Aixam e City

Hello, electric car lovers! In this blog, I cover all the latest tech news surrounding electric cars. I cover the background, feel and drive, the current selling price, and the specs and engineering that go into making each car. If you have an electric car that you’d like me to cover let me know in the comments below. In today's article, I’m reviewing The Aixam e City. I’ll cover the most important features to see whether it stands against the competition. Oh, and one more thing before I start - From what I hear, new Teslas don't come with a new car smell…They come with an Elon Musk.

Okkaayyyy...  Now back to the article.

Aixam-Mega, situated in Aix-les-Bains, Savoie, is a French automotive manufacturer. Following the acquisition of Arola, it was created in 1983 to produce microcars. Polaris Industries, located in the United States, stated on April 11, 2013, that it has purchased Aixam-Mega from its former owners, Axa Private Equity. Aixam Mega is a manufacturer of cars that don't need a license to be driven.

The City and Coupé models from the Sensation, later Émotion, have been offered in a 100 percent electric variant from February 2017.

The current Emotion collection, which debuted in 2020, consists of three designs: City, Coupé, and Crossline.

Despite the fact that electric vehicles are still in their infancy, they have already earned a terrible reputation since many people find them to be dull, strange, and in general unexciting. Meanwhile, companies such as Fisker and Tesla have done everything they can to improve the public's perception of electric vehicles. Unfortunately, the market is already filled with numerous unexciting and questionable EVs, making their task much more difficult.

The Aixam Mega e-City is one of several poorly constructed and slow electric cars that may be seen on the road today. Aixam Mega was previously known mostly for its electric utility vehicles, but the firm began selling its first electric passenger car, the e-City, in 2007, marking the company's entry into the electric vehicle market.

The Aixam Mega e-City is an all-electric vehicle with a 2+2 seating layout. It runs on electricity only. The car's engine is a tiny electric motor with a power output of 13 kW, which drives the vehicle's front wheels. The engine is powered by a set of AGM lead batteries, which have a maximum range of only 65 km and are therefore inefficient.

Prices for the Aixam Mega e-city are competitive, and it comes with a two-year warranty on parts and labor, as well as batteries. In spite of the fact that it has been on the market since 2007 and is reasonably priced, the vehicle has failed to get any interest from prospective purchasers.

Design and Engineering

The Aixam Mega e-City has an ABS body that is mounted on an aluminum frame for strength and durability. Because it is intended just for city driving, the car's external proportions are rather modest, measuring only 2959 mm in length and 1492 mm in width on the outside.

The design is rather standard, and it is typically well-put together as a result of this. A very thin chrome-plated grille with the company's logo in its center is found up front of the vehicle. On either side of the grille, there are two high-intensity headlights, which are intended to provide better illumination in both wide and bad weather.

A little farther down into the bumper, there are two circular fog lamps that help to improve road vision even further. When it comes to the bumper, it has a straightforward design and is equipped with a pretty large air inlet that is painted in black.

Its wide fenders, which are mounted on tiny 14-inch alloy wheels and wrapped in 155/65/R14 tires, can be seen on the side profile. Despite the fact that the roof line is practically flat, and coupled with the A pillars, it is painted in a color that is different from the rest of the body, the car has a distinctive appearance.

The wing mirror shells, like the grille, have been given a gleaming chrome finish, giving them a somewhat more upscale appearance as a result of the shining treatment. The rear of the car is very attractive, and I particularly appreciate the vertically positioned taillights and the large rear screen, which provides excellent rearward sight.

The general construction quality, on the other hand, leaves much to be desired, since there are several large panel gaps throughout the vehicle, as well as numerous faulty fittings.

Surprise, surprise, the e-inside City's is far more capacious than we had anticipated, and you even get a boot that holds 900 liters. However, don't anticipate any miracles, since the cabin is still somewhat claustrophobic, even though you won't have any complaints about head- or leg-space.

You'll also appreciate the dashboard, which is basic yet modern, with no uninspiring lines to detract from the experience. Plastics and other materials of middling quality are used everywhere, but we particularly appreciate the leather grain element of the dashboard and the soft touches present on the door panels. The engineers at the corporation, on the other hand, should have paid more attention to the fit and finish of the automobile.

The numerous controls, as well as the ventilation and heating system, are all within easy reach of you. The instrument cluster can also be read without any difficulty, and the overall ergonomics of the e-City are satisfactory.

The chairs are on the basic side of things and do not have the option of being adjusted in the height. As was to be expected, the back seats are tight and provide little leg space, but this is a common problem that can be found in the vast majority of today's two-door city vehicles.

There are a variety of amenities, including a radio ,CD with MP3, a central locking system, and electric windows.

The electric motor is located at the front of the vehicle and has a maximum output capacity of 13 kW. As you may have guessed, the e-City's acceleration is not particularly outstanding. Only after 13.7 seconds of driving with your foot firmly set on the gas pedal can you attain a peak speed of 30 miles per hour, according to reviews.

In addition, test drivers have stated that the vehicle is nice to drive up to a point. The starting technique is straightforward: put the key in the ignition, shift the gear lever into Drive, check the battery charge on the digital display, and go!

You could be stepping on a dandelion for all the resistance the accelerator is said to have, and the brake pedal is so far away that you'll probably end up using your left foot instead of your right, but once you've gotten used to it, you'll be able to enjoy the next part, which is the getaway, according to reports. Described as quick up to 20mph, willing up to 30mph, but corpsing beyond that.

It doesn't matter if you're in the middle of a bustling metropolis, though. In spite of all-wheel independent suspension, the Mega City is said to maintain its upright position in corners and comes near to being enjoyable in all of those back-street cut-throughs, according to reviews. You get a sense of eco-terrorism from having to stomp on the servoless brakes (since servos are too energy-draining) while you squeeze the small car between dueling cabs.

If you reside in a country like the United Kingdom, stopping to take advantage of free parking is expected to be a more pleasurable experience. A rising number of roadside charge outlets inside the zone can also be used to recharge the battery if a journey is particularly draining on the battery's capacity.

Battery Life

The motor is powered by a set of 12 V AGM lead batteries, which can be completely recharged in 8 to 10 hours when connected to a standard household outlet (not included). Unfortunately, the vehicle's range will not make matters any better, since it is only rated at 37 miles, which is one of the lowest ratings available in the class of vehicles.

A minimum of regenerative brakes are installed in the vehicle, allowing it to go longer distances. The stopping distance, on the other hand, is somewhat greater than you might imagine, which is an essential consideration, particularly for a city car.

The Mega City, in contrast to the Think City electric car, which will arrive in the United States at the end of the year, will use lead-acid cells with milk-float technology, rather of the newest lithium-ion batteries.

The limited range of approximately 40 miles and peak speed of 40 miles per hour emphasize the limitations of this age-old chemistry, yet it is fairly priced. For example, it costs $1400 to replace the 12 under-seat packs (which must be done every four years), compared to the $5000 that the Nice Car Company estimates it would cost to replace lithium ion batteries.

Price and Model Range

The Aixam Mega e-city is available for purchase for a starting price of $20,150.

And it comes with a two-year warranty on parts, labor, and batteries. In spite of the fact that it has been on the market since 2007 and is reasonably priced, the vehicle has failed to get any interest from prospective purchasers.

Renault Twizy Cargo and Mahindra REVA I G-Wiz Lead Acid are among the vehicles that compete with the Aixam Mega eCity.

In particular, the G-Wiz. However, despite its ghastly appearance and poor construction quality, the Indian-built 2+2-seater has amassed a significant lead in the capital's passenger transport market. Both it and the Mega City employ the same battery technology, which results in identical performance. However, the French competitor's two-grand premium above the G-$8000 Wiz's price tag is justified by the additional size, equipment, and visual appeal.

Both are classified as quadricycles, and as a result, both may be homologated without the need for extensive crash testing and other requirements. Although the sturdier, longer-range, and quicker Think City will benefit from this, you'll end up paying the equivalent of over $16,000 for that 2+2 when it finally comes.

Although the Aixam Mega e-City is reasonably priced, its pricing is still excessively costly in light of its numerous flaws. Although it appears to be well-made on the inside and the outside, the interior and outside are both badly constructed and feel cheap.

This wraps up my review of The Aixam e City, let me know what you think of it. Thank you for sticking it out through to the very end of this article! Nothing helps out my blog more than y’all reading the entire article. These articles take a long time to make and are a labor of love. If you would like to see my blog grow, please help spread the word and until next time, remember, the best experiences aren’t about where you end up, but who you’re lucky enough to be on the journey with.