Volt City EV launched in Thailand – two- and four-door versions, range up to 210 km, priced from only RM40k
The electric vehicle (EV) scene in Thailand is certainly getting more interesting than ever. In addition to the initiative to develop charging infrastructure and even EV test facilityThe Thai government’s push for electrification is seeing new brands enter the segment.
One such player is the EV Primus Company. The company, which is the exclusive importer and distributor of Dongfeng Sokon Automobile (commonly known as DFSK Motor) vehicles in Thailand, has launched a new electric hatchback model called Volt City EV.
Two different body style configurations (two and four doors) are available for the vehicle and both come in two trim specifications, namely Classic and Premium. Prices start at 325,000 baht (RM40,212) for the two-door Classic and 355,000 baht (RM43,924) for the two-door Premium.
For the four-door Classic version, prices start at 385,000 baht (RM47,636), while the Premium version costs 415,000 baht (RM51,348). The Classic models are covered by a three-year/80,000 km warranty, while the Premium models are covered by a 5-year/120,000 km warranty. The company is also offering a wall-box charger at a discounted price of 30,000 baht (RM3,711).
In terms of dimensions, the two-door Volt City EV has a length of 2,920 mm, a width of 1,499 mm and a height of 1,610 mm, with a wheelbase of 1,980 mm. As you would expect given its size, the small tyke weighs only 690 kg. Meanwhile, the larger four-door model is similar in width and height, except it’s longer (3,380 mm) and has a longer wheelbase at 2,440 mm. It is also heavier at 795 kg.
Regardless of body style, the Volt City is equipped with a single, permanent-magnet, two-door synchronous electric motor that produces 40 hp and 90 Nm. The engine is powered by a tiny 11.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that gives the two-door version a range of up to 165 km (based on the NEDC cycle). Top speed is 100 km/h and with a 3.1 kW AC charger, it takes four hours to fully charge the car.
The four-door model boosts the engine’s output to 46 hp and 102 Nm, and it also gets a slightly larger 16.5 kWh battery, increasing the range to 210 km (again, NEDC) with on-the-go charging via regenerative braking a bit more. Similarly, with the 3.1 kW AC charger, it takes 5.5 hours to fully charge the Volt City and the top speed is identical to the two-door model.
It seems like a budget EV for the most part, but the Volt City gear list paints a different picture. Vehicles equipped with LED lighting front and rear, electric rearview mirror, while inside you get features like digital instrument cluster and seven-inch touchscreen integrated into a dashboard. single control, with Apple CarPlay and Android. Automatic assistance, and the car even has a multifunction steering wheel.
It’s not too shabby either on the safety front, with dual airbags, parking sensors, a reversing camera, a tire pressure monitoring system, and even a low-speed pre-collision warning system. As you’d expect with its sophisticated features, it’s also equipped with the basics like ABS and EBD, which are equivalent of course.
We may have seen countless electric car models launched in Malaysia, but really, this is the type of electric vehicle that we need to see more of locally. Despite its low range, such a car would make a perfect city commuter. What do you think of the Volt City EV?
