e.Go Mobile AG, a German startup company founded by
engineer Günther Schuh, has begun taking orders for its upcoming Life electric
city car, which starts at just 15,900 euros before the European
cash-back incentive for electric vehicles.
The company claims the standard 14.4kWh version of
the little EV can achieve a driving range of around 130 km, while the
larger 19.2kWh battery raises that figure to around 170 km.
Measuring 3348 mm long, 1700 mm wide, 1567 mm tall and
weighing between 810 kg and 840 kg depending on configuration, the e.Go Life is
similar in size and concept to the Smart ForTwo micro car, though it can be
optioned with 2+2 seating for additional people-carrying capability.
Charging takes between 5.5 and 7.5 hours depending
on the battery capacity, while the electric motor produces up to 22 kW of power
and 110 Nm of torque. It’s capable of accelerating from 0-50 km/h in 5.7 seconds
(5.9 seconds with the larger battery) on its way to a top speed of 104 km/h.
Following the 4000-euro EV cash-back incentive, the
e.Go Life will set buyers back just 11,900 euros, which equates to around US$ 17,610, making it one of the most affordable electric passenger cars in the
world. According to the company’s vision statement, e.Go wants to show the
world that electric cars can be fun, practical and affordable, while also being
attractive to look at.
e.Go also says it’s possible to produce electric
cars in such a cost-efficient manner that cost of ownership can become comparable
to a conventional vehicle in terms of euros-per-month of cents-per-kilometre.
The Life has been developed by Schuh and his team at
RWTH Aachen University in Germany, and has been designed to serve as a second
or third car for larger households or as a city-focused fleet vehicle.
Order books opened last week, according to online
blog Electrek, with prospective buyers required to put down a 1000-euro deposit
(US$ 1480). To achieve its affordable pricing, the company is focusing heavily on
Industry 4.0 manufacturing processes, which basically involves inter-connected
machinery, systems and tools which can operate autonomously.
Personalisation options include four standard
exterior paints, along with the ability to create a custom paint job, while
there’s also the choice of halogen or LED headlights.
Two 17-inch alloy wheel designs will be offered at
launch, while a larger 18-inch rim design will be available from 2019 according
to the Life’s brochure.
