The cheapest new electric car in the world, the $1,200 (Rs.85000- -Approx.) Changli Nemeca from Chinese e-commerce website Alibaba, is a truly amazing machine. Here’s a look at the engineering behind the incredible 1.1 horsepower Changli.
The Changli’s front suspension is so impressive because instead of using leaf springs—which are cheap- Changli decided to use a three-link suspension design. This consists of two lower control arms (radius arms—see above) and a track bar.
This is the exact same suspension design that you find under vehicles like the Toyota Land Cruiser 80 Series, last-generation Land Rover Defender, and the modern Suzuki Jimny.
The Changli somehow uses zero leaf springs. In the front, it actually has a pair of coilovers, and that’s quite impressive.
The suspension in the rear is similar, except of course, there is no steering rack or spindle. Also, the coilover is replaced by a separate spring and shock absorber.
The braking system is incredibly simple but is enough to lock up those 3.5-inch wide, 10-inch inner diameter tires.. There are no brakes at all on the front axle, while the rear consists of a set of drum brakes activated by rods, shafts, and a pedal/bellcrank.
There is a chain between the 60-volt, 1.1 horsepower DC motor and the differential, but that chain is contained in a housing, and apparently rotates a sprocket that would, on a normal differential, be the ring gear.
Under the driver’s seat are five 12-volt lead-acid batteries wired in series for a total of 60 volts. The Changli’s body is made up of rectangular tubing, diamond plating, and regular steel sheets, all tack-welded together.
The exterior panels are made almost entirely of metal. The wheel flares aren’t even plastic, nor are the front and rear fascias—this is uncommon on most modern cars, which tend to use plastic in these areas.
The car also has a curved glass front windshield with nice frit-bands and LED projector-beam headlights. The interior features two-tone faux-leather seating, nice plastic door cards, actual door locks, and—padded carpeting!
Reference- Wall Street Journal, Autocar, Team-BHP, Jalopnik