On November 16, the annual conference of the G20 forum will be held. The members of the forum are the finance ministers and bank governors of the 20 most powerful industrial countries in the world, which together control about 90% of global GDP. In light of the dismal state of the world this year, it could be expected that the distinguished civil servants would hold the meeting in one of the recession-stricken European capitals. Maybe even nearby to the border of Ukraine out of sympathy with her suffering.
But the conference is taking place on the exotic island of Bali in Indonesia, the resort and entertainment resort preferred by the world’s wealthy. Before the members of the forum are accused of insensitivity, God forbid, the organizers of the conference hasten to point out that the honorable members are sensitive to the issue of global warming and therefore will have at their disposal a fleet of about 130 G80 electric limousines from the Korean Genesis, which will fit well into the green agenda of the conference.
So for those who were wondering, this is the answer to the question “Why does someone who can buy a car from the employer for half a million shekels choose to buy an electric car instead”. Often such a vehicle is an ideal compromise between the desire for a pampering status symbol and the media consultant’s recommendation to demonstrate an “environmentally friendly” public profile.
A luxurious feeling
The electric G80 certainly satisfies both needs. Externally, it is almost identical to the luxurious executive car G80, the gasoline version of which has been sold in Israel since last year. It has a considerable length of almost five meters, a round-muscular design with a long nose and a sloping tail, which borrows quite a few elements from well-known European luxury brands. It also contains narrow and sophisticated LED headlights, which adorn the long and grandiose bow.
On the other hand, the media consultants will highlight unique elements for the electric version such as the replacement of the huge and shiny Bentley-style grill, which the gasoline version is equipped with, with an opaque and less flashy grill, and the replacement of the panoramic roof with a high-tech solar surface, which charges the batteries. Definitely a topic that can receive a highlighted paragraph in your annual “Corporate Sustainability Report”.
The tram’s passenger compartment preserves the luxurious feeling of the Genesis brand and of the G80 in particular. The specifications include deep and ultra-comfortable front and rear seats, which are decorated with leather with spectacular stitching and allow you to sit in them for long hours without cramping. The carpets are thick and soft, the steering wheel is decorated with stitched leather in two tones and soft trim surfaces wrap every accessible surface. There is also a large horizontal multimedia screen with a bunch of apps and a very impressive sound system.
It’s a shame that the dashboard itself is taken almost unchanged from the gasoline version, and is more focused on purpose than style. Since this is an electric vehicle designed to soothe the environmental conscience, the cabin is decorated with a variety of fashionable recycled materials.
The production quality is impressive and meticulous as in all the brand’s models. All the components look and feel expensive and the electric G80 is probably the quietest electric we’ve driven. Even driving at serious speed on the highway, no more than a dull murmur is heard in the cabin.
The interior space is adequate for the executive class, although it is not as spacious in the back as the Mercedes EQE, and the main bug in the design is the trunk, which is content with a modest volume of only 354 liters, less than the volume of an average family car. You will have to send your large set of luggage to the airport in another vehicle.
The safety department has a very thorough array of peripheral cameras and sensors, which provide a good situational picture of the vehicle’s surroundings and enable semi-autonomous driving, which takes a lot of stress out of the driving process.
Powerful and quiet performance
The G80 was not originally born as an electric car but was converted to electricity from a gasoline vehicle. But the conversion was not carried out casually and has high engineering. This means, among other things, a high-voltage electric platform, which supports ultra-fast charging of up to 350 kilowatt-hours. Using it, you can add a driving range of hundreds of kilometers to the car in a few minutes. There is also a 90 kilowatt-hour lithium polymer battery and electric motors that deliver 370 hp and over 70 kgm of torque to all four wheels.
These figures make the electric G80 a very fast car. The impressive official figure is 4.9 seconds from zero to 100 km/h, but it does not describe the rate at which this car gains speed, on any incline, under vigorous pressing in the sporty programming mode. Of course, you can choose to be environmentally friendly and cruise lightly in the economical and relaxed programming mode, but the recommendation Ours is to release the conscience a little and experience the take off from the track that this propulsion system provides.
Tight road manners
On the road, the electric G80 is as comfortable as its gasoline-powered sister, thanks to electronically controlled suspensions that are calibrated with the driver in the back seat in mind. It effectively neutralizes most bumps, minimizes the tendency of the body in turns and succumbs only to harsh Israeli vibration bars, which cause the shock absorbers to close with a thunderous click.
The steering provides a well-balanced weight and road holding is good thanks to the low center of gravity. It is true that there are electric cars that involve the driver more in the process, such as the Porsche Tayken, but the electric Genesis definitely leaves the driver in the picture and does not make him feel like he is driving a two and a quarter ton car.
The price of the electric Genesis G80 starts at about NIS 450,000 and goes up to about NIS 480,000. At this price, you get a strong, fast and compact electric car, but it is still several tens of thousands of shekels more expensive than its gasoline version.
But don’t worry. If you take into account the accelerated process of switching to electricity in the vehicle fleets in Israel, it can be assumed that many CEOs will want to set an example and abandon their compact gasoline vehicle. After all, “visibility” is now the name of the game.
Some of the competitions
BMW I4-40
The luxurious version of the BMW I4-40 costs NIS 459,000. In this configuration, it is equipped with a single electric motor that produces 340 hp and accelerates the vehicle from zero to 100 in 5.7 seconds. It is slightly smaller and less spacious than the Genesis, but tighter and sportier.
BMW I4-40 / Photo: Yeh”c
Mercedes EQE 350
The base version of the EQE350 model costs NIS 499,000. This version is equipped with a single rear engine that produces 292 hp and 57 kg and accelerates the vehicle to 100 in 6.4 seconds. The passenger cabin is luxurious, sophisticated and spacious and the ride comfort is good. There is also a model with 245 hp
Mercedes EQE 350 / Photo: Yeh”c
THE WORLD OF HAN
NIS 299,000 is the base price of the BYD electric car. It stretches 5 m long, stands on a 2.92 m long wheelbase and has a luxurious cabin. The drive system includes two engines with a power of 518 hp with acceleration to 100 in 3.9 seconds
BYD HAN / Photo: Yeh’at