While there is much talk about EV startups and powerful SUVs, the real Chinese electric vehicle revolution happens mostly out of sight, and mainly at the various commercial vehicle segments. These include buses, all sorts of trucks, pickup trucks, delivery vehicles, garbage trucks, and minivans. A perfect example of the last category is the new King Long Longyao, a full electric minivan for intercity transport and deliveries.
King Long is one of China’s largest commercial-vehicle makers,
best known for their King Long branded city and long-distance buses. Like so
many Chinese automakers, the company has gone full into electric vehicles in
recent year, electrifying existing products and developing new electric
vehicles from scratch. The new King Long Longyao falls in the former category,
as it is based on an older gasoline powered car.
The King Long Longyao is powered by a single electric motor
with an output of 95 horsepower and 230 Nm. Top speed is 90 kilometers per
hour. The 43 kWh battery is sourced from CATL and good for a CLTC range of 240
kilometers. Size at 4860/1730/2050 mm, with a 3050 mm wheelbase and a 1620 kg curb
weight. Design is standard for the segment, with cool steel wheels and the
mandatory 3M marking tape on the load bay.
The load bay is flat and spacious with a cargo storage space
is 5.6 cubic meters. The size of the load bay is 2670/1550/1350 mm. There are two
seats up front. Some competitors also offer double-cabin variants of their
minivans, but so far King Long only sells a single-cab.
Price of the King Long Longyao is 139.700 yuan (US$ 22.101),
and that is comparable with the competition and in any way quite a good deal
for a decently powered electric minivan of this size and kind. With cars like
this, the Chinese electric vehicle revolution won’t be running out of steam for
a very long time a coming.
