Riich M1-EV launches, priced high!
Riich M1
The Riich M1-EV was first unveiled at the 2009 Shanghai Auto Show and has become a major feature in Chery’s electric vehicle line up, now it has finally made it to production and to sale.
Prices are set at 149,900 rmb and rising over five different model specifications:
- M1-EV 1 – 149,900
- M1-EV 2 – 169,800
- M1-EV 3 – 189,800
- M1-EV 4 – 209,800
- M1-EV 5 – 229,800
On the power front the M1-EV is a 336V 40Kw power system and takes its juice from 60Ah Li-ion batteries which will propel the car to a top speed 120kph for a max distance of 150km. For charging, the M1-EV can use 220 volt power and will take 6 to 8 hours to reach a full charge, but at a quick charging system it can be charged to 80% in less than 30 minutes. The EV-1 is shaping up to be a fairly safe car with it having air bags and E-ABS to to avoid battery explosions and also has EPS, it also uses regentitive braking to make electricity when its on the road.
Initial pricing seems to be high with it ranging from $22,000USD to over $35,000USD but consumers in various cities will receive upto 60,000rmb ($9,000USD) in subsidies which will lower costs considerably. However, even with subsidies the M1 is still expensive, it is likely that government organizations will take up the M1 in a bid to lower costs to end buyers.
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With regards to a “range extender” discussed in an earlier CCT article, the following article seems to contradict information found here at CCT.
http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=201011050206dowjonesdjonline000289&title=chery-auto-launches-first-all-electric-car
Can anyone clear up some of the confusion that Chery has left us with?
WOW WOW WOW !!!
What a bargain !
60,000rmb subsidies from Beijing + 60,000rmb subsidies from Shenzhen.
Total will be 120,000rmb discount to the above price list.
For any Shenzhen citizen, 29,900rmb for a M1-EV1 is very very cheap. Is it real or am I dreaming?
http://chinabizgov.blogspot.com/2010/07/shenzhen-subsidies-us-china-acquisition.html
Chery & Riich, you make my day !!!
@ dragin
If you can read Chinese, here is the link for detail.
http://auto.sohu.com/20101103/n277068347.shtml
The range extender is a small light-weight Wankel engine to generate enough electric power for the drive motor. 300km is for a full tank milage.
Thank you hk.
So apparently this is a pure EV unless you opt for the Wankel.
Wow, 80,000rmb difference between the base model and the top of line version……..WHY? Do you get more batteries if you spend more money? Does the base model have a shorter distance range? MOST cars have a 20-30,000rmb differential between the low and high end versions, but here you have a HUGE differential. Anyone out there know the answer??? Just guessing here, but once the electric versions of the (Geely) Panda and the (Changan) Ben Ben mini go on sale I think they will be less expensive – they won’t have TWO engines in them, just one!!
I like the idea of a “range extender”, but for this price I think I’ll “extend” my waiting period and see how the Panda and the Ben Ben compare to the M1. Regardless, it is TRULY exciting to see these cars finally go on sale to the general consumer – now we just need the infrastructure to catch up so consumers can charge their cars WHEREVER and WHENEVER they need to.
@ dragin & joninchina
It is all clear now. The “range extender” is not a Wankel engine. Instead it is a new version of gas engine developed by local Chinese engineers, it is called ?????? .
http://www.pcauto.com.cn/nation/gckx/1011/1306058_2.html
The huge price difference between models is surely according to the size of lithium-ion battery power pack. As indicated, the power packs cost as much as half of the EV.
OK, the picture is a lot clear now after reading several Chinese press release.
1) M1-EV1,2,3,4 are all pure EVs with the same battery power pack.
2) No range extender is available at the moment.
3) The range extender is not a Wankel engine but a modified piston engine.
4) The big difference in price is due to various features added.
5) The basic model is a stripped down one with just the essentials.
6) The top model is fully equipped with braking energy recovery system, tele-diagnostic system, air-conditioning, electro power steering, electro servo assist system.
For 30,000rmb, a Shenzhen citizen can buy a M1-EV1. I think the local government has some restricted conditions applied to the owner. Such as no transfer of ownership, one car per family…
No transfer of ownership? Pay 30K for a car that you can’t sell later on? I’m not seeing the value in it.
And as I have asked elsewhere, exactly where will the buyers of these cars plug in to recharge overnight? For all the talk I’ve seen about electric vehicles in China I have yet to see ANY sort of serious discussion around the fact that most urban Chinese live in apartment buildings at least 6 floors high, that electric cars usually require special charging stations, and that these apartments were not built with widespread car ownership or the potential need for protected charging stations in mind?
In related news today, Chrysler announced that they are replacing American A123 with Samsung as their EV battery supplier. With this deal, Koreans now control 100% of US Big 3 EV battery supply contracts.
@IHC
“Koreans now control 100% of US Big 3 EV battery supply contracts.”
Epic fail as usual IHC. I assume you are talking about this news?
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2010/11/123_75903.html
……Of course feel free to provide proof that Bosch is Korean owned to back up your claims and how it relates to the Riich M1-EV which is available NOW and not in 2012.
A123 pulled out of that program months ago so hardly a surprise that Fiat (is Fiat one of the big 3 now?) Chose the SB LiMotive one instead.
http://www.informationweek.com/news/infrastructure/UPS/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=226700167
@ friend_from_ korea
The US Big 3 are gong forever. GM now is known as Government Motors. Ford sold everything to keep alive. Chrysler is now Fiat-Chrysler. What is the pride in winning EV battery supply contracts for them?
BYD owns its battery manufacturing, Chery does the same. If you are talking about competitiveness, how can the “Big 3″ win this EV game? The Japanese car makers are in close relation with their fellow battery suppliers, so far Toyota, Honda & Nissan are big winners in this EV game.
I would advise Hyundai to bring their EVs to the market ASAP, 2013 is too late. The Japanese are way ahead now, you can’t imagine what will happen in two years time.
Look at the pricing of Chery M1-EVs, can Hyundai competite in China? No way !!! Yes, you are right. Chinese make the worse cars and are too cheap to afford your Samsung/LG battery powered EVs. I am very interested to see how this EV game unfolding in the next 2 years.
@ IHC
You have always been against the bringing in high-tech to China. Now the situation is heading in the wrong direction according to your idea.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2010/11/129_75787.html
I think you better do something to kill these projects, otherwise your technology will be copied by the Chinese.
@ woxihuanpijiu
> Of course feel free to provide proof that Bosch is Korean owned
Bosch was selected as JV for the entire scope of electric car parts supply chain because Samsung had no experience and no connection in auto part industry. Basically Samsung supplies battery and battery controller technology, while Bosch supplies electric motor, generator, capacitor, charger, etc. Battery technology itself is purely Korean as confirmed by BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer.
“With SB LiMotive we have selected a supplier who offers the best available technology, combining leading German automotive expertise with future-oriented Korean battery know-how.” – http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL314152220090803
> What is the pride in winning EV battery supply contracts for them?
Because these guys still sell millions of vehicles in the US?
@ hk
> how can the “Big 3″ win this EV game?
> The Japanese car makers are in close relation with their fellow battery suppliers, so far Toyota, Honda & Nissan are big winners in this EV game.
Japanese battery is Japanese EV’s biggest weakness; Japanese batteries aren’t as durable as Korean batteries and this is why Japanese battery makers are playing a desperate catch-up. Nissan really didn’t want to give an 8-year battery warranty(Nissan was thinking a 5-year warranty) based on their comment in Japan and consumer survey conducted in the US, but had no choice after GM announced the 8-year warranty.
> Look at the pricing of Chery M1-EVs, can Hyundai competite in China?
There will be no EV market in China. Owning an EV is about making personal sacrifice to save the environment and this is something that American environmentalists would do, not Chinese consumers. No one cares about environment in China, remember?
Accordingly, the biggest market for EVs will be the US, where Korean batteries will be dominant, being used by American, European, and Korean automakers as opposed to Japanese batteries used only by Japanese automakers.
@ IHC
“there will be no EV market in China”
Then BYD, Chery, Geely… are all idiots?
BYD e6 taxis are running in Shenzhen. Electric buses are running in several Chinese big cities. HK is testing various EVs and targeting to replace all buses in central areas with battery power. Are you sure you understand what you are talking about China? There are 6 cities selected to promote EVs and heavily subsidised by central & local government. That is the reason why 30,000rmb for this M1-EV1 in Shenzhen. If you know nothing, just keep quiet instead of showing your ignorance.
“the biggest market for EVs will be the US, where Korean batteries will be dominant, being used by American, European, and Korean automakers as opposed to Japanese batteries used only by Japanese automakers.”
Your talking about the future US EV market is just your own wishful thinking. The fact is NOW Toyota Prius is the winner selling for more than 10 years without any major problem. Japanese battery can live up to the claims, for Korean battery I have reservations. Another point you have to note, the US Big 3 are no promoters of EVs, their EVs are way too expensive to capture this small niche market. Competitions from Japan are strong, Prius, Insight and now Leaf. The US just got Volt, the rest are just under planning. Don’t rely on the Big 3 that much, just get your Hyundai EVs out ASAP.
@ihc –
Dude, what rock are you living under?
“No one cares about environment in China, remember?”
GET REAL!! Recycling, energy savings awareness and overall awareness of global warming is improving RAPIDLY in China. My school has got posters all over the campus about throwing trash away, putting recyclables in the proper containers, and even telling students to keep the doors and windows closed when the air conditioners are on – and I see similar posters when I teach in Shenzhen, Shenyang and other chinese cities. Chinese citizens are quickly becoming aware of electric and hybrid cars, and there is a lot of interest and curiosity developing. Whether you believe it or not, the FACT is that most chinese citizens love their country very much, and are VERY interested in making it a cleaner and more beautiful country for their children in the future. I know for a fact that new apartment buildings in Nanning are being developed with pre-planned charging areas for electric bikes AND cars, and older apartment buildings are retrofitting areas for charging as well. This is also happening in other chinese cities too – seems to me that the chinese people care a lot more about the environment than you think. Why don’t you come over here and see for yourself, instead of continually typing baseless accusations on the internet? Trust me, seeing and experiencing REALITY is a lot more effective than wasting your fingers on uninformed, false internet statements.