General Motors’ (GM) Chinese joint venture SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW) has unveiled the Wuling Zhiguang EV, designed for personal and commercial mobility. This compact vehicle measures 3.6 meters in length and features a sliding rear door, four seats, a 30 kW electric motor, and a 17.6 kWh LFP battery pack. The car is set to hit the market soon.
Older version of the Wuling Zhiguang
Wuling is the third most popular domestic car brand in China. Their best-selling model, the Hongguang Mini EV, has been officially sold in Vietnam. Wuling’s total sales from January to October 2024 reached 685,744 units.
While Wuling refers to the Zhiguang EV as a Kei-car, its body length exceeds Japanese standards for such vehicles. Thus, the Zhiguang EV is merely styled like a Kei car. It sports a boxy shape with a sliding rear door, small 13-inch wheels, and minimal overhangs.
The exact dimensions of the Zhiguang EV are as follows: 3685mm in length, 1530mm in width, and 1750mm in height, with a notable wheelbase of .mm.
The interior of the Wuling Zhiguang EV is basic and functional. It features gray plastic throughout the cabin, with partially exposed metal door frames. The roof and pillars are also constructed from metal.
The center console houses a single LCD display and physical controls for the air conditioning and audio. The Zhiguang EV has a two-spoke steering wheel without any buttons. The central tunnel accommodates a rotary gear selector, electric window buttons, and a handbrake.
The second row of the Zhigung EV is even more basic, featuring a bench seat for two passengers (without headrests) that can be folded down to create a flat load floor. The doors have manual windows, and there are numerous exposed metal surfaces.
Technical Specifications of the Wuling Zhiguang Electric Vehicle
The Wuling Zhiguang EV is remarkably lightweight, with a curb weight of just 892 kg—a full 193 kg lighter than the Smart Fortwo EQ. This is understandable given the vehicle’s simplistic design.
The Zhiguang EV is equipped with a 17.6 kWh LFP battery pack from manufacturers Gotion or RSPK. It powers a single TZ155XZ230 electric motor mounted on the rear axle, delivering 30 kW (40 hp). The top speed of the Zhiguang EV is 100 km/h.
In the future, the Zhiguang EV will be compatible with CATL’s Evogo battery swapping network. This will effectively upgrade the vehicle’s battery, as Evogo utilizes Choco-SEB expandable modules. These modules employ cell-to-pack technology with an energy density of 160 Wh/kg. A single Choco-SEB module offers a capacity of 26.5 kWh, suitable for a range of 200 km.
The Wuling Zhiguang EV will soon be available in the Chinese market, although its pricing has not yet been disclosed. It is expected to be slightly more expensive than the Hongguang Mini EV. Chinese media predicts a starting price of around 50,000 yuan (approximately $6,900), which is roughly 165 million VND.
