This is the new Beijing Auto New Energy EU5 R500, a compact electric sedan from China. It looks great and even a bit futuristic, especially at the front.
Many Chinese electric cars have blue detailing or Blue badges. This is because blue is the color of new energy cars in China, instead of green, like in most of the world.
The EU5 R500 is made by a company called Beijing Auto New Energy, a subsidiary of Beijing Auto Industry Corporation (BAIC). For their English name they mostly use the abbreviation BJEV, which stands for BeiJing Electric Vehicle.
The EU5 R500 has a classy interior with luxurious looking materials, real leather and real wood, and a standing touch screen atop the center stack. The instrument panel is fully digital.
The Beijing Auto New Energy EU5 R500 is powered by an electric motor with 215 hp and 300 Nm, and that makes it by far the most powerful car in its segment. Top speed is 155 km/h and 0-100 is gone in 7.8 seconds. Battery is 53.5 kWh and range an impressive 416 kilometers (NEDC). Fast-charging takes 30 minutes for 80% battery, a full charge on 120 V takes 6 hours.
Beijing Auto has been in the EV game for about ten years now, and they are improving fast. Their first offerings had a range of about 100 kilometers, and now they sell various cars that go 300 to 400 kilometers. The EU5 R500 is their longest-range EV so far.
The badge writes: Beijing Auto ¤ New Energy.
The EU5 badge, with a partially blue E.
Price for the EU5 R500 starts at a hefty 135.900 yuan after subsidies. They also sell a base model EU5, with 135 hp and a 300 kilometer range, priced at 79.800 yuan.
Loads of badges on this car, the R500 badge on the C-pillar, with an R with a blue inside.
I saw this car at a BJEV dealer in Beijing, and it still had its factory sticker.
Dealer charging pole.
A great looking car with great technology. And if Beijing Auto continues their EV-development like they have been doing the last ten years, they will soon start selling cars with a 500 kilometer range. Or more…
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