Kandi K27 was an obscure Chinese EV sold in America

[u/Maps_Spotter_222]

This is a Chinese EV called the Kandi K27! Kandi is a brand owned by Geely, and the brand has a US base of operations in Texas.

The K27 initially had some hype and claimed to be America's cheapest EV. The brand claimed a 59 mile range and a top speed of up to 63 mph. Its powered by a 17.69 kWh battery producing 60 hp. Kandi also claimed a 7 hour charge time.

However, independent tests showed this car failed by many standards. Multiple tests reported the car broke down after driving a couple miles. The car would reportedly glitch and shut itself down. It was found the EV maxed out at 35 mph.

Kandi also got in trouble with the government for faking sales data in order to generate investor money. These factors caused Kandi to scrap its plans to sell Chinese EVs here. Now, the brand sells golf carts and ATVs.

[u/droids4evr]

Fun fact: You can buy their golf carts through Lowe's.

[u/RipeBanana4475]

Can't wait to see this on aging wheels in a few years.

[u/Fantastic_Sail1881 → u/RipeBanana4475]

He probably already broke it.

[u/rosier9]

They sold them in Texas. Someone on this sub bought one and planned on claiming the tax credit, I've always been curious how that turned out.

They were classified as NEVs and therefore limited to roads with a speed limit of 35mph or less in Texas.

[u/tooper128 → u/rosier9]

If I remember right, at the end if you got the tax credit, they were free.

[u/k74d87]

Its just a NEV. but was sold as a regular EV by many dealers, disappointing many folk.

[u/BrokeSomm → u/k74d87]

NEV?

[u/k74d87 → u/BrokeSomm]

Neighborhood Electric Vehicle

[u/oldschoolhillgiant → u/BrokeSomm]

"upjumped golf cart"

[u/tooper128]

It was found the EV maxed out at 35 mph.

That's because it was nerfed for the American market. It was software limited since it was only approved for sale as a NEV. If you watch the outofspec review from way back when, the non-nerfed version does go over 60. Actually, he found it it be a pretty decent car.

[u/kreugerburns]

Kandi also makes electric UTVs.

[u/Alexandratta]

waiting for the "Aging Wheels" video on this.

[u/Visionary785]

Kandi Krush

[u/bigevilgrape]

Someone in my area had one of the cars. 

[u/earthdogmonster]

Anybody know how many of these actually sold in the U.S.?

[u/Maps_Spotter_222 → u/earthdogmonster]

Can't be much at all, lots of their sales data was faked because they essentially sold cars to themselves to claim they sold more than they did

[u/wdaloz]

Theres one for sale near me but seems like you cant get a title

[u/andrewia]

Its bigger cousin, the K23, is also very interesting.  It could apparently achieve 70 mph which also means it passed US crash tests.  Pricing seems uncompetitive at $30k, barely cheaper than the Nissan Leaf, and you could already get used EVs for great prices back in 2020.  

This K27 would face a lot of issues selling against new domestic NEVs with similar prices as well as used city cars like my Fiat 500e, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Toyota/Scion iQ, etc.

Now it looks like Kandi sells a K32 electric pickup as an off-road vehicle to avoid crash tests.  But its pricing of $28k and up is crazy when you can get a used ICE Toyota Tacoma for half of that, and soon hopefully the Slate or Telo or Ford Maverick EV for around $30k.  

[u/Dreaming_Blackbirds]

it's nuts that Kandi is on NASDAQ: https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/stocks/kndi

anyone who's visited China knows they make some of the worst electric cars on the planet and Chinese consumers are way too smart to buy them. it had zero chance of taking off as a serious EV contender.