This is the Freze Nikrob, a small city car, a carbon copy of the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV, one of the best-selling electric cars in the world. Initially reserved for Lithuania, now it is finally about to arrive in France, at an unbeatable price.
Today, the market for electric city cars is booming. One thinks of course of the Citroën Ami, but also of the Mobilize Duo as well as the now essential Dacia Spring. And for good reason, it is a great success, when it was the 2nd best-selling electric car in France in October, behind the Renault Zoé. But it could be that the star of the low-cost brand will soon be dethroned…
Basic equipment
Indeed, now a new competitor is about to enter the market. It is about the Phrase Nikrob EV, an adorable micro-city car that should probably remind you of something. Indeed, we had already mentioned it in our columns in April 2021, when it was taking its first steps in Europe.
Because in reality, the small car, which does indeed require a driving license unlike the Citroën Ami, is in fact a re-bodied and rebadged version of the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV which has been very successful in China. Imported by Dartz under the Freze brand, this version will therefore soon be sold by us. But it will still be necessary to arm yourself with a little patience, while Numerama points out that the selection of resellers is still in progress for the moment.
Available in two versions, namely Standard and Long Range, the micro-city car displays contained dimensions, with a length of 2.92 and 3.06 meters respectively. The weight oscillates between 700 and 750 kilos depending on the variant chosen. A total of four people can take place aboard this Freze Nikrob, in a very basic driving position, as you can imagine.
No big touchscreen or tech debauchery, but a simple digital handset and a Bluetooth car radio. The car is still delivered as standard with LED lights, central locking and a reversing camera as specified on the brand’s website. Note that many body colors are available, combined with a black or white roof.
A city car at a bargain price
The entry-level version claims 40 horsepower, against 44 for the Dacia Spring, while the Long Range version has a power of 43 horsepower, for a maximum speed of 100 and 105 km/h. If the first is satisfied with a 13.8 kWh battery, allowing it to travel up to 200 kilometers on a single charge according to the WLTP cycle, the second benefits from a 26.5 kWh accumulator. Autonomy then increases to 300 kilometers.
Recharging takes six and seven hours respectively, while the city car is not compatible with direct current fast charging. Unlike the Spring, which can collect up to 30 kWallowing it to go from 0 to 80% in 50 minutes.
Note that it is already possible to pre-order a copy of this Freze Nikrob, which should begin deliveries in France in 2023. And the least we can say is that it displays an unbeatable price, since it is displayed at 13,000 euros on the brand’s website, ecological bonus deducted. But Numerama has a reliable source that the starting price will be 11,900 euros, taking into account the bonus.
By way of comparison, the Dacia Spring starts from 20,800 euros, bonus not deducted, or 15,184 euros once the aid has been applied. It could also be that the convertible version, derived from the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV Cabrio, will also arrive on our market shortly. But it should first be sold in Lithuania.
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