When it comes to electric cars, it's looking like bigger is better. You have the brand new Hummer EV, packed with 1000 horsepower and more torque than you'd ever need, and even further back you had the Tesla Cybertruck. And as all these new, hot, popular electric cars are coming out, it seems like automakers are straying away from the typical consumer. The one's who don't have 70 grand, or ever 30 grand, to throw at a new car that'll save the planet.
That's what makes the Kandi K27 so significant, yet it doesn't have nearly as much press as these other, high-end electric trucks. It put's a whole new meaning on entry-level, because you can have one for just $10,000. A new Camry costs twice that, and it's still powered by primitive gasoline. The last time cars sold for an average of 10,000 dollars was in the 90s, but this isn't just some cheap crap-can, this is a fully-fledged electric vehicle. And in a market where electric Smart cars cost 22k new, the Kandi K27 is a wonderful change of pace.
As prices on electric cars continue to skyrocket, it's becoming harder and harder for the common car buyer to fathom the idea of owning an EV. But Kandi took an incredibly different approach and plans to release an EV that'll cost only $10,000. Let's take a look at the K27, and see how it stacks up against its other electrified competitors.
How Is The Kandi K27 It So Cheap?
When you sit down and sign off on a brand new K27, you ought to know that the car isn't actually $10,000. The no-haggle MSRP on one of these is actually $17,499 (which, while not as advertised, is still relatively cheap for an EV). The real savings come in once the Federal tax credits arrive, which chop off the additional $7,500 bucks and brings the total price down to $9,999.
This isn't a new, groundbreaking concept, as many other electric vehicles reap the same benefits for their owners. The Nissan Leaf, Audi E-Tron, even high-end cars like the Jaguar I-Pace and Polestar 2 all get the same $7,500 tax break, as do some plug-in hybrids. The difference is that the K27 is cheap to begin with, and blows all these other vehicles out of the water when it comes down to price.
The Kandi K27 Facts And Figures
Some of you may worry that if you're buying a $10,000 car you're only going to get a $10,000 car, and in some aspects, that's very true. But there are other features that might make the K27 worth the money.
But let's start with the nitty-gritty: the K27 has a system of 17.69 kWh lithium batteries that produce 27 horsepower and will get you up to 68 miles per hour. On top of that underwhelming power is an even more underwhelming range, an EPA rated 59 miles, though that may not be entirely accurate as the car gets 127 MPGe (miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent) in the city and 102 MPGe on the highway. It's a mixed bag of impressiveness, especially to someone skeptical about entering the electric car world, but there are still some other fun things on the inside.
The K27 will seat 4 adults, though I wouldn't be surprised if the rear passengers complained about being cooped up in the tight rear seats. The car is only 11.4 feet long and 4.8 feet wide, which makes the K27 an electric Kei car. But at the end of the day, that's two more seats than a Smart car. It also comes equipped with a 9-inch touchscreen for the driver to fiddle with, which will come with built-in audio, Bluetooth, and a backup camera (and parking sensors as standard). Those are features some cars make you option, however, those are just about the only prominent features available. It's pretty bare-bones, but then again, this is a bare-bones car.
On top of the weak top speed and low range, there is one other massive drawback to this little EV: the rate of charge. According to Kandi, it'll take 7 hours on a 240kw charge port (something you already have in your home) to get the K27 from empty to full.
Will The K27 Be Worth The Price?
So, you can get it up to highway speeds, but only just, and even if you're brave enough to do that it won't last very long, your rear passengers may not be super comfy, and it takes 7 hours to charge. That leaves only one question: is the K27 worth the low price?
Well, that all depends on what you're looking for.
The K27 isn't built to be a complete daily driver, it's no highway star, it's not built for long trips. The chief executive of Kandi North America, Johnny Tai, who spoke with CNN about the car, knows this full well. It's meant to be a step up from an electric city bike, a grocery getter that can handle small roads, short trips, and being stuck in traffic. In essence, it's a city car and a brilliant one at that. So if that's all you need, then the K27 is an excellent way to get your foot in the door and test the waters of electric vehicles.
But if you're looking for a "real car," as Johnny Tai put it, then you may want to direct your attention to Kandi's other available model: The K23. While it still only seats 4 adults, the K23 is nearly 2 feet longer and has double the range (113 miles per charge according to the EPA). It's also nearly twice as big, though it does cost twice as much, $20,000 after federal tax credits.
But if the Kandi K27 meets your needs, then you'd better act fast. The car will cost $10,000, but only for the first 1,000 people who pre-order it. After that, the price will bump up a bit to 12,000 after tax credits. Kandi is doing their best to provide better value for anyone looking into the EV market, and if the K27 ends up impressing buyers beyond its price tag, the company may very well do that.
Besides, how harsh can you be on a $10,000 car?