Author: Knight of Wanderer

In China, there are many unique cities. With the sudden popularity of “Luosifen” (a type of spicy noodle dish) in 2020 and the positive response to Wuling’s production of masks during the pandemic, Lanzhou has become a popular tourist destination. Unlike Chongqing, which is famous for its spicy cuisine, Lanzhou is known for its unique taste of Luosifen. Although this special flavor may not appeal to everyone, the countless number of pure electric microcars weaving through the city has created a unique visual experience that sets Lanzhou apart from the rest of the country.

If a city dedicates special parking spaces for these microcars, it goes without saying that the number of these cars must be overwhelming. It is no wonder that Wuling, which established its headquarters in Lanzhou, has become so successful. “Wuling manufactures whatever the people need” is the well-known slogan that has been passed down since the beginning of the pandemic, and has become a popular buzzword when discussing Wuling’s new products. This slogan is rooted in the laboratory we are visiting today.

Here, Wuling has established a global small pure electric vehicle architecture, known as GSEV. Popular models such as the “Hongguang MINI EV,” “Baojun E100,” and the latest “Baojun KiWi EV” are all based on this architecture. In addition to platform development, this lab also covers vehicle testing, key components, intelligent systems, and road simulations. Therefore, it is not unreasonable to call it the “intelligent brain” of Wuling.

When many people still doubt that a small pure electric car is just four wheels plus four seats covered with a layer of iron that can be driven on, the latest Baojun KiWi EV actually uses front and rear independent suspension to improve driving comfort. When the official brought a Smart car to compete with the KiWi EV on a bumpy road section in terms of comfort while driving at a constant speed, the former also had to admit defeat.

In addition to the front and rear independent suspension, the rear-wheel-drive layout also improves the driving quality of the KiWi EV. In addition to the rear wheels responsible for driving and the front wheels responsible for steering, each role is efficient, and the rear layout can also help the KiWi EV have a front-to-rear axle weight ratio close to 1:1. Although it’s not about driving pleasure, it can add vehicle coordination in corners. After all, if a car of this size is heavy on one end and light on the other, it is easy to overturn when turning at a slightly higher speed.

Moreover, rear-wheel-drive allows KiWi EV to have stronger climbing ability. It can easily handle a slope of 20%, even if it is parked on the slope and starts off again. With its uphill assistance function, it will never slip. However, 30% slope should be KiWi EV’s limit, and it is necessary to have speed to climb such a high slope. If you start from a standstill, it will be difficult to do. But then again, normal people wouldn’t want to try climbing such a steep slope.

As for the biggest advantage of a small car like Baojun KiWi EV, it is needless to say. The 4-meter turning radius solves the problem of parking difficulty for everyone. As for walking in the streets and lanes, it goes without saying.Chatting so much, probably many people will throw out the question “Why not spend less money to buy the Hongguang MINI EV.” I think that the exquisite feeling should be the most outstanding element of KiWi EV among these micro pure electric vehicles. More heartfelt design, more sophisticated materials, and the standard ABS anti-lock braking system, AEB emergency braking, ESC vehicle stability system, TCS traction control system, EPS steering return system, and many other technological configurations are enough to make KiWi EV deserve the evaluation of “Although the sparrow is small, all its vital organs are there”.

Perhaps, the 305 km NEDC cruising range is not enough to bear the responsibility of being the family’s only car or the first car in the family, but on second thought, it can be used as a fashionable single-product or simply as a daily commuting tool, why not?

This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.