Electric Cars: The Basics
For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:
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The All-Electric GWM Ora Funky Cat Hatchback
GWM Ora, though, not a brand we immediately recognise in India, is owned by the Chinese automobile manufacturer, Great Wall Motor Co., Ltd. GWM is the eight largest automobile manufacturer in China and was founded in 1984. Yes, the company is named after the Great Wall of China and is headquartered in Hebei, China.
The Ora brand was announced by GWM in May 2018. According to the manufacturer, Ora stands for ‘open, reliable and alternative’. The brand is dedicated 100% to electric vehicles (EVs). The company currently sells the following electric vehicles (EVs):
- The all-electric Ora Funky Cat
Though the pure electric Funky Cat is new to our market, its exterior design has a sense of familiarity. A blend of styling from other family cars familiar to us: the all-electric Mini, the Porsche 911, VW Beetle and more! For some reason, it works and results in a rather attractive (cute) family compact electric hatchback. However, we are not as convinced with the name, which has its genesis in the GWM China portfolio, further tweaked for international markets.
The Funky Cat is available in two battery sizes (48 kWh/ 63 kWh), which is an excellent approach, as it gives consumers more choice. The manufacturer claims an electric range of up to 310 km for the entry-level 48 kWh variant and an e-range up to 420 km for the 63 kWh EV battery option. Certainly more than adequate zero-emission electric range for daily commuting and motorway driving.
Even adjusted for real-world driving conditions the electric hatchback will deliver decent range. For the 48 kWh EV battery, expect a real-world range closer to 260 km and for the 63 kWh EV battery, a 350 km e-range is more realistic. In comparison, the Corsa-e has 362 km claimed range, the Honda e 222 km and the Mini Electric, 270 km.
The five-door five-seat e-hatchback is not as compact as it looks. In fact, in terms of size it is closer to the all-electric VW ID.3 (length: 4261 mm) and the all-electric Cupra Born (length: 4322 mm). But despite this, the Funky Cat (4235 mm) offers a much smaller boot (228 L), compared to the ID.3 (385 L) and Born (385 L). Moreover, the Funky Cat boot does have a high lip. The Ora does not have a frunk. The EV cable can be stored below the boot.
In terms of performance, the front-wheel drive (FWD) GWM Ora electric is not as nippy as the all-electric Abarth 500e (0-100 km/h: 7.0 seconds), but the Ora does deliver a decent performance. The electric vehicle (EV) can achieve 0-100 km/h in 8.3 seconds (maximum power: 171 PS/ torque 250 Nm). The top speed is 160 km/h. The EV has regenerative braking and offers one-pedal driving.
Though the Ora electric family car only offers DC charging up to 64 kW DC, given the size of the onboard EV battery and the fact that most charging is done at home, the 64 kW DC charging speed is just fine. According to GWM, the EV battery can be charged 15%-80%: 42 minutes. For home charging, using a dedicated residential single-phase EV charger, the EV can be fully charged in 5 hours and 24 minutes.
Interestingly, the EV incorporates a 3-phase AC onboard charger as standard. For those with access to three-phase (11 kW) charging, the electric car can be fully charged in 3 hours and 12 minutes. In general, we at e-zoomed recommend a topping up approach to charging an EV. This way, charging times are shorter and it is also better for the long-term maintenance of the EV battery. GWM offers a 8 years or 160,000 km EV battery warranty. This has now become the de facto standard for electric cars!
The GWM Ora has already achieved a 5 Star NCAP Safety Rating. The EV offers a host of safety features, to include: auto emergency braking, pedestrian & cyclist detection, blindspot detection, lane keep assist, lane centring function, ADAS safety package, reversing camera, 360 degree surround cameras, rear traffic cross alert & brake and more!
Other technology onboard includes: a 10.25″ infotainment display, 10.25″ instrument cluster, wireless charging and voice assistant. Interestingly, the e-hatchback also offers a facial recognition system, which recognises the driver and automatically adjusts the settings to the drivers preference.
The Funky Cat is not the first EV to incorporate this technology and we can expect it to become commonplace in due course. Surprisingly, it does not offer Apple Car Play or Android Auto (will be installed via over-the-air updates in due course).
Despite the compact size, the EV has ample headroom and legroom, but a tight squeeze for three adults at the back. Also limited is the rear-view visibility and there is no windscreen wiper. The interior quality is to a good standard and finish. It is available in a dual-tone colour scheme.
Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet! The Ora electric car is not available in India.
PROS | CONS |
---|---|
Decent all-electric range. 11 kW AC onboard charger as standard | Limited brand awareness |
Appealing exterior styling | Cheaper alternatives available |
Good level of safety and technology | Small boot |
The All-Electric GWM Ora Funky Cat Hatchback (credit: GWM Ora)
At A Glance | |
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EV Type: | Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) |
Vehicle Type: | Hatchback |
Engine: | Electric |
Available In India: | No |
Trims (1 Option) |
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GWM Ora Funky Cat (from Rs N/A) |
EV Battery & Emissions | |
---|---|
EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
EV Battery Capacity: | Available in two battery sizes: 48 kWh/ 63 kWh |
Charging: | 64 kW DC rapid charging (15%-80%: 42 mins). Onboard charger 11 kW AC (15%-80% : 3 hrs 12 mins) |
Charge Port: | Type 2 |
EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
Tailpipe Emissions: | 0g (CO2/km) |
Battery Warranty: | 8 years or 160,000 km |
Charging Times (Overview) | |
---|---|
Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW): | 6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC) |
Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW): | 3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
Rapid charging AC (43 kW): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
Rapid charging DC (50 kW+): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+): | 0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW): | 0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
- Note 1: SoC: state of charge
Dimensions | |
---|---|
Height (mm): | 1603 |
Width (mm): | 1825 |
Length (mm): | 4235 |
Wheelbase (mm): | 2650 |
Turning Circle (m): | 11.2 |
Boot Space (L): | 228 |
Ora Funky Cat | |
---|---|
EV Battery Capacity: | 48 – 63 kWh |
Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 310 – 420 km |
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km): | 16.5 – 16.8 |
Charging: | 64 kW DC rapid charging (15%-80%: 42 mins). Onboard charger 11 kW AC (15%-80% : 3 hrs 12 mins) |
Top Speed: | 160 km/h |
0-100 km/h: | 8.2 – 8.3 seconds |
Drive: | Front-wheel drive (FWD) |
Max Power (PS): | 171 (126 kW) |
Torque (Nm): | 250 |
Transmission: | Automatic |
Seats: | 5 |
Doors: | 5 |
Kerb Weight (kg): | 1,540 |
Colours: | 6 |
NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |
Top Reasons To Buy An Electric Vehicle (EV)
Never have the reasons to buy an electric car been more compelling, than in 2023. The past decade has witnessed a significant maturity of all types of electric vehicles (EVs), to include, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
A BEV, also known as a pure electric car, is propelled using energy stored in an EV battery via an electric motor. While a PHEV uses ‘hybrid technology’, to include, an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor, to propel the vehicle.
One of the primary differences between a BEV and a PHEV, is that, a pure electric car, like the best-selling Tesla Model 3, has a much longer zero-tailpipe emission electric range, compared to a plug-in hybrid electric car, like the Toyota Prius PHEV.
The reason is simple: a BEV has a much larger onboard EV battery. In general, the latest BEVs have a zero-emission range between 150 to 500 km on a single charge, while PHEVs average closer to 50 km. Given the significant increase in electric range, improvement in EV charging infrastructure and attractive government grants, BEVs are fast becoming the preferred type of electric vehicle to own!
In India, we have also witnessed an increase in the availability of pure electric cars. Some of these include: the all-electric BMW i7, the all-electric Kia EV6, the all-electric BMW iX, the all-electric BYD ATTO 3 and many more! Expect this momentum to increase significantly, as more EV automotive manufacturers cast an eye on the Indian automotive market!
Top Reasons To Buy An Electric Vehicle (EV) |
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Lower tailpipe emissions and lower air pollution i.e. improves air quality in the immediate area. |
Significantly cheaper to recharge a full EV battery, compared to filling a full tank of petrol/ diesel. |
Cheaper to drive per km, compared to an internal combustion engine petrol/ diesel car. |
Lower maintenance costs, compared to aninternal combustion engine petrol/ diesel car. Pure electric cars have fewer moving parts, so less can go wrong! |
Lower noise pollution,compared to aninternal combustion engine petrol/ diesel car. Noise pollution is as detrimental on health, as air pollution! |
A vast range of fantastic EV available on sale, for all budgets and aspirations. EVs have come a long way since the introduction of the first generation all-electric Nissan Leaf in 2010. |
Attractive government subsidies to support the uptake of electric cars. Take advantage while still available. |
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