China's Cheapest Electric Car Just Got A BIG Upgrade

[@m7d07]

I live in China and would like to clarify a point that Elliot didn't make clear. As you can all see in the video, it’s not against local regulations to drive the Mini EV - or any micro electric car - in Shanghai. It’s just that passenger EVs that 1) either sell for less than 100k RMB 2) or are less than 4.6 meters long may not be *registered* in Shanghai. They are therefore not treated as local vehicles, and are allowed to use the city’s major ring roads and elevated expressways only at night. So why has Shanghai’s municipal government made such an odd decision? Analysts in the country concur that the ban is fundamentally a part of the city’s effort to reduce motor traffic. Major Chinese cities like Shanghai are not planned or built with motor vehicles in mind, because after all, private cars had been a rarity in the country until the 1990s. As a natural result, roads in those cities are increasingly overwhelmed. To prevent the congestion from worsening further, the mega-cities have taken a drastic step. Starting around 2012, people living in Shanghai can’t just pick up a car from the dealership and have the administration register it - not without a license. The licenses, which are released to the public rather sporadically, may be obtained through auctions held by the state*. As of 2022, such a license costs over 100k RMB on average. Then, in around 2015, came the tidal wave of electric vehicles. In order to promote the adoption of cars that emit less from the tailpipe and (more importantly) save fossil fuel, cities like Shanghai decided to exempt EVs and many plug-in hybrids from the restriction described above. In other words, each EV carries with itself a “license of registration”. While this new policy has really allowed China to jumpstart its electric car industry, it works at cross-purposes with the restriction it bypasses. Manufacturers, like Wuling and Leapmotor, both of which Fully Charged has covered in its videos, are incentivized to make cheap, basic electric rides because almost all battery electric cars are eligible for multiple national subsidies, but also because simply too many city dwellers need cars but can’t afford a license. The influx of micro EVs has put huge additional stress on Shanghai’s streets - note that no matter how small a car is, it still occupies considerable space on the driveway. That, compounded by the fact that most notable Chinese manufacturers of micro EVs are not located in Shanghai (even though Wuling is) and thus don’t contribute to the city’s revenues, eventually prompted the municipal administration to refuse to register any EV unless it costs more than 100k RMB and is over 4.6 meters long. Sorry, Smart 1. Here, it’s interesting to note that the Volkswagen ID.4 is manufactured and marketed separately by two of VW’s joint ventures with Chinese capital: the ID.4 X, which is made in Shanghai, is 461 cm long, while the ID.4 CROZZ, which is made elsewhere in China, is coincidentally 459 cm long. So, actually it’s quite understandable that Elliot didn’t really explain why he can’t fully enjoy the Wuling convertible in Shanghai, because the story is a really long one. *In Beijing there’re no auctions; rather, a “lottery” system decides which residents of the city get the much-coveted license. The longer a household stays in the lottery without winning it, the greater the odds become, but even so, calculations reveal that it takes at least 10 years for a Beijinger who signs up today to eventually win a license.

[@_Makanko_]

Thanks for clarifying.

[@onetwothreefour-s1n]

Thanks!

[@trapfargo6051]

Thanks. Your work here is appreciated!

[@chriswang6180]

well explained

[@siegeteamcweir6859]

Thanks, Phillip, for explaining. I visited Shanghai regularly before the pandemic, and I can attest to how road traffic has increased exponentially in the last 10 years. It's no surprise the authorities have taken drastic measures. You mention that Shanghai's macro design isn't suited to private cars. The bigger take-home is that very few cities are (except a few US cities) Shanghai has had these decisions forced upon it, and the rest of the world's cities are heading in the same direction. We need to take heed.

[@Smidge204]

It's astounding that they would ban a car from driving in a city for being too small. A city is exactly the place where you need smaller vehicles...

[@tomo1168]

we're talking about china. they don't care about something making sense or not.

[@ensteffo]

@@tomo1168 "Evidenced" by them managing to turn China from one of the poorest countries to the second/largest economy in the world in just a few decades and lifting 800-900 million people out of poverty.

[@robenglish416]

Well, look on Electric buses and cabs in China, they make sense! Maybe because small cars are in the way for the rich and political elite? They always win, in China and everywhere else!

[@julianshepherd2038]

@@ensteffo and a 4500 year civilisation. They had an education budget when we were still amazed by stonehenge

[@Roamor1]

Fully agree.

[@Velocipedium]

Something that’s actually worthy of the name Mini

[@stevehayward1854]

The Austin Mini had 4 seats, this is even smaller

[@jrsisson1978]

I wish this size of electric car (and price) would come to the UK. I’m never going to be able to afford an electric car at the prices they sell for in this country currently.

[@AWildBard]

Prices will be coming down ... 5-10 years though

[@lttdat3524]

Maybe you can order Vinfast VF5 in UK in 2023. It around 20-24.000 usd (ex-clude battery)

[@koitorob]

@@lttdat3524 You can buy a petrol or diesel engine car for a hundred quid if it doesn't have an engine. I'd rather push that than spend thousands on an electric car without a battery. It's FAR cheaper

[@koitorob]

No, what you mean Jonathan is you can't buy the car you WANT at the current prices. I'm the same. So i just bought a 12 year old BMW 320d. I need to find 30k for the cheapest EV that i 'want'... A Nissan Leaf at £4500, the cheapest electric car on Autotrader as i type, is not what i want, and also £2700 more than the BMW that i just bought

[@markuc]

Get a second hand MG?

[@ramblerandy2397]

Another great little video featuring a Wuling MiniEV. Such an excellent little runabout for anyone who needs no more than it offers.

[@Dashdecent]

We needs something between the Citroen Ami and the MG4. This has promise.

[@stevenbarrett7648]

Very nice ! thing is if it comes to the UK the price will probably double otherwise every kid on the block would have one

[@harrybartlett4020]

Would be a great city car for UK

[@alunhoskins4513]

I really like Micro cars. I had a 2003 Smart Four two and I loved it. I currently drive a 1970 Classic FIAT 500; again, superb and I love it. I’d like to ‘like’ this one but somehow…I don’t and that’s purely down to its looks. Undoubtedly a great little car though but how strange that it’s banned from a city! Exactly where it should be, albeit it does appear to have a good range. Not for me but the world is almost certainly a better place because of its existence.

[@Chris-mh3vf]

Don’t worry if it comes to the uk it will be 35k

[@hermesliteratus882]

And that is if the UK government doesn't label this car as a national security risk.

[@dzonikg]

UK has MG..in my country no single China EV and ID3 cost 45K euro

[@strategicfooyouagencyfirst8197]

@@dzonikg MG bought by Chinese ，again "national security risk".

[@koitorob]

@@hermesliteratus882 How can a car be a national security risk?

[@koitorob]

If you don't mind it being left hand drive you could have it shipped to UK for around a grand. Don't know what the import duty would be though

[@lookoutleo]

Why can't we get to buy cars like this in the UK, Just brilliant and still quite cheap

[@amanwadte1495]

Simply search the internet for Tata Tiago EV, which costs around $10,000 and is much larger and safer than this Chinese EV.

[@lookoutleo]

@@amanwadte1495 I'm in the UK, have had Tata pickups they were great . Not sure Tata are selling electric here

[@amanwadte1495]

@@lookoutleo No, they are only selling it in India, but they may do so in the future. For now, I am just comparing these two products according to their prices.

[@kogrea5792]

@@lookoutleo safe ? how is tata euro ncap data ?

[@fortheloveofnoise]

@@kogrea5792 0 probably but who cares, life is fast and this world is gonna kill us in a horrible way anyways....better to go out quick

[@unreliablenarrator6649]

Been waiting for you to review this.

[@krrk6337]

Kudos to whoever done the BGM in this episode. I dig it!

[@danmccarthy4700]

OMG. It's like a Power Wheels for adults. I want one!

[@ek8710]

I'd love to be able to upgrade the motor/esc and batteries. Make this into a proper little hot cabrio

[@sybsygstgstsgysg5330]

Yessir

[@bennystokes8481]

absolutely fantastic and practical on first look.

[@Andi_mit_E]

The whig suits you. You should wear it more often.

[@MrPete81]

Yup, I'd buy one!

[@nickmassey9104]

It's cute. Looks like a silver Cross pram on small wheels . Cool video

[@havencat9337]

so cute! would love on in UK next summer:)

[@tcfs]

On both days? 😁😁😆

[@shept.7736]

This reminds me of the odd geo metro cabrio from the 90s lol

[@tomo1168]

that was waaay bigger :D

[@davidotoole9328]

OK that was a pretty inventive driving round the camera shot Elliot.

[@Jerbod2]

What do you mean

[@twylitegotbannedtwice3411]

O my gosh. So cute. Love the wig😂👍

[@atulmalhotra2303]

MG have announced here in India that they will be launching the Wuling Mini EV at around 10 lakhs rupees or about a hundred thousand Yuan. Now there is no information on the size of the battery pack, still that is just exorbitant for a car that sells for 45K Yuan in China.

[@adon8672]

I think most of the price difference will be Indian import duties.

[@atulmalhotra2303]

@@adon8672 I know but it's just sad. 100,000 RMB makes it out of reach for most people. Moreover, Tata Motors already has a beautiful 5 seater e hatch in the market starting at about 85000 Yuan.

[@KonsaiAsTai]

That's solely on India's policy when it comes to foreign vehicles. The import duties / tariffs are insane in order to (mostly) support the local market. I'm not from India, but have read about this "issue". You either buy indian vehicles (such as those made by Tata Motors) or pay an enormous premium.

[@atulmalhotra2303]

@@KonsaiAsTai But MG has a manufacturing plant in India. Not sure that e cars are being made at that plant though. They already are selling the MG ZS EV here since 2019.

[@Yenhongsin77]

I believe wuling air ev not mini ev that will go to India

[@DIVEnSOME]

This car is literally what we all need

[@refink33]

speak for yourself. where do you put the 4x8 sheets of plywood and drywall?

[@54mgtf22]

Love your work (and your wig) 👍

[@FreddyGunawan]

We have wuling air ev. Updated version of that car. But no convertible just yet

[@Mobile_Dom]

yo i kinda dig the charger it comes with, its cute

[@pczTV]

I would buy this now… if it was available in the us of a

[@neilballam8701]

Chuck some bull bars and offroad tyres on, jack suspension up and it's a modern suzuki sj410. Looks loadsa fun

[@tomarmstrong1281]

It is absolutely amazing how China has changed.

[@GreenJimll]

At least Robert now knows of a suitable stunt double for Duane Dibbley in Red Dwarf. 🙂

[@mikenco]

They should split one of the road lanes in half and allow ONLY tiny cars in the new micro-dual carriageway... Might go some way to improving traffic.

[@1rjona]

I lived in Shanghai. I expected it would be a problem if you were following a big diesel truck or bus in traffic. Maybe if you just go around Pudong and not go inside old Shanghai

[@eamonstack4139]

Simply cool - thanks

[@teslainthehood]

The fact it used to only have 1 air bag is the beginning and end for me.

[@ricajeanrubio5799]

so cute. I hope they would release this here in the Philippines.

[@toram6210]

I don’t need a fast car I need this

[@rickparkinmoto]

Love it! Bring it to the UK.

[@MitchellRoman97]

I honestly just want an electric Miata. Loved my green '07

[@林振华-t4v]

MG cyberster?

[@Joseph-me6nv]

Great video as always Elliot 😂

[@BMWHP2]

Great video. For $12.000, We will buy it instantly. At the moment we ride a Smart Cabrio and looked at the 42kW Fiat 500e Cabrio. But at $36.000 !!!!! (Netherlands) it is idiotic expansive. So, yes, when it can do 300km range we wiill buy it.

[@turkishturk1296]

You can't have a car this small and 300km range.

[@BMWHP2]

@@turkishturk1296 Yes you can. This one has a range of 280km . . .It is lightweight remember. The Fiat 42kW 500e has a range of 320km. So many people have no clue what lightweight means. They all think EV's have to weigh 2.5 metric tons. There are several smaller EV's already proofing lightweight rules.

[@turkishturk1296]

@@BMWHP2 I mean, maybe. 300km range is at city traffic speeds. You can't expect that at highway speed at all.

[@dzonikg]

I would never buy Fiat

[@BMWHP2]

@@turkishturk1296 You dont need a highway to do 300km. We seldon use highways, maybe 1 time a month or so. We live, with 18 million other people and almost 9 million cars in the Netherlands. From the Dutch coast to Germany is 180km. We love the country lanes to travel. From home to work is 30km, the trafficjams are on the highway, so why use that?

[@barneyomulligan9739]

I think that should be the "Wayne Dibbley Wig Test", Elliot.

[@TireSpare]

I am a south Korean living in Greater Seoul area. This car must be a fun car with such convertible feature. I do love that and the attractive price for young adults with low pays . they can get this right away and enjoy open views and embrace the glorius wind. However my concern is is the car allowed to drive in public roads and highway in Korea. and they never got imported in here as well. I am hoping it goes through necessary safety tests and sucessfully imported to Korea

[@PaulHo]

How can Jack be so effortless and this guy try so hard and miss the mark, completely?

[@JN20022]

God this is such a cute car, I really really want one

[@Andi_mit_E]

The sexied up the Mini EV by cutting off the roof. 😎

[@syedmansoorjan2671]

I think it is nothing if compared to the leap motor mini-EV city car. That was the most fantastic car I had ever seen, review and explore cars like that...

[@ledsalesoz]

Agree, the T03 is an amazing little car, all the usual safety features, 41kWh battery, heaps of features you get in much more expensive cars, yet costs around US$10k. If those could be brought to the rest of the world, you would see them everywhere...

[@shlomomarkman6374]

If it costs 10k then why they try to sell it in my country at 33k... That despite huge tax breaks for EVs it's significantly more expensive then conventional and fully taxed subcompacts.

[@juliandavies7890]

Is it available in the UK? Does it Rapid Charge.?

[@davefroman4700]

no and no

[@overnightclassic2]

@@davefroman4700 this one rapid charges. The old model does not

[@LingkunganSekitarKu]

Already in Indonesia 6/1 Years Ago, Wuling Mini EV But Closed Roof Version Using Wuling Mini EV in Video G20 Summit 2022 Bali

[@ibhuntilon9677]

Harga brp bang Opan.....kabarnyaasih diatas 200..apa benar...

[@Foersom_]

It needs a holder for mobile phone on the dash board like VW E-Up has. That will solve the lack of navigation system.

[@raducristiandumitrescu1806]

Just say CONGRATS for image, sound and reporter very good job on par almost to BBC. Cristian

[@jonathantaylor1998]

Interesting how, Elliot, you comment that none of Wuling Mini EV Cabrio's faults deter you from liking the car... because of the way it makes you 'feel'...! Exactly what EVERY car manufacturer should be focusing on - not making leviathan-sized, mega-cost SUVs... but, making affordable, accessible EVs that make you 'feel' wonderful inside 😃

[@lutfur.r]

I’d love to own this car 🚙

[@mr.sr7171]

Imagine a racing series by KZbin with a bunch of these little guys running around.

[@quixomega]

My brain was thrown for a loop when he mentioned Jack because I thought I was watching the Wheelsboy channel.

[@phlpthms74]

Elliot has done it again....The star in the car

[@artel6225]

“Wonderwomanesque” Logo. Great little thing but the inner city ban defeats the green purpose. Would have love to see a Jack equivalent in the car too😊

[@kylereese4822]

On the rear replace the axel with a solid beam and in-heel hub motors and the Mini-EV`s brother`s front motor in the front... :)

[@WrathChild-NZ]

2:45 that panel alignment though!..

[@morganangel340]

almost as bad as Tesla 🤣🤣

[@R08Tam]

It's as camp as a row of pink tents. I love it.

[@danielmadar9938]

Thank you

[@zulazmimunir7937]

Wuling just launched new Wuling Air EV for Indonesia market only. The design more cute .

[@laxmishn9201]

Nice one

[@ZLL668]

Looking great with the wig

[@TassieEV]

The EuroNCAP Wig test, with the wig you were like the 5th member of the Beatles. ;) Hope to see you in Sydney in March though Eliot at FCL.

[@carlosmalave540]

I love it ! I love it ! I love 3 ! and it's electric.

[@jackoliver337]

Should have stuck with the 'cap test' rather than the wig. But then again, for such a fun car it makes sense to have fun with the video. Keep up the good work

[@usflin]

Forget the wig, I'm impressed that your hat didn't fly off while going 60kph. That is my actual concern. I like a convertible but I also like sun protection and I like to keep my hats!

[@zapfanzapfan]

How long were you looked up in the covid lock down Elliot? Any protests going on around you?

[@ToreHansen]

That ban of small cars in city does that make sense? Cool car and video"

[@maartens5069]

Top speed (could it go on the highway if needed or not) range en how fast can it charge?. I checked back to the essential info but it wasn’t there.

[@123wybrows6]

Ok cool how much if they get to uk £16000?

[@KonsaiAsTai]

"Before" state subsidies, you mean? More like 20k+. We all know what the car makers are doing since subsidies for electric cars were made available; artificial price inflation in order to pocket more cash. Once the subsidies are gone, prices will go down to "normal" levels.

[@肖宣羽]

14.5😊

[@johnaugsburger6192]

Thanks

[@nirmalherath2168]

We need to keep that wig on going forward!

[@eric4758]

If you lose the retractable roof and put a regular one on, I'm sure it could be sold for under $10,000, which would still be a bit pricey for the Chinese market but massively appealing in other established markets. And using LFP batteries would make it even cheaper.

[@marviwilson1853]

Door alignment at 02:45 doesn't look so good! Maybe it's meant to be that way.

[@TalentedDilittante]

BIG QUESTION: Isn't a silent car--not announcing its presence its surroundings--not dangerous to pedestrians and cyclists?

[@americanrambler4972]

I like this little electric roller skate. I could see one of these parked in my driveway. And I could use it for a lot of my current trips, because most of them are local trips under 10 miles where highway speeds are not utilized. The question is, is it as good as or better than a Smart car EV or Fiat 500 EV convertible? Those are my bench marks of comparison. Because I have seen those and know what they are like. Or is it more comparable to the GEM electric low speed golf cart/utility low speed urban vehicle? I don’t give a rip if it’s allowed on the roads of Shanghai or not. I don’t live or visit there.

[@udishomer5852]

costs less than half the price. so doesn't have to be better.

[@karlk7070]

A $10k EV, a $10k convertible that can change roof while moving.

[@treehugger3971]

The boot access would be a deal breaker for me. Imagine trying to get your get your bags of groceries in and out!

[@francisboyle1739]

I'd consider it a major annoyance but I suspect it has something to do with maintaining rigidity in such a small car. No one ever said open top motoring was convenient.

[@koitorob]

That wouldn't bother me as i always put the two or three bags of shopping on the front passenger seat and in the footwell. The brake pedal postion, vague steering and crap brakes WOULD.

[@accesser]

This IMO would be great in gated communities where people live and work local,

[@fusemalaysia840]

so which your prefer between this cars and my Proton Waja SL concepts?

[@bryanhe8908]

Did you guys shoot the first scen at Costco? I was wondering why it looked so familiar to me LOL

[@chasxreacts155]

Is it possible to charge it at fast chargers with an adapter ?

[@PixiiGER]

Banning small cars reduces traffic, but the problem stays. Cars destroies cities.

[@ivankuljis1780]

I was buying Kabriolett Beetles in the '80s Could this be the next BIG thing? Maybe it'll fit in my CYBRTRK

[@AndrewHelgeCox]

02:45 The silver strip on top of the door seems about 10mm out of alignment with the strip on the panel behind it. Also on the other door at 12:30.

[@davefroman4700]

Why would they ban a car that is built for the city, from the city? Safety is my guess.....

[@andrewpitts6498]

It would be safe if they banned the big cars. 😂

[@dsddsada8883]

You are not from Shanghai, China, so you don't need to be aware of this issue.

[@qvqbbsylvan2384]

Tesla and VW has their factories at Shanghai, and Mini EV is from another city. So…

[@tobybushnell]

Living the dream!

[@FateHasWritersBlock]

Wish we had this (or the standard version) instead of the Ami in the UK

[@Mediumdave1983]

Did Kryten, err, I mean Robert ask his old mate Dwayne Dibbley to make a cameo @3:34 ? :D

[@t8polestarcyan22]

An interesting cute little convertible EV.

[@MrMikeTauber]

Bring to USA 🎉

[@snowstrobe]

Cities aren't noisy, cars are.

[@antontaylor4530]

Banning a car like that from cities is like banning tennis racquets from Wimbledon...

[@mikemellor759]

Great video - when for the UK?

[@tomp4944]

Finally a small car I would want to buy. My take on electric cars is that they should be (by US standards) slow (< 100mph), small (again by US standards where we buy trucks and SUVs), and boxy -- lots of internal space, tall aspect, flat sides. The interior space on this is small, but aside from that, this ticks ALL my boxes. I doubt very much this would work at all in the US. I doubt this is crash safe at all, and certainly not up to US standards. Pity. I'd buy one. Convertibles are awesome, for many reasons. I've owned two, and I really miss them. You realize a convertible can get an 10 foot 2x4 home, no problem? With a convertible, you have UP, which is a direction you cannot put things in a normal car. (Though in this car, no passenger when you do that.) This even has way more range than my i-MiEV.

[@trueriver1950]

Small with lots of internal space. You need a TARDIS then.

[@grayfires]

현대파, 기아차는 컨버터블 언제 만드나요?

[@koenraad4618]

Is the roof weather proof, in a rainy climate? Perhaps the rectangles behind the seats are there for safety reasons. It looks very nice and useful, considering the price, not flimsy.