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German startup opens order books for affordable electric city car

e.Go Mobile AG, a German startup company founded by engineer Günther Schuh, has begun taking orders for its upcoming Life electric city car, which starts at just 15,900 euros ($23,529) before the European cash-back incentive for electric vehicles.


The company claims the standard 14.4kWh version of the little EV can achieve a driving range of around 130km (80 miles), while the larger 19.2kWh battery raises that figure to around 170km, or 107 miles.

Measuring 3348mm long, 1700mm wide, 1567mm tall and weighing between 810kg and 840kg depending on configuration, the e.Go Life is similar in size and concept to the Smart ForTwo micro car, though it can be optioned with 2+2 seating for additional people-carrying capability.

Above: although not confirmed, the e.Go appears to have borrowed Suzuki's infotainment interface

Charging takes between 5.5 and 7.5 hours depending on the battery capacity, while the electric motor produces up to 22kW of power and 110Nm of torque. It's capable of accelerating from 0-50km/h in 5.7 seconds (5.9 seconds with the larger battery) on its way to a top speed of 104km/h.

Following the 4000-euro EV cash-back incentive, the e.Go Life will set buyers back just 11,900 euros, which equates to around $17,610, making it one of the most affordable electric passenger cars in the world.

According to the company's vision statement, e.Go wants to show the world that electric cars can be fun, practical and affordable, while also being attractive to look at.

e.Go also says it's possible to produce electric cars in such a cost-efficient manner that cost of ownership can become comparable to a conventional vehicle in terms of euros-per-month of cents-per-kilometre.

The Life has been developed by Schuh and his team at RWTH Aachen University in Germany, and has been designed to serve as a second or third car for larger households or as a city-focused fleet vehicle.

Order books opened last week, according to online blog Electrek, with prospective buyers required to put down a 1000-euro deposit ($1480). To achieve its affordable pricing, the company is focusing heavily on Industry 4.0 manufacturing processes, which basically involves inter-connected machinery, systems and tools which can operate autonomously.

Personalisation options include four standard exterior paints, along with the ability to create a custom paint job, while there's also the choice of halogen or LED headlights.

Two 17-inch alloy wheel designs will be offered at launch, while a larger 18-inch rim design will be available from 2019 according to the Life's brochure.

What are your thoughts on the e.Go Life and its pricing?

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