[HN Gopher] Panda Mini EV unveiled by Geely with 150km range pri...
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       Panda Mini EV unveiled by Geely with 150km range price starts at
       USD5700
        
       Author : teleforce
       Score  : 18 points
       Date   : 2022-12-13 16:24 UTC (6 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (www.arenaev.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (www.arenaev.com)
        
       | elkos wrote:
       | For a while I thought it was about a FIAT Panda EV. I may have
       | some fun memories in a bucket like that.
        
       | N19PEDL2 wrote:
       | Did they really copy the name of the Fiat Panda?
        
         | tibbydudeza wrote:
         | Most of these small Chinese EV's are for domestic market only -
         | lax regulation means you can drive these golfcart like cars
         | around without needing safety features like airbags/seat belts
         | or own a drivers license.
         | 
         | Also Fiat does not sell the Panda in China so no trademark
         | issues.
        
         | fy20 wrote:
         | For Americans: The Fiat Panda was a two door hatchback (five
         | seats, but good luck...) launched in 1980. It was slightly
         | longer than this at 3.3m.
         | 
         | Not only was there a 4x4 option, but in 1990 an electric
         | version was launched, which became one of the first mass
         | produced car EVs - it weighed 1150kg and had a 14kW electric
         | motor.
         | 
         | The current version is a four door hatchback, and still quite
         | popular in some European countries. Perfect for driving around
         | small Italian streets.
        
           | brnt wrote:
           | Not just Italian streets: you haven't driven an Alpine pass
           | if you haven't done it in a Panda.
        
           | benj111 wrote:
           | *five door hatchback.
           | 
           | The hatch is counted as a door.
           | 
           | Also perfect for hooning around British B roads.
        
       | rfwhyte wrote:
       | I shudder to think how poorly built all these new "Cheap" Chinese
       | EVs must be. If my and the rest of the world's experiences with
       | Chinese built e-bikes and e-scooters is anything to go by, we're
       | soon going to be in the age of the "Disposable automobile." I had
       | a friend who got 4 defective Chinese e-scooters in a row all
       | brand new from the manufacturer...
       | 
       | These cheap Chinese EVs all just going to end up getting scrapped
       | in 3-5 years or less and the environmental impact from all the
       | toxic materials used in these cars ending up in landfills is
       | going to be a disaster.
       | 
       | Personally I'd way rather spend substantially more money on an EV
       | from a reputable brand (I tend to prioritize reliability first
       | and foremost), as for anyone dumb enough to actually buy one of
       | these lemons outside of China, good luck getting warranty support
       | or after sales service or even parts for your broken car. Once
       | your cheap new Chinese EV breaks (And it will) you won't be able
       | to get it serviced, and it will just end up rotting away in a
       | landfill leaching toxic chemicals into the earth.
        
         | benj111 wrote:
         | As a counterpoint to your sample. My phone was built in China
         | and works. My last phone was built in China, and works. My
         | laptop was built in China, and works. In fact quite a lot of
         | the stuff I buy comes from China and it mostly works.
        
         | neuralRiot wrote:
         | Maybe in first world countries it makes sense to purchase a
         | quality built EV instead, but do you have an idea how hard is
         | to even buy a used scooter for some people in other places?
         | This obviously is not aimed to replace Teslas in NY or Tokyo
         | but it probably is a more environment-friendly alternative to
         | old oil-burning cars in some places.
        
         | Meph504 wrote:
         | I mean, you keep saying "cheap Chinese" have you seen the build
         | quality of say Tesla lately, have tried to get one serviced?
         | 
         | We are in an age of disposable everything, and it isn't just
         | the Chinese with poor build quality, this reduction in quality
         | is driven by the private equity acquisitions and quarter over
         | quarter demands. And this attitude that is ruining production
         | and produced goods in all markets. When you can't innovate or
         | continue to grab more of the market, the only way to increase
         | profits is to reduce cost of production.
         | 
         | And you end up with a shit quality product.
        
           | constantcrying wrote:
           | It is so disgusting to see just limitless amounts of
           | "products" that are made without any shred of care put into
           | them. And it isn't just the cheap garbage infesting
           | everything, even if you pay quite a bit of money the thing
           | you get will still have obvious cut corners. Clearly the
           | engineers are completely capable of better, but making
           | something work more reliable is just the company loosing
           | money on the margin and on spare parts.
           | 
           | I have to say I am very glad that I am not working on
           | consumer products.
        
       | lnsru wrote:
       | Ok, it's a cousin of European Opel Rocks-e or it's clone Citroen
       | Ami. Never understood who are the buyers of such vehicles.
       | Ideally it's for cities. But cities normally already have public
       | transportation. For countryside they are dangerously too slow.
        
         | constantcrying wrote:
         | >But cities normally already have public transportation.
         | 
         | Public transportation is slow, especially if you are living in
         | the outer parts of a city using a car can easily cut commutes
         | in half. Those cars clearly are for cities, but if you think
         | public transport comes even close for convenience, speed,
         | hygiene, you are not using public transportation.
        
         | brnt wrote:
         | The Ami goes 60km/h, that's fast enough for short trips in the
         | countryside. In fact, most nonurban roads around here are
         | limited at 60 anyway.
        
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       (page generated 2022-12-13 23:02 UTC)