An $8,000 Electric Car: The Wuling Binguo
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Kyle and Alyssa from Out of Spec Reviews recently checked out the tiny, 5-door, fully electric Wuling Binguo, which is the product of a SAIC–General Motors collaboration. The base model hatchback costs $8,000 and there is a premium version for $12,000. Three LFP battery pack options are available.
Many readers like to see the specifications first, so here are some of them for the base model:
- 17.3 kWh battery, LFP
- 203 kilometers of range, or about 126 miles
- Just over 2,000-pound curb weight
- 30 kW electric motor
- AC charging speed is about 9 hours, DC charging from 30–80% in about 35 minutes.
There are upgraded versions with larger motors and batteries. The version with a 31.9 kWh battery has an estimated range of about 200 miles and the largest battery, 37.9 kWh, provides about 250 miles of range.
Alyssa pretty much nails the use case when she mentions it would be a good choice for getting groceries and transporting children to school.
Even with a 100% tariff in the US, the base model would be $16,000. The one with the longest range would be $24,000. To be clear, it is not available in the US right now.
Years ago, a friend had a little Subaru Justy that was also 5 doors, including the hatchback. It got great gas mileage, had a spartan interior, and was easy to park. The Wuling Binguo has better styling and looks more comfortable. It also has a touchscreen with a variety of menu options and air conditioning.
While driving it, Kyle says some really cheap EVs can be somewhat like electric golf carts. In the US, some of the higher end golf carts cost more than the base Wuling Binguo.
Alyssa and Kyle’s video has me wanting to test drive the little EV. Such a small car is easily parked and can park in spaces larger vehicles cannot.
It obviously would work in large urban areas where people tend to stay in their own enclaves or suburbs where their homes are and commute for work.
There is another use case: small towns, because daily errands require only a little driving usually. In the US, about half of all trips may be less than 5 miles. An enormous number of Americans live in small towns where daily driving does not require traveling far.
Another use case is seniors. Older folks in the US tend to drive fewer than 8,000 miles per year, on average. Seniors typically also are no longer working full time and are living on fixed incomes. So, being frugal is essential for them.
The most obscure case is for the homeless who have enough money to live in a vehicle. Jennifer wrote an article recently about an American guy living in a Tesla Model S. A tiny EV, if it could be purchased for $8,000, is far more affordable and would be new, with a warranty. In some but not all cases, people living in electric vehicles can find free charging. Folks living in gas-powered vehicles are not going to find free gasoline.
User comments
Two of the user comments for the video echo Alyssa’s observation about the Binguo’s general use case as a grocery and kiddo hauler. In the first comment below, the poster wrote it only costs about $30 per month to charge.
@breezekinght: I have one Bingo back in China to pick up kids from school and go to groceries every day. Only 1 charge per week and the charging expense is about $30 per month, think about that 🤣. There is no chance I switch back to ICE cars, period.
@kenastl: Under 10k is perfect for an extra car for the city. Used Bolt EV or Nissan Leaf is the only decent choice right now in that price range in the US.
@nanoshka7484: I know a few aunties have this car as an extra one to grab groceries and pick up their grandkids.
@BenYee-g4s: I will buy 1 for $20,000 right away. Come on Canada put 100 percent tariff and put some in dealership. It will fly off dealer lots. It is so practical for city and commute to work.
If you are interested in a smaller EV, not a mid- or full-sized one such as a Model Y or Model S, would you buy a base Wuling Binguo if it was $16,000 — the price bump resulting from a 100% tariff?
A while back, I wrote about the Dacia Spring EV, which costs less than £15,000 ($18,650) in the UK. There appears to be quite a need for low-cost electric vehicles intended for shorter driving trips. Outside of the Chinese, who is making them in sufficient quantities with a variety of models?
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