With the rapid development of new energy vehicles, electric vehicles have become the first choice for more and more families.
After all, compared with gasoline vehicles, the advantages of saving money and intelligence are too obvious, which makes the tram market booming.
However, as attractive as the trams are, the slightly better ones are all over 200,000, which is hard to reach.
In this regard, many people can only choose to settle for the next best.
But the question is, is it really worth buying a cheap tram, and what are the risks?
I consulted some professionals, and they said that if they wanted to know whether they could buy it, they had to understand the current condition of the train.
01 The current condition of the train.
When it comes to the current state of the electric car market, there is no doubt that the cost has dropped significantly compared to five years ago.
Taking lithium iron batteries as an example, the average market price in 2018 was 158,000 yuan/ton, and the price of ternary lithium batteries (the main material composed of cobalt, lithium, and nickel) was as high as 550,000 yuan/ton.
Today, the cost of these two battery materials has fallen by at least a third, if not more.
Because of this impact, the price of many mainstream electric cars has begun to decline, and 100-degree battery packs have also entered thousands of households.
What's even more outrageous is that like the recently launched Nezha L extended range car, the refrigerator and color TV sofa are fully equipped, and the price is between 129,900 yuan and 159,900 yuan.
In this case, it can be said that many people are beginning to be excited.
On the other hand, some expensive features have also begun to be gradually devolved.
For example, in 2019, you can only buy an 800V high-voltage tram with a budget of 2 million yuan, and by 2024, the price of a tram with this function will approach 150,000 yuan.
At the same time, features such as seat ventilation, heating and massage, which are exclusive to high-end petrol vehicles, are now standard on most affordable trams.
Some models, which cost just over 100,000 yuan, have even added advanced intelligent driving features – which is simply a great value for money.
It sounds like a good value for money indeed. Does that mean that you can get a cheap tram without thinking?
Actually, no, there are still some potential risks to be aware of.
02 What are the possible risks?
Although low-cost electric cars may seem very attractive, in the automotive industry, the principle of "you get what you pay for" still applies.
Imagine two medium and large SUVs, one priced at more than 100,000 yuan, and the other at 300,000 yuan: on the surface, they are both equipped with refrigerators, color TVs and large sofas, and their endurance seems to be similar.
But can the real performance really be exactly the same? Definitely not!
After all, car companies are not charities, and they tend to reduce allocations where they can't see them.
First of all, the most common problem with low-cost trams is range.
Although the battery life is claimed to be very high, some affordable range extender cars even claim to have a pure electric range of 300 kilometers.
But don't believe such data, don't listen to such propaganda.
Because good pure electric models usually have 15 kWh of electricity per 100 kilometers, the average power consumption of the ideal L7 is even as high as 22.8 kWh/100 km.
As a result, the battery of the low-end model is more than 40 degrees, and the nominal battery is directly 300 kilometers - can this really run out? It is definitely not realistic!
Secondly, the safety of the battery may be lacking.
Because for this amount of money, the surface work is done the same, and you still want a good battery management system, thermal management system and structural parts - how is this possible?
To put it bluntly, the battery stability of these trams will be lower, and the risk of fire will be relatively greater.
Finally, low-cost trams often have problems such as average chassis quality, poor body stability, and poor sound insulation.
In general, don't expect a car of 100,000 yuan, the quality of a car of more than 200,000 yuan is exactly the same, this is definitely unrealistic!
So, after all this talk, should you buy a low-cost tram or not?
03 Can I buy it?
In the face of the temptation and hidden dangers of low-cost trams, how should you choose?
This cannot be generalized, and the trade-offs should be based on the actual needs of the individual.
First, consider the use.
If you commute daily and don't need to drive long distances, or buy an electric car, mainly as a second car for the family – then the issue of battery life may not be the main pain point.
In this case, a low-cost tram is an affordable option.
Second, focus on security.
When choosing a low-cost tram, it is important to check that the vehicle meets basic safety standards, including but not limited to: an effective battery management system and qualified crash test results, as well as reasonable safety precautions.
Avoiding neglecting safety because it is cheap is the most non-negotiable part of the car purchase decision.
Also, consider the long-term costs.
Low-cost trams have a lower initial investment, but maintenance and potential repair costs can be higher.
Ensuring warranty terms and maintenance costs is key to sound decision-making.
All in all, can you buy a cheap tram?
However, those mini cars are more recommended for urban commuting. As for cheap medium and large vehicles, you may need to be more cautious or anticipate.
Because "you get what you pay for" is an unchangeable truth, if you want to take advantage of the price, you will inevitably suffer elsewhere.
Be mentally prepared for this, don't wait until you start, and then complain about "unstable here" and "not good there", then the gains outweigh the losses!