Should we all embrace Japan’s kei car model – small, cheap, but not exactly safe?

Published

12 months ago

December 6, 2023

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Nissan-affordable-EVs — Nissan Sakura mini EV (Source: Nissan)

A new breed of electric vehicles is drawing inspiration from Japanese kei cars, tiny cubes-on-wheels that are highway-legal but not likely to pass muster with US or EU safety standards. But what if we loosened up those standards to help lower prices, enabling broader adoption of EVs to people who don’t have 30 grand or more to spend on a car? That is, at least, one of the ideas that French automaker Renault’s head Luca de Meo has put on the table.

Recently de Meo, who also heads up the ACEA, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, took to the stage at a press conference to argue against the instability of European legislation on their industry. He says that they are now facing eight or nine European regulations coming into force each year until 2030, with some of them being contradictory. An incredible amount of time, energy, and money is monopolized to work to meet the demands, with de Meo saying that 20% of the company’s engineers are “almost entirely” dedicated to making sure products developed in-house comply with the standards. These standards encompass everything from safety to pollution levels to visibility and infotainment systems, among other things.

Basically, he argues that Europe needs to adopt a less fluctuating and intense framework to keep the playing field level for European automakers to stay in the game and make some cheaper cars. If Europe simplifies the rules, consumers can enjoy a 40% reduction in car prices by 2027-2028, he argues.

It’s a very tempting proposition, especially when you factor in his idea of creating a whole new category equivalent to kei cars in Europe (we’ll include the US here as a thought experiment) – like in Japan, these cars too would have limits in terms of their size, weight, and power, all in exchange for less stringent safety requirements while benefiting from tax breaks. Picture a tiny car with a tiny battery priced as low as $10,000 – in terms of size, it’s not quite a Citroën Ami but not a Tesla Model 3 either.

De Meo has officially stated that he has drawn inspiration from kei cars for an upcoming crop of EVs coming out of Ampere, Renault’s EV subsidiary, especially the new electric Twingo. While inspired by the first-generation hatchback from the ‘90s, the new Twingo has adopted some kei aspects, such as a slight cube-style shape maximizing interior space in a reduced size with five doors. Renault hasn’t yet released any specifications on the car but promises an efficiency of up to 6.2 miles per kWh, with a price set for under €20,000, or around $22,000. But still, the new Twingo needs to comply to European standards, especially in terms of crash testing (and we might see that price crawl up before it becomes available). That’s the main reason we don’t see Japanese models outside of Japan, such as its best-selling EV kei car, the Sakura.

Electrek’s Take

There are a ton of reasons why this makes sense – just in practical terms of having better access to cheap, light cars that are easy to drive and park. People want small, lightweight cars for short commuter trips or city driving, and lighter EVs would take some pressure off roads as well. And if you’re worried about being cramped, they are designed to maximize interior space, so the boxy frame offers plenty of leg and head room to keep you comfortable, for a little while at least.

Of course, if the idea of being behind the wheel of a highway-legal kei car on a five-lane freeway with SUVs and trucks bearing down on you is terrifying, I agree. It’s really a game of physics here – big, heavy vehicles with long hoods and big crush zones take the advantage here. But clearly the trend is going in the wrong direction, and we need more more small cars on the road, not the two-ton behemoths that are being sold now. Small, cheap EVs fill a huge void in the market. And of course, we’re not talking about radically reducing safety regulations either – I’m old enough to remember riding in a Yugo, the world’s unsafest car and a harrowing experience because it was a literal tin can. Unsafe, cheap cars sold to people who can’t afford all the safety bells and whistles is depressing, and seeing safety reductions for cost savings is a tricky proposition long-term. It’s more about finding some middle ground. If we could get it right, this could be a great move.

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What makes a Honda a Honda? Prologue engineers help us find out!

Published

3 hours ago

November 16, 2024

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What makes a Honda a Honda? Prologue engineers help us find out!

On today’s informative episode of Quick Charge, we’ve got Honda engineers Jason Hwang and Emilio Sanchez to talk us through some of the things that make the GM Ultium-based Honda Prologue EV feel like a real Honda, and why that matters.

Jason and Emilio talk about some of the choices they made to make the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX feel different from its GM-branded cousins, and explain why this was much more than a case of badge-engineering. Give it a listen, then let us know what you think of the Prologue and ZDX in the comments.

Today’s episode is sponsored by BLUETTI, a leading provider of portable power stations, solar generators, and energy storage systems. For a limited time, save up to 52% during BLUETTI’s exclusive Black Friday sale, now through November 28, and be sure to use promo code BLUETTI5OFF for 5% off all power stations site wide. Learn more by clicking here.

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Environment

The Eastern US’s first CFI-funded EV charging hub comes online

Published

6 hours ago

November 15, 2024

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The Eastern US's first CFI-funded EV charging hub comes online

CF EV charging — Photo: Joint Office of Energy and Transportation

The first EV charging hub funded by the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Program in the Eastern US is now online in Deerfield, Massachusetts.

The town installed the region’s first DC fast chargers (four ports), along with four Level 2 chargers, at 59 North Main Street in South Deerfield.

These new charging stations, funded with $2.46 million from the CFI program, are conveniently located near Interstate 91 in Franklin County, the most rural county in Massachusetts, which serves drivers from Connecticut up to the Canadian border.

The hub also features local and regional bus stops and designated bike lanes with secure onsite bike racks. The chargers are meant to cater to everyone: from local residents and visitors to municipal EVs and commercial vehicles that service the region’s businesses, like those in food and beverage manufacturing.

Gabe Klein, executive director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, sees this as a model for future projects:

Multi-modal charging hubs in communities are key to giving more people the choice to ride and drive electric. The Town of Deerfield is showing leadership in building out convenient charging infrastructure that brings new transportation choices to rural and disadvantaged communities while supporting local commerce.

In recent years, Deerfield has experienced increased climate change-driven flooding from nearby rivers, including the Deerfield River, the Connecticut River, and the Bloody Brook. The project incorporates environmental engineering designed to mitigate and adapt to the effects of flooding and climate, including the installation of permeable asphalt and rain gardens, planting of native trees, grasses, and shrubs, and the creation of new greenspace in the center of Deerfield.

The Biden-Harris administration’s CFI Grant Program is expanding EV infrastructure nationwide. It offers grants for projects that complement and expand upon the initiatives of the NEVI program in urban, rural, and disadvantaged and low-income communities. So far, the CFI Grant Program has allocated over $1 billion to nearly 100 projects across the US, encouraging private investments and expanding the EV charging network to make EV ownership more practical and convenient.

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Environment

Kia’s new low-cost EV4 was just spotted in the US for the first time

Published

6 hours ago

November 15, 2024

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Kia's new low-cost EV4 was just spotted in the US for the first time

Kia’s upcoming EV4 electric sedan was just spotted testing in the US for the first time. The low-cost EV is expected to make its big debut by the end of the year. Here’s a look at the new model.

The EV4 will round out Kia’s new “EVs for all” master plan launched last year. Kia showcased three new models, the EV3, EV4, and EV5, during its first annual EV Day in October 2023.

During the event, Kia outlined its new global strategy to “lead and accelerate the EV revolution” with a wide range of models priced from $30,000 to $80,000.

Kia plans to rapidly expand its lineup with a series of smaller, lower-priced models. It launched the EV9, its first three-row electric SUV, which is already proving to be a hot seller in the US. Starting at under $55,000, the EV9 is still a great deal compared to others in its class, but Kia plans to go even lower.

The EV3 and EV4 are expected to be among the most affordable electric vehicles when they arrive in the US.

Kia’s new EV4 is now testing in the US

Ahead of its official debut, Kia’s new EV4 sedan was recently caught driving on US streets for the first time.

The latest image from KindelAuto doesn’t reveal much more than what’s been shown in the past, but the fact that it’s now testing in the US is significant.

Kia EV4 caught on US streets for the first time (Source: KindelAuto)

Kia’s EV3 is already on sale in Korea, starting at around $30,000 (42.08 million won). Earlier this week, the company said its new compact SUV is now available across Europe, starting at around $38,000 (36,000 euros) with a “segment-leading range” of up to 375 miles (WLTP).

Next up will be the EV4. Kia is expected to officially reveal the new EV by the end of the year, with deliveries starting in 2025. It could be as soon as next week at the 2024 LA Auto Show.

The interior will feature Kia’s advanced new ccNC infotainment system with dual 12.3″ navigation and driver display screens. An otherwise minalimalistic design is expected inside.

Kia’s EV4 will also be available in a hatchback variant. Although the hatch is likely aimed at European buyers, it was also recently spotted testing in the US for the first time.