Have you ever considered going electric? Your trusty petrol or diesel car might look at you sorrowfully if you mention it too loudly – but thoughts about swapping out your combustion-engined motor for an electric vehicle (EV) have surely entered your head on occasion, writes Tim Barnes-Clay.
Yes, fossil fuelled cars will still be around for years to come, and some folks may even refuse to go for an EV and keep their traditional cars - no matter what penalty the government will enforce as time passes.
But the hard truth is that emissions zones are kicking in in quite a few places now – and I'm not just talking about London and its ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone). I know, low-polluting cars with exhausts and engines are still cool to pass muster in the big brother world of emissions – but for how much longer?
During the election campaign, Labour said it would restore the 2030 phase-out date for the sale of new petrol and diesel cars. So, the clock is ticking. The last government set the deadline at 2035.
Therefore, boys and girls, EVs really are the way forward - and even if you don't want to ditch your lovely petrol or diesel – maybe you'll make your second car (if you're lucky enough to have that luxury) go electric instead. That way, you’ll have the best of both worlds.
Because of the shift towards EVs – new manufacturers are heading our way. For instance, the Chinese are enthusiastic about rolling out their cars to these shores. Take MG. Yes, it’s a classic British name – but not any longer – the Chinese own it – and have done so for ages. But it’s only now that the brand is on the up - mainly due to its electric offerings. Then there are the new kids like BYD, ORA - and now OMODA – they aren’t shy about getting their electric cars under our noses. In fact, their eagerness has probably lit a fire under the established ‘bread and butter’ automakers who’ve had decades of success here. A bit of competition can’t do any harm, right?
Well, maybe not, but some of the well-known manufacturers may worry that Chery, the parent company of OMODA, which has only just launched in these fair isles, has made its entrance to the Fortune Global 500 list. It entered at 385th position with an operating revenue of $39.1 billion. Gulp! That’s some going. If you don’t know what the Fortune Global 500 is - it’s an annual placing of the top 500 corporations in the world as calculated by revenue. The list is assembled and published each year by Fortune magazine.
This accomplishment hasn't come overnight for Chery. It has been China’s top vehicle exporter for two decades. But it's only now - through the new OMODA brand - that we in the UK are starting to hear about it.
Chery recently ushered in a new dual-brand, OMODA & JAECOO, across a swathe of markets, amassing 280,000 car sales in 15 months and becoming the fastest-growing automotive marque on the planet.
As alluded to (and as you may have read in our previous article about OMODA and its combustion-engined 5 model), the UK is the latest addition to OMODA & JAECOO’s mounting list of countries. The dual-brand was officially introduced here only at the tail end of August this year. The line-up of the OMODA 5 SUV range so far is the aforementioned petrol-propelled OMODA 5 (from £25,235), while the all-electric E5, which we’re focusing on for this article, has a windscreen sticker price starting at £33,055.
So, let's get to it, then - what's the E5 like? Well, we can't tell you what it's like to drive because the official launch party was just that - a party showcasing OMODA. But we did get to poke around the E5 and were told lots about it.
Housing a 61kWh Lithium-Ion Phosphate battery pack and a single motor shoving out 204 PS with 340 Nm torque, the E5 can apparently whizz from zero to 62 mph in a decent 7.6 seconds. But the most important bit is that it has a claimed mileage range of 257 miles.
Rapid DC charging is said to top up the battery from 30 to 80% in just under half an hour, while the 11kW onboard charger supports convenient charging from a wall box. Filling the E5’s battery from empty to 100% takes eight hours. The OMODA’s battery is also capable of powering other items, like fridges, kettles, and even cookers, using the E5's vehicle-to-load (V2L) resource. It's ideal if you're into outdoor activities or camping.
Like the OMODA 5 petrol model, the EV's handling and ride have been sorted out through testing on real-world British roads. As for trim, the EV comes in a couple of grades: Comfort and Noble.
In terms of appearance, the E5 has a modern exterior – with the front, like the petrol 5, taking the form of an ‘X’ shape. This ‘face’ is complimented by slim LED headlights and blade-like daytime running lights.
At the rump, the raked rear windscreen, LED taillights, and roof spoiler add further visual swagger. The boot offers 380 litres of cargo capacity, which can be expanded to 1,075 litres if you put the rear seats down. The front luggage area also provides extra storage room.
Clearly made for support, the driver's seat is electronically adjustable, and the equally comfy front passenger seat features power and heating if you go for the top-of-the-range Noble edition. The chairs look like they're covered in leather, but for the vegans reading this, you'll be happy to hear they're actually sheathed in a synthetic material.
The cabin has also been made to make life easier via some special modes. You even get a Pet Mode that keeps, for example, your pooch safe when left inside the locked E5. The climate control will keep the interior at a relaxed temperature, while a note on the touchscreen assures people passing by that all is good. Furthermore, Sleep Mode has been created to help you chill out (when stationary – obviously!) by tilting the seat back and playing restful tunes.
In front of the driver is a 12.3-inch instrument cluster showing key driving information, and another large, curved screen offers control of the E5’s infotainment system. Additionally, there’s a seven-inch head-up display that projects the sat-nav guidance into your line of sight. OMODA tells us that the EV navigation system makes it easy to use public charging stations by displaying chargers along your route, what they cost, and if they’re in use.
You get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in the E5, ensuring fast mobile phone charging, too.
On the Noble trim, a heat pump incorporated into the climate control unit takes energy from outside and uses it to warm the cabin instead of via the E5’s electric heater. This means the battery's power requirement is lowered.
Aerodynamics are also key to the OMODA E5. The car gets active grille vanes, for example, that blank off cooling airflow when it's not needed, and the EV’s wheel covers are designed to decrease drag.
Now, safety is paramount if you're after a family-sized car like this – so, like its sibling, the OMODA 5, the E5 has a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. It's no surprise when you realise high and ultra-high-strength steels are used to make the passenger compartment safety cell. Meanwhile, the front crumple zone contains not one but six energy-absorbing collision structures. The E5 also includes 11 airbags and 360-degree vision via cameras, sensors and radar.
Alongside its petrol engine stable companion, the E5 makes a good case for itself in an ever-growing new car market. But this OMODA EV is perhaps more important than the OMODA 5 – because this Chinese marque – like every other automaker – needs to pursue an electric future – and it hopes you, the customer, will join it on its journey.
OMODA’s all-electric E5 is on sale now, with PCP packages available from £299 per month.
