Wuling).
There is one for that unexpectedly impressive range: Two battery variants come on 203 and 333 km according to the Chinese CLTC standard. In fact, it might be less.
Chinese e-cars are becoming increasingly competitive:
But if you compare the range to what what German customers get for the price can, it looks different: The Opel Rocks-e is also offered for around 8,000 euros. However, the light vehicle only manages 45 km/h and has a maximum range of 75 km. Since the Chinese plays in a completely different league.
Cheap Stromer for Europe? Chinese have to lend a hand
However, before the Bin Guo could come to Europe – which is by no means said – it would have to comply with the local rules. This means additional security systems and correspondingly increasing costs. It will probably never exist for 8,000 euros, but the electric car would show VW and Co. what is possible.
For me, one thing is certain: We also need e-cars like the Wuling Bin Guo in the country of Mercedes, BMW and Volkswagen. In my opinion, the Chinese mini electric car is more likely to come today than tomorrow.
Don’t want to miss any more news about technology, games and pop culture? No current tests and guides? Then follow us
Facebook
or Twitter.
