Attempting Colombia’s Most cost-effective EV: A Weekend With the Zhidou D2S 

One of many major modifications we’ve seen because the world transitions to electrical mobility is the supply of small, inexpensive electrical autos. When batteries will be positioned within the ground of the automobile, and the motor is small and lightweight, such a automobiles change into simpler and cheaper to fabricate: the previous best-selling Wuling Hongguang Mini EV is the best-known instance, however small EVs are rising all around the world and gaining consideration and consumers for his or her city adaptability and — primarily — the very low costs they’re capable of provide.

In growing markets, affordability is the secret. Colombia isn’t the exception, and its most bought EV is a two-seater known as the Zhidou D2S, one which I not too long ago had the prospect to try to even take for a small journey outdoors town.

Zhidou D2S: Basic Overview

The Zhidou D2S is a Chinese language-made mini EV with two seats and a surprisingly giant 300-liter trunk. It options:

• 18 kWh lithium-ion (NMC) batteries.
• 15 kW nominal motor, 30 kW peak.
• 85 km/h prime pace.
• 150 km nominal vary, although no official customary is offered.
• 629 kg weight, making it impressively gentle for an EV (or any car, actually).

Picture courtesy of Juan Diego.

As of November 2023, this car will be bought at COP$61’990.000, or $15,523 (down almost 10% from early 2023). That locations it within the ballpark of Colombia’s most cost-effective ICE, the Kia Picanto, which prices COP$51’990.000, or $13,018. Nevertheless, the Picanto is clearly a extra succesful car, with 4 seats and no vary limitations, exhibiting that EVs nonetheless have a approach to go within the street to cost parity.

The Zhidou D2S can be out there for every day and month-to-month renting via an area firm known as Muverang … and, due to a pleasant low cost they provided, my associate and I made a decision to lease it for a weekend and take it out for a visit in Bogota’s environment.

Touring in a Mini EV, Day 1: Neusa Dam.

Bogota is situated excessive up the mountains in Colombia’s Japanese Cordillera, the place rain is plentiful and geography permits for dams and reservoirs; because of this, the panorama is full of synthetic lakes that make for a pleasant day journey out of town. Our first vacation spot was Neusa (one in every of these lakes). The journey was deliberate with a Terpel Voltex charger conveniently positioned alongside the way in which in order that we may go to small cities additional north.

After selecting up the automobile in northern Bogota at 92% SOC, the three of us (me, my associate, and our canine, blissfully sleeping within the trunk) took off. Heavy site visitors slowed us down, however the automobile felt comfy, surprisingly roomy, and really straightforward and even enjoyable to drive within the jam. At this level, we had been enthralled and really questioning if it might be price it to purchase one in every of these. A few hours and a stiff climb later (one which the automobile had no problem in anyway with), we had been in Neusa, 61 km into our journey.

We walked for some time, received to know the native presents, and began our climb down. It was almost noon, and the plan was to cost the automobile as we had lunch.

Terpel Voltex’s station had three connectors: CHAdeMO, CCS1, and Sort 2 (one in every of every). The Sort 2 plug was out there (there was a Chevy Bolt EUV utilizing CCS1), and, since we had already downloaded the app, the method to cost was comparatively easy, although it was tough to get the system to acknowledge we had already related the car.

That is the place issues began.

I used to be of the understanding that the Zhidou D2S, although missing fast-charging capabilities, was capable of “gradual cost” at 7 kW as most EVs do … however as our lunch progressed, it turned clear that the charging pace was lower than half of that. This put a pressure in our plans, as our two 1-hour deliberate charging stops had abruptly change into 2-hour lengthy stops … far an excessive amount of for a one-day journey. After almost an hour of lunch, solely 2.83 kWh had been added to the battery (16%), so we had to decide on between ready one other hour or slicing our journey quick and turning again.

In the long run, we determined towards visiting the cities additional north and began our return to Bogota. We stopped once more in Chia, a small city north of Bogota, to recharge in one other Terpel Voltex station with 4 Sort 2 chargers, the place we charged for a little bit greater than an hour whereas consuming one thing and strolling round with our canine (including 4.42 kWh, or 25%, to the battery). Because of this cease, we managed to get again to our residence with some 27% SOC.

Day 2: Sibate

The rental Zhidou D2S got here with a 110V connector and a 12-meter-long extension twine, so it was fairly straightforward to get it to cost in a single day in our constructing. The morning after, at 100% SOC, we began our journey within the different path to get to Sibaté, a small city south of Bogota identified for the outdated psychological hospital previously working there.

Already conscious of the Zhidou D2S’s charging limitations, we determined towards an extended journey with a cease at one other charging station south of Bogota, and as a substitute deliberate it so we may go there and are available again in a single cost. The journey was uneventful: as soon as once more, the Zhidou D2s proved to be fairly versatile and enjoyable to drive, and responded effectively to the stiff climbs it needed to face at some factors.

Picture courtesy of Juan Diego.

Last Ideas

All in all, we drove some 250 km within the Zhidou D2S in the course of the two days that we had it, requiring roughly 27 kWh for all the trip and averaging a little bit bit lower than 11 kWh per 100 km (or 9.2 km/kWh). The automobile responded effectively to the necessities of our journey, exhibiting that EVs don’t have any points in anyway accelerating quickly or climbing steep climbs. Tts small measurement was a blessing when taking sharp turns or having to discover a parking spot. The pace was comparatively low (attributable to site visitors) and at most we traveled at 80 km/h — although, 60 km/h was way more frequent.

Nevertheless, charging speeds had been an actual disappointment, and serve to point out how even in “gradual” charging, there’s a big distinction between 3 kW and seven kW, one which on this case turned a dealbreaker within the resolution to buy the automobile. As each my associate and I hate site visitors and despise driving in Bogota — preferring public transportation, a bicycle, or our electrical Tremendous Soco — the Zhidou would function a weekend and leisure car, one thing that turns into problematic if we are able to’t handle to go wherever farther than 80 km from town earlier than having to cease a number of hours to cost. All in all, the Zhidou D2S is a superb metropolis automobile and might even be taken on quick journeys, however these require important planning and plenty of time in-between driving to recharge … and, when you ask me, at its present price, it simply isn’t price it.

Hopefully, EVs will change into cheaper quickly sufficient. And keep in mind, when you come to Bogota and want to transfer round in an EV, Muverang will be the firm you’re on the lookout for.

Picture courtesy of Juan Diego.