Chery Chalks Up Another EV For China

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Via Green Car Congress comes word of China’s second plug-in electric car (after BYD’s Dual Mode plug-in, allegedly on sale now), the Chery S18. Chery’s website (In Mandarin, click here for Google translated hilarity) shows the tiny city car rolling off the assembly line, implying that China is taking a two-nil lead over the US in the race for production EVs. On the other hand, it’s probably safe to say that a carboard box has a higher chance of passing US crash test. Anyway, the S18 reportedly sports a 336 V, 40 KwH electric drivetrain featuring 40 Ah Lithium Iron-Phosphate batteries which recharge in 4-6 hours from a 220 V socket (a 30-minute quick charge provides 80 percent of battery capacity). Top speed is said to be 75 mph, and range is estimated at a modest 75-95 miles. Chery’s Yuan Tao claims (in Google translation) that the S18 not only boasts “the world’s most advanced technology” but “the price is also very suitable for families to buy.” Gasgoo says the S18 will go on sale in China later this year starting at less than 100K RMB ($15K), considerably less than even BYD’s F3DM which retails for 150K RMB.

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Wsn Wsn on Feb 23, 2009

    Edward Niedermeyer said: On the other hand, it’s probably safe to say that a carboard box has a higher chance of passing US crash test. That kind of mentality was rampant regarding Japanese cars, 40 years ago. And it turns out that the cardboard boxes and tin cans won.

  • Wsn Wsn on Feb 23, 2009

    Rev Junkie said: Wow, the workers look so happy with their work. Wanna bet that they found out how much auto workers in other countries make? They are making 10 times more than the average farmer makes over there. Such a worker can afford a second wife (not legal, but no one cares) with that income, if he is not into looks and doesn't intend to purchase real estate in a big city.

  • Akear Akear on Feb 23, 2009

    Who would buy this death trap?

  • Cleek Cleek on Feb 24, 2009

    I'm not sure that a plug-in hybrid makes a lot of sense in a country with regular brown outs.

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