Spy Shots: The MG E1

SAIC Roewe has the Beijing auto show in 2010 called E1 posted on pure electric concept car, of course, has revealed the production version of the model will be launched in 2012. Review the original concept car, the Roewe E1 A00 as a single compartment three four-level car, the body design of the use of "One Box" concept, the maximum expansion of the vehicle interior space.

E1 volume is not great, but the body is very full, front windshield with a big arc, so that not only the roof and the front there is a perfect transition, but also for the front passenger head room increased. Roewe E1 equipped with a safety performance of lithium iron phosphate system, the maximum speed of 120km / h, maximum driving range of 135km ,0-100km / h acceleration time of 16 seconds. The car with the quick charge function, can be charged within 30 minutes of 80%.

SAIC E1 electric cars by the Shanghai Automotive Technical Center independent research and development, with completely independent intellectual property rights. With zero emissions, low power design, modular, integrated approach to development. Relying on the battery system, motor and control, power electronics, electric power steering, electric air conditioning and vehicle development capabilities, including integration of new energy industry chain, plans to take the lead in the domestic electric vehicle industry, to provide consumers with environmentally friendly energy, technologically advanced electric cars, for the low-carbon economy era ready.

The car is now once again in front of us, is a quasi-production models of the trial, and also adhering to the original intention of the development of electric cars. "One Box" design concepts continue to be preserved, A00 class three models, but did not use the concept car windshield angle as the great arc of glass design, but still maintained a high current linear design. Windshield glass becomes more structured, so concept car from the wiper wipers into a conventional single-double-wiper design.

Transparent hood design is no longer retained the original body side of the plug-in charging port changes to the front of the front position, after a separate cover opened to reveal a charging jack. This is also to hear the wind Nissan LEAF as the representative of the mass production of electric cars on a more unified design trends.

Side window retains the same design and concept cars, rear position relatively narrow, the utilization rate is not high, only to retain the narrow triangular side windows. The light from the rear contour of view, but also with almost the same design concept car, the other on the rear bumper is equipped with three parking radar detector. According to sources, the E1 mass production of electric vehicles will be used rear-wheel drive model, the traditional control module in the engine compartment, flat battery pack is arranged in the body just below, to reduce the impact of the collision risks. Spy can also see E1 on the production model rather special alloy wheels and interior design, it is because the car models with a wheel motor design.

There is also a clear exposure of the interior part, although not as a concept car, steering wheel and rudder flying round the LCD screen as science fiction, but any course reflect the SAIC brand models in the electronic configuration of the leading trends. MG appeared on the steering wheel of LOGO, but careful observation can be found under the steering wheel spokes are "MG3" the words, it can be concluded that this is only temporary use of the test car's steering wheel accessories MG3 model, not the final production model E1 configuration, so whether to continue using the Roewe brand, or if the media prior to analysis using the MG brand, is still uncertain. May introduce a dual-brand models, to meet Chinese domestic and overseas market needs.

Instrument panel and center console audio system with a large LCD screen, law-abiding, but to become a more rectangular shape, especially on the center console LCD screen size is very large, but also used to hide from the light touch sensitive buttons on the control panel and can not see the spy photos of the air conditioning control panel configuration, there may be control functions integrated into the LCD screen, electronic intelligence to achieve higher configuration. Another key to the production model E1 design and Roewe 550 is similar to using the remote control key into the overall design of the module.

File as a pure electric vehicle, there is no transmission of the body, interior transmission through the panel on the handle of the institution, in P, R, N, D to switch between the different stalls, to achieve the different modes of conversion. "Transmission lever" rear electronic parking brake button, there are two buttons can not see the signs, should be the control of the front power windows, heated front seats or the control buttons. The fabric color fabric seat with blue trim, but also a symbol of pure electric energy of zero pollution emissions.

Now introduce a pure electric vehicle brands and own brands to participate in a joint venture are no longer a minority, but really to achieve mass production and sale of only a handful of models. How to better control the price of electric cars, to facilitate the use of conditions, but also affect the production of electric cars a key factor.

According to SAIC's new Energy Division, Chief Engineer Lingtian Jun said, developed by SAIC innovative plug-in hybrid electromechanical coupling drive technology has entered the prototype phase of trial. In the new energy automobile industry planning, SAIC try multiple routes, including hybrid, pure electric, plug-in, fuel cell and so on in an advanced stage.

SAIC and GM in the next generation of electric vehicles on a strategic cooperation platform after 3 months, Roewe E1 electric car once again return to the SAIC product system perspective, SAIC has an "A0" class car spy photos frequently jump into the media field, and from SAIC said the scheduling information see, E1 is expected to MG ( microblogging ) of product features gradually mass production, if established in accordance with the original plan of SAIC, the car's production time after 2012, E1 production was significantly faster than the "on - through" cooperative product of the rhythm, that SAIC in the new energy cooperation, not all the eggs in one basket.

As early as 2010 Beijing Auto Show during, E1 on the face of a concept car for the first time to meet with the public, then more than a year, where it is most frequently photographed the World Expo China Pavilion carbon area, as the Expo will be the only new specified the direction of energy automotive industry exhibits, the past year, it is the role of the church is much larger than its production of meaning.

However, according to SAIC's schedule, this name Roewe concept car LOGO production time has long been established, according to general manager of SAIC's new Energy Division, said dry-band, 2012 SAIC will implement two new energy vehicle production , a Roewe 550 plug-strong mixed, while the other is the internal code EP11 is a pure electric car E1.

From SAIC in the information disclosed, the present production of E1 time later than the Roewe 550 strong mixed, according to SAIC's steps, the first step is the rate of 20% of the fuel mix Roewe 750Hybrid, this car was listed in October, SAIC currently has 3 million to buy this unilateral subsidy rate of 50% followed by a strong fuel mixture Roewe 550, and finally the E1.

Worthy of scrutiny, in the amount of pre-E1, SAIC and GM on the next-generation electric vehicle platform of cooperation agreement has been reached, during, E1 before the mass production of electric vehicles will not adopt a common technology, which will directly consider "the - through the "electric car and the exact time of concrete cooperation projects to the present situation, E1 is not directly associated with this.

SAIC president Chen Hong told reporters that before: "SAIC's new energy routes will ensure strategic security, self-control system of the industrial chain." SAIC he emphasized the development of new energy "independent innovation, and external integration, two legs "of the model.

According to SAIC's new Energy Division, Chief Engineer Lingtian Jun said, developed by SAIC innovative plug-in hybrid electromechanical coupling drive technology has entered the prototype phase of trial. The technology will effectively circumvent Toyota , GM and other domestic and hybrid products, technical barriers, is more compact, more efficient electric drive gearbox, is expected to load at SAIC in 2012, new energy cars.

More news that the future is likely to E1 in the listing of the use of "MG" brand import, the MG brand to strengthen existing product system, if E1 eventually "MG 1" brand identity market, the better to prove E1 and next-generation electric vehicle platform is not directly linked. In this regard, SAIC did not respond.

Both Chen Hong previous position, or SAIC prepared a long time based on E1 and high exposure, show that SAIC's first electric vehicle R & D line is still based on its own to complete. The attitude of E1 from SAIC can be read out, with the common platform for cooperation on next-generation electric cars before, SAIC still hope in the hands of chips a little more.

At the end of last month during the Shanghai International Industry Fair, SAIC executive vice president, Chih-Hsin Chen said: " Shanghai Automotive ( 600,104 , stock it ) has invested 2 billion yuan in the basis, plans to cast 60 billion yuan for development of new energy vehicles. "according to SAIC's plans to" second Five-Year "period, SAIC sales of all models, the new energy vehicles account for 20 percent (Shanghai Automotive" Twelve Five "plan production and sales of 600 million, which means "second five" Shanghai Automotive will produce 1.2 million new energy vehicles).

In the new energy automobile industry planning, SAIC try multiple routes, including hybrid, pure electric, plug-in, fuel cell and so on in an advanced stage. "SAIC for the promotion of new energy vehicles Yes the whole industry chain, it is not a car two cars." Chih-Hsin Chen said, "the future of hybrid car models in Shanghai, will be the standard."

It is understood that in 2012 the market Roewe 550 plug-in hybrid can achieve 50% energy savings (an average of about 2.6-2.7 liters hundred kilometers). Former general manager of SAIC Technology Center Gao Weimin , said: "SAIC electric drive, battery and electronic control key parts of the R & D and design have set up a separate power sector. SAIC Motor and engine used in hybrid-driven approach with Japan and U.S. technology are very different, we choose to do. "

For future cooperation, General Motors China (microblogging) Academy of Sciences Du Jiangling said: "GM and SAIC co-direction of the next generation electric car platform, for now, the general increase in the moment the program does not include electric vehicle technology including. "In his view, to consider intellectual property protection and other reasons, SAIC still want to have a considerable say in the joint development of high Weimin have also agrees:" We are now jointly developed with the foreign product is no longer a simple make the money that we can, but learn from each other to enhance the capability of independent innovation, to make themselves grow faster. "