Baojun E100 latest news and update: General Motors goes electric in China

Baojun e100 | photo by @CNNTech via Twitter
Baojun e100 | photo by @CNNTech via Twitter

Electric cars have had difficulty penetrating the automotive market, mostly attributed to the price that comes with them. A lot of that falls heavily on the features and technology tied up to it. The Baojun E100 tries to address the problems tied up to price with General Motors offering the two-seater hybrid to the Chinese market for just $5,300.

The Baojun E100 measures just 63-inches and can reach top speeds of 62 miles per hour. It can travel up to 96 miles on a single charge, the load of which the 39 horsepower engine will be tasked to fulfill.

Baojun E100 features

Aside from the 39 HP engine, potential buyers of Baojun’s first electric car will want to know other amenities with the electric vehicle. According to Inhabitat, the E100 will also have a cheeky entertainment system with a 7-inch screen and built-in WiFi.

Aside from that, the E100 will also have parking sensors and pedestrian alert systems for needed safety measures. Like other vehicles, higher models will offer more features. For the E100, the added incentives include the ability to lock and unlock the EV using a touchpad.

First-come First served basis for E100

Baojun may not ring a bell to most who are not familiar with the Chinese auto market. The brand is actually among the top eight brands over there and is the mass market brand from General Motors.

Hence, this may be the reason why Chinese consumers are frantically lining up to pre-order the tiny electric vehicle. As of this writing, more than 5,000 people have already signed up for the Baojun E100. The first 200 vehicles are good as sold though another 500 is expected to follow later this week.

The new electric vehicle will be primarily catered to the Guanxi region of Southern China for now. If all goes well, GM plans to expand their coverage but in China. So how about the rest of the world?
Will E100 do well overseas?

There are several things to consider outside cost for the E100. One is that its size seems tailored to Asians. For places like the U.S. and Europe, fitting in the driver and a passenger may be a problem. And if they are able to fit in, the disparity in weight may hinder the performance and the longevity of use of the electric car.

Thus far, the push to move to electric vehicles is around though the main issue remains the price. Compared to the traditional gas-powered vehicles, not many people are willing to shell out big bucks even if these cars are meant to bring down pollution.

For the E100, it could hold promise. But somehow, the small make may not fit in well in other regions who may find problems getting into these mini electric car alternatives.