Once you go batt, you won’t go back. After driving an electric vehicle (EV), the belief that you wouldn’t want to go back to a car with an internal combustion engine (ICE) has solid basis. The most enjoyable attributes of an EV are the instantaneous peak torque, smooth and silent operation, and never having to go to a gasoline station again. That was brought to our wide-eyed attention by our recent experience of driving the king of EVs currently available in the Philippines: the Porsche Taycan. The superb Taycan brings the Porsche driving experience to a whole new level. (We’ll have more on the Taycan soon).
But what if you don’t have a Porsche-level budget? Last time, we enumerated the more practical EVs that are currently available. These include the Nissan Leaf, several models from BYD, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles like the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro.
Another popular brand is set to join the EV fray this year: MG, aka Morris Garages. MG will likely launch its ZS EV. The ZS EV is an electric version of the brand’s current compact SUV. You can tell instantly it’s an EV from the deletion of the grille that’s prominent on the MG ZS-T. Otherwise, the headlamps, silhouette and stance are the same as the ZS-T’s.
The MG ZS EV has a promised 436 km of range from a 72.6kWh battery (about 1300 times your typical laptop’s battery). There’s a quick-charge option for an 80-percent top-up in 42 minutes. If MG maintains its aim of delivering safe, stylish cars at affordable prices, the ZS EV may be a compelling option when it’s launched later this year.
The British motoring brand is expanding its EV lineup with the all-new MG4 EV. The company revealed first photos and specs ahead of the car’s launch in September. The MG4 EV will use a new electric “skateboard” that it calls the Modular Scalable Platform. This will be the basis of the next generation of MG models. The new platform can be used for hatchbacks, SUVs, and sports cars of varying wheelbases.
The platform has been designed to use MG’s new integrated battery structure. The battery has a height of just 110mm, allowing for a lower center of gravity and more interior space. The chassis is a rear-drive platform with 50:50 weight distribution. Enthusiasts worthy of their driving gloves would know that this is a recipe for delicious handling. The new MG4 EV will be capable of up to 450km of driving on a single charge. It’s also future-proof (or at least future-resistant), thanks to technology like battery swap, and over-the-air software updates.
Meanwhile, Pilipinas Shell energized the electric-vehicle scene with its launch of an EV charging station. The new charging station is located at the Shell Mamplasan station along South Luzon Expressway. The DC fast charging station can reportedly allow EVs to get to full charge in just 30 minutes. If that location is not along your regular drive, don’t fret. Shell is set to roll out more charging stations soon.
MAIN PHOTO: The British Motoring brand is expanding its EV lineup with the all new MG4 EV
