Now PARIS gets a Chinese Take Away
13 October 2008, 10:09am
Shown for the first time in Europe, the Tang Hua XY08 Chika could, once it becomes available, easily capture the hearts of those looking for an eco-friendly city car to run around in.
Cute and stylish from well known (?!) Chinese designer Li Shi Guang Ming the car has been conceptualized as “a vehicle that would facilitate personal mobility in crowded cities, where parking space can often be hard to come by” – roughly interpreted as - a little car for one or two people who don’t need to go very far at any one time.
And that’s just as well because it’s an electric car built for short commutes and shopping with a range of 90-ish miles and a top speed of about 30mph. So not too much to worry about on the GATSO front!
Anyway with automatic transmission it should be easy to drive and it’s difficult to see how car insurance for this run-around can be expensive so there’s great potential for it in the future.
And if you don’t fancy the Chika, there are several other electric car models to choose from these days:
Elettrica
The Elettrica is to be one of the first electric cars sold in Britain to be so-equipped and although it is likely to cost in the region of £12,000, the battery pack will last about 10 years, no matter how you charge it. Not only that, it comes with all the usual perks of an electric car, which we go into in the other car descriptions.
NICE - “MEGA City”
NICE stands for “No Internal Combustion Engine” and the makers claim the MEGA City has the ability to save its owner up to £7,000 annually when you take into consideration that drivers will pay no congestion charge and no road tax. On top of that, insurance is low, running costs are tiny and parking is usually free or discounted. The MEGA City has a top speed of 40mph, though of course it won't do that for its claimed range of 40 miles, as there is always a trade-off. Still, the average speed in London is less than 10mph we're told... The MEGA City costs from £9,995.
REVA – “G-Wiz”
Claimed to be the world's best-selling electric car, with 800 already sold in the UK. Made in India and sold in the UK through GoinGreen, Elton John put the G-Wiz on his Christmas wish list, while Kristin Scott Thomas put her money where her mouth is by buying a (tiger-print) G-Wiz for herself.
Prices start at under £7,000 for the G-Wiz, though you'll want to splash out on the £8,300 ac drive model, as it has a longer maximum range (48 miles) and a higher top speed of 45mph, as well as being much better specified inside. Then all you need to do is choose between the various crazy paint jobs, with leopard print available, or any other pattern of your choice...
Micro-Vett Ydea
The highest specification electric car available in the UK today but costing the best part of £17,000, luxury clearly comes at a price.
Good features are a massive 105-mile range and styling which makes the Ydea the most normal looking of the electric cars on offer at the moment. Also considerable thought has been put into making interior feel “normal” with electric windows and leather upholstery; some models even have parking sensors.
Sakura Maranello4
The Maranello4 can be hired from electriccarhire.com or bought from Sakura Battery Co. for a fraction less than £10,000.
Top speed is 30mph and the range is up to 45 miles, after which time the Maranello4 can be plugged into any mains outlet for charging.
Insuring these cars probably requires a call to professionals since they probably won’t appear on automated lists so call YoungLadyDriver 0800 581 414 if you want to get expert help on a policy for your electric car.
