With a bargain-basement MSRP of around $4,100 USD, the Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV is one of the most affordable production cars in China. Believe it or not, though, it’s not the cheapest way to get behind the wheel of an EV in the country.
In China, low-speed electric vehicles are fairly popular and often sell for just a couple of thousand dollars or sometimes even less. These vehicles come with obvious drawbacks, though. For starters, they typically can only travel at speeds of up to 40 km/h (25 mph) and often have very limited range. There’s also the issue of safety – a topic that was recently explored by a popular Chinese automotive YouTube channel.
The channel decided to crash test a Hong Guang MINI EV with one of these ultra-cheap EVs to demonstrate the difference between a well-engineered production car like the MINI EV and a low-speed car like those made by Changli. The crash test, which involved having the two vehicles hit each other head-on at a slightly offset angle at speeds of 50 km/h, went about as one would expect, with the MINI EV retaining most of its structural integrity and the Changli crumpling into a mangled mess of metal and wiring.
The Hong Guang MINI EV impressed us in this test. Despite its ultra-cheap starting price, it stayed relatively rigid and successfully protected its passenger – although we’re willing to bet the outcome would have been much different if it was crash tested this way with a regular car and not a flimsy low-speed vehicle. Still, the MINI EV is an impressive product considering its affordability – especially when one takes into account its decent top speed of 62 mph and range of 105 miles. The market has clearly responded to the vehicle, as well, with the nameplate racking up more than 400,000 orders since its introduction in July of last year – making it the world’s best-selling EV period.
Check out the crash test embedded below.
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Comments
toy cars – ones a toy, and ones a car.
GM, bring it to the U.S. and sell it here. You make money from each sale, and kill other imported EV sales.
Yeah, these’ll fare really well in the land of the 6,000 lb SUV. The vultures are standing by…
no less safe than riding a motorcycle and you don’t need a rain suit when it rains.
I was going to say these shopping-cart size cars should not be allowed on the road, because they are completely unsafe. If you get hit, you are crushed and dead. But you are right, if motor cycles are allowed on the road then these shopping-cart cars have just as much right to be on the road.
But, I won’t be the one riding the motor cycle or driving the shopping cart.
Also don’t think the survivability of a head on in a Smart vehicle would be any better. Maybe worse !
i’ve been in a head on collision in a smart 450 CDI with a mazda sedan. Total combined speed was somewhere around 50 km/h. I had no injuries and the car automatically put itself in neutral, unlocked the doors, shut off the engine and activated the hazard flasher. All the air bags went off and it was a total loss but I was able to open and reclose both doors no problem. It’s a safe car no matter how bad you want to make a joke out of it.
Never would have thunk it. Lessons learned – thanks for passing that along.
I get that it’s made in China, but I’d buy one of these Wuling EVs in a heartbeat at twice the price (<$9,000) if it were available over here. With a top speed of 62 mph and range of 105 miles, it would be a perfect runabout for my 10 mile commute where the highest speed limit is 50 mph. I could save gas money vs. commuting in my truck, plus I'd keep nearly 5,000 miles per year off my truck and extend its useful lifespan (in years). EVs just aren't there yet for many people to consider as a primary vehicle, but a cheap EV as a second or third vehicle could be a winning proposition for many, if EVs were available cheap enough.
you are correct as people still want their ICE vehicles for longer trips but would buy a cheap EVs for close to home use. maybe even 2 or 3.
Most accidents happen within 20 miles of home. Having an accident in one of these cars, when it crashes into a “real” car, makes you a sitting duck. I’d rather spend my money on a used “normal” sized car.
like i said in a previous post people who ride motorcycles and bicycles take the same chance.
Most collisions are also low speed affairs that result in minor injuries at worst, due to drivers who are not paying enough attention in stop-and-go traffic.
Chinese copy cats. The emblem in the grille of the Changli is almost identical to the Mercedes Benz!
Di you catch the air conditioning? It is a 3 dollar Walmart fan.
and at the end I doubt that they used a state of the art $600,000 USD test dummy. This dummy besides being killed, it was made out of wood. It was more like a manequin.
What if a “raised” Silverado, just like the thousands you see in Texas, runs over you in these shopping carts?
as for the motorcycle statements, riders know and accept the pro and cons of riding. But these china skates no doubt will have the seniors,people that have no concept of the danger associated with these china traps.