Currently the most popular electric car from SGMW (SAIC-GM-Wuling) is definitely the Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV, as you may have noticed from multiple articles I wrote. However, the reality is that this is a very spartan electric car without basic safety features required by European or North American standards.
The much better equipped electric cars Baojun E300 (two-seater) and Baojun E300 Plus (four-seater) also built by SGMW have much better chances to become world-class affordable electric cars.
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Let’s see the specs.
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Baojun E300 specs
- Length: 2.625 mm
- Wheelbase: 1.750 mm
- Width: 1.647 mm
- Height: 1.588 mm
- Weight: 920-940 kg
- Seats: 2
- Motor: 40 kW (peak) and 150 N.m of torque
- Top speed: 100 km/h (62 mph)
- Battery capacity: 31 kWh (LiFePO4)
- Range: 305 km (NEDC)
- On-board charger: 6,6 kW (4,5 hours to charge)
- DC fast charging: 30-80 % in 1 hour
- Turning radius: 4 meters (rear-wheel drive)
- Starting price: between 64.800 and 79.800 yuan (8.281 and 10.197 euros)
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Baojun E300 Plus specs
- Length: 2.894 mm
- Wheelbase: 2.020 mm
- Width: 1.655 mm
- Height: 1.595 mm
- Weight: 1.040-1.052 kg
- Seats: 4 (2 adults and 2 kids)
- Motor: 40 kW (peak) and 150 N.m of torque
- Top speed: 100 km/h (62 mph)
- Battery capacity: 31,9 kWh (LiFePO4)
- Range: 305 km (NEDC)
- On-board charger: 6,6 kW (5 hours to charge)
- DC fast charging: 30-80 % in 1 hour
- Turning radius: 4 meters (rear-wheel drive)
- Starting price: between 69.800 and 84.800 yuan (8.920 and 10.836 euros)
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The most interesting variant is definitely the longer E300 Plus, because when needed the two extra seats can be folded down to give some luggage space.
In their top-spec trim level both the Baojun E300 and E300 Plus are extremely well equipped with modern safety features rare in small and affordable cars, such as:
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Lane Departure Warning & Assist System
- Intelligent Safety Protection
- Automatic Emergency Braking System
- Auxiliary and Valet Parking System
- Guided Vehicle Anti-theft Warning System
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As for the battery, the cobalt-free LFP battery cells are provided by Great Power and the pack (320 V - 100 Ah) seems to have a 100s1p cell disposition (100 cells all connect in series, none in parallel).
The 305 km range in NEDC represents around 229 km (3/4) in WLTP, enough to make this electric car acceptable for many European customers if sold here for a decent price. However, the top speed would need to be increased to 120 km/h.
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Anyway, the Baojun E300 Plus looks like a futuristic autonomous electric car from a Sci-Fi movie and you either love it or hate it. Since I’m a Sci-Fi fan I love it…
This one and the Leapmotor T03 are definitely the most interesting Chinese electric cars in the A-segment that could be successful in Europe. The Leapmotor T03 with its NCM 811 battery has higher range, but the Baojun E300 Plus with its cobalt-free battery can be cheaper and produced in much higher numbers.
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What do you think about this A-segment electric car? Would it be a nice alternative to the Renault Twingo ZE or the FIAT 500 Action in Europe if it had a short delivery time and sold for around 15.000 euros before government incentives?
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