Chinese manufacturer to unveil mini electric car next month

BEIJING // Great Wall, China's leading SUV maker, will display its 48v electric car at the Beijing auto show in April this year. The car, which costs 20,000RMB (Dh10,760), has a maximum speed of 65kph and can travel up to 120km on a single charge. The model, which resembles the Peri launched in 2008 by the same car maker, will be converted into a two-seater to accommodate large batteries. Despite its low speed, the zero-pollution, zero-emission car will be able to recharge to a 70 per cent capacity in 10 minutes. Many industry experts as well as car enthusiasts believe that the electric car will stiffen the competition for Tata Nano's electric version. As demands grow for clean and green energy vehicles, they also think that the car, with its low operating cost, will make a dent in the regular car market within the country.