I’ve been keeping an eye out for a car that was more animal-and-earth friendly (with a pretty low bar set by my old gas guzzling SUV with leather seats) for the past few years. And so I was extra excited when Kandi America reached out and offered to let me try their electric vehicles for a few days and share my findings with y’all!
First things first, because money matters especially during times like these: Kandi America is setting out to bring affordable EVs to the US market. With their pricing starting at $9,999, Kandi boasts the lowest price point for EVs in the nation! Where is the “clapping” emoji when you need it?!
Kandi America Models:
K23
** See photos of the K23 I borrowed at the bottom of this post.
An SUV-style vehicle, and after experiencing it, I would deem it family-friendly. It’s very roomy and luxurious feeling inside, with a big trunk/”way back” area where you can easily fit luggage, your doggie, etc. The K23 can go 188 miles before needing a charge. Other highlights: gorgeous “leatherette” seats (yay the luxurious look and feeling of leather, but no animals harmed!); a 10-inch touchscreen where you control the radio, AC setting, bluetooth, trunk, locking your vehicle, etc.; front wheel drive and anti-lock braking system. The K23 is typically $29,999, but the first 1,000 people to pre-order it get a $2,500 discount, bringing it down to $27,499. You can also apply the $7,500 federal tax credit to purchase it for $19,999.
K27
A smaller and more compact vehicle, this model is perfect for just zipping around town (ie- shorter distances). This car is 136 inches in length versus the K23’s 156 inches, and needs to be recharged at every 100 miles. It can fit 4 people comfortably (the K23 can fit 5), and it has 9 inch touchscreen. Like the K23, it boasts gorgeous leatherette seats, front wheel drive, and anti-lock braking. The K27 is typically $19,999, but the first 1000 people to pre-order it get $2,500 off, bringing it down to $17,499. And again, you can apply the $7,500 federal tax credit to purchase it for $9,999(!!!).
My takeaways after driving this car around town:
It’s a smooth ride. It felt futuristic in the car, but in a good way– I wasn’t overwhelmed by technology and gadgets and I didn’t at all feel like I needed to re-learn how to drive a car, haha! It was techie without being too much, basically. It was very intuitive. I love the interior of the K23. I really wouldn’t change anything! I loved the camera when backing up– the touchscreen was awesome and made the car feel very expensive. It’s a quiet car, with a very slight “whirring” sound when it first takes off– which I liked! It felt safe and sturdy; the vehicles have been approved and certified by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
WHY EVs?
Money-saving! According to an EnergySage estimate, the average cost to operate an EV in the US annually is $485, versus a gasoline-powered vehicle at $1,117. It’s also worth noting that electricity rates are much more stable than gas prices.
Eco-friendly! According to an estimate by Union of Concerned Scientists, “driving the average EV is responsible for fewer global warming emissions than the average new gasoline car everywhere in the US. In some parts of the country, driving the average new gasoline car will produce 4 to 7 times the emissions of the average EV.”
How to reserve???
It’s so simple it almost seems too good to be true— but you just put down a fully-refundable (!) $100 deposit to reserve your Kandi EV by visiting drive.kandiamerica.com. This is also where you can learn more about these amazing vehicles and decide for yourself whether one of them is right for you!
As for me– I’ll be honest, I was very sad when they came to take my Kandi away! I’ll keep y’all posted on whether I pull the proverbial trigger on a Kandi America EV of my own. I’m excited at the prospect, but regardless I’m a huge fan of this brand and look forward to them hitting the market full steam ahead and making a difference for climate change!
xx
Molly
