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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@IHC
That’s great, even if it were true, none of us would care except for obsessed Koreans like you. We don’t want another argument related to Korea here, so you might as well cut down on the China versus Korea BS.
Your understanding and knowledge of China is nothing like the real thing, get over yourself.
Nothing has been finalised reference the development of EV charging stations or infrastructure development, the current legislative proposals are still being reviewed in an attempt to define the technical requirements of what such a system would look like, and how best to support EV as a legitimate replacement to ICE in a group of selected test cities…
China is currently calling for comment reference its proposals to groups like the European Chamber of Commerce, to receive input from technology providers, to help move their EV infrastructure forward.
EV is a global development however, China is supporting their intent with large financial contributions and pushing its state owned / supported companies to become champions in this field, notably cell production..and fair play, they are backing their intent!
However, China will probably generate the electricty required to support the EV vehicles by burning coal, children, small animals..etc
So close but yet so far
All this talk of EV high prices is easily corrected.
At a US $3/gal and 30mi/gal for 100,000 miles – sticker an addition $10,000 for compact cars, $20,000 for mid-size, and $30,000 for large cars/trucks.
$45,000 for a 20mi/gal vehicle + $15,000 gas is more realistic.
Add the cost of oil wars, 1000 part ICE drive trains, decades of oil ‘depletion allowances/accounting fraud’ and the true MSRP is over $50,000.
EV’s are actually bargains, or do we usually buy gasoline appliances?
@ hk
> Then BYD, Chery, Geely are all idiots?
They are under pressure from the communist government to deliver something.
> 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.
And how many EV were sold to private citizens to date? Other than those illegal golf cart EVs(Yes, I know about those unlicensed illegal golf cart EVs).
> The US just got Volt
And Focus EV and Fiat 500 EV. Throw in BMW Megacity when it becomes ready. All powered by Korean batteries.
Another news update. Coda Automotive, the would be US importer of first Chinese EV, is in trouble. Their office is not picking up the phone call.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS134875518720101107
@ hk
> Then BYD, Chery, Geely are all idiots?
They are under pressure from the communist government to deliver something.
> 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.
And how many EV were sold to private citizens to date? Other than those illegal golf cart EVs(Yes, I know about those unlicensed illegal golf cart EVs).
> The US just got Volt
And Focus EV and Fiat 500 EV. Throw in BMW Megacity when it becomes ready. All powered by Korean batteries.
Another news update. Coda Automotive, the would be US importer of first Chinese EV, is in trouble. Their office is not picking up the phone call.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS134875518720101107
I think you are leaving off the cost of electricity and recharging as well as battery replacements depending on how long you are calculating this for. I spend less than $2000 a year on gas for my car that is when I drive it all year in the US. So yeah in over 7.5 years I spent $15,000 on gas. That is when you need to replace batteries. So add a set of batteries to your 7.5 year of charging cost. I really don’t know what the charging costs would be. Anyone?
@ IHC
“And Focus EV and Fiat 500 EV. Throw in BMW Megacity when it becomes ready. All powered by Korean batteries.”
Focus EV just got 100 miles range and not available till end 2011. Fiat 500 EV will be even till late 2012. BMW Megacity is planned for 2013. They are not ready yet and Chevy Volt seems to be the litmus test for Korean batteries. You better pray for the best otherwise LG will destroy the future of Korean EV business.
“Another news update. Coda Automotive, the would be US importer of first Chinese EV, is in trouble. Their office is not picking up the phone call.”
In a sense, Coda is not a Chinese EV. They use Chinese auto parts to assemble the EV locally in the States, China makes not much from this project. That maybe the reason why Coda cars are so expensive and facing difficulties. The death of Coda EV has no relation to the growth of EVs in China. China-bashing in this way won’t work, always blame China for the problems created.
If a Californian can buy a $5000 Riich M1-EV1 as Shenzhen citizen, I am sure it will sell liked hot cakes.
@ Head Honcho
EV is not about saving money in fuel cost, but to save environment through personal sacrifices.
This is why the US is expected to be the biggest EV and PHEV markets, while there would be no consumer-level EV markets in China.
@ hk
> You better pray for the best otherwise LG will destroy the future of Korean EV business.
LG battery in question has been undergoing fleet testing since 2005 and is extremely durable, the most durable EV battery you can buy today.
> In a sense, Coda is not a Chinese EV.
It is. Chinese chassis, Chinese battery, Chinese parts, US badge.
>
@ joninchina, @daffy :
“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.”
“Nothing has been finalised reference the development of EV charging stations or infrastructure development…”
Please be more specific re: infrastructure specifically designed for multi-unit apartment buildings. Is the thinking to create a few shared recharge spaces OR to install wiring – if not rechargers – throughout an entire parking structure? Do most people already have assigned – or owned – parking spots? Do they expect apartment dwellers to primarily recharge at public charging stations?
Even here in California there are few concrete thoughts about how to retrofit multi-unit buildings.
@mark –
OK, here’s the deal regarding parking spots for multi-unit apartment buildings. Most garages are underground (sometimes multi-level parking floors underground) and residents have the option of purchasing a dedicated parking spot if they wish – but a dedicated parking spot is not usually included with the purchase of an apartment. People can also rent a dedicated spot and pay monthly, that is usually the more popular option. As far as charging areas, there will be a designated area in the garage (big enough for 15-20 cars or 50-60 bikes) that you can plug your car/bike in to recharge. It is a low cost fee for recharging (for example, I pay 1.5rmb every time I charge my bike) and most buildings will also offer 24 hour security in these areas as well. I ALSO just saw Nanning’s first dedicated charging station for EV’s and e-bikes earlier today, I am told it is the first of many planned over the next 3-4 years. It is nice to see that the government leaders seem to understand that without one, you can’t have the other (in other words, infrastructure being developed to keep up with the eventual increased sales of these EV’s).
@ IHC
“And how many EV were sold to private citizens to date? Other than those illegal golf cart EVs(Yes, I know about those unlicensed illegal golf cart EVs).”
You just got it all wrong here. Those so-called unlicensed illegal golf cart EVs are only found in remote small cities. The traffic flow are very slow there so these low-speed cheap lead-acid battery powered EVs are popular mean of transportation. Local governments encourage these EVs even you don’t need driver license to operate. Yes, they are as basic as an e-bike, so no need an license.
I am talking about EVs & hybrids in BIG cities, don’t mix them up. The announcement of subsidies just out for less than a year, now comes a flood of affordable Chinese EVs liked this M1-EV1. I can see a big market for them in these big cities. Daily trip never exceeds 50 km for commuters, nightly recharge liked cellular phone will be common in the future. A small capacity battery for daily trip will further lower the price, I have positive view in all these. For those unable to find a fixed parking lot for nightly recharge, hybrids are better option. That is the reason for the range extender under development.