Qingyuan ZX40This MPV was born as Daihatsu Move, later fine-tuned by FAW to become FAW Xinfu, and recently fine-tuned again by Qingyuan so that it now bears the Qingyuan ZX40 name. After these confusing three stages, and in the form of an electric vehicle it is now ready to take on the US auto market that has been burdened by rising gas prices.



What Qingyuan did was replacement of conventional petrol engine with a battery pack and electric motor. The car will fetch US$15,000. However, the downside is that it will only get only 25mph and 40 miles per charge. Nonetheless, not private consumers but industrial centres, local authorities and other such depot-based fleets are targeted to sell this EV.



Though there can be no time as perfect as the present to introduce this EV, yet its range is way too low to allow successful sales. On the other hand, maybe sales could revive once an improved version, the XS200 with a 80mph and 200 miles per charge capable car launches next year.



Via: channel4.com