With the Mini EV, the Chinese manufacturer Wuling has a minuscule yet gigantic success number. The square city EV has caused some jealousy among compatriot Dongfeng. That manufacturer also comes with an angular small city that is very similar to Wuling’s version.
The Wuling city car, fully called Hongguang Mini EV, which will be launched on the Chinese market in 2020, has turned out to be a direct bull’s-eye. In the first eleven months of last year, no fewer than 370,000 units were sold in China, making it by far the most popular electric car in China. The Hongguang Mini EV is not the only one of its kind, the Chinese manufacturer Chery has this QQ Ice Cream on offer. Dongfeng has seen the success of the small electrical block boxes with dismay, but now comes with its own version.
This is the Dongfeng Fengguang Mini EV. Yes, this small angular city car is also called ‘Mini EV’. Dongfeng’s Mini EV is just as angular as Wuling’s cart and apparently sits on equally small wheels. According to Chinese media, Dongfeng’s Mini EV is 3 meters long at 5 mm. In addition, it is 1.64 meters high, 1.5 meters narrow and has a wheelbase of 1.96 meters. This makes it about 5 centimeters longer than the Mini EV from Wuling, but that is not the only area where Dongfeng’s little one surpasses the Wuling on paper. For example, the Fengguang Mini EV gets a 34 hp electric motor. Wuling’s Mini EV has a 17.8 hp electric motor, although there will also be a real open version of that car that has 27 hp. Can it be even smaller? Certainly, Wuling proved that earlier in 2021 by putting the Nano EV next to the Mini EV.
Extensive technical data are not yet available and as far as images are concerned, we have to make do with these three images. What do you think, would such an EV be something for the Netherlands?
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl