The section that suggested starting to collect travel tax from an electric vehicle was omitted from the Arrangements Law. Collecting 15 cents per kilometer to balance the fact that electric vehicles do not consume gasoline, which is subject to heavy taxation and brings into the state coffers a total of 20 billion shekels per year. The Treasury had hoped to start closing the hole in the state’s revenues from electric car rentals from 2026, but the politicians who are now having trouble dealing with unpopular decisions, especially those that will upset members of the center who bought a Tesla, preferred not to advance this section.
The message from the state: buy trams. Since the world is already starting to prepare and even collect such a tax, eventually it will be approved in Israel as well. The current postponement only extends the period in which it will be possible to enjoy maximum savings from purchasing an electric vehicle, which consists of energy costs worth only about 20% of gasoline for the same distance, from much lower treatment costs, and to a new announcement also from an extremely cheap licensing fee, amounting to NIS 540 per year.
The problem is that trams are not cheap. The big jump in sales in the last two years means that most second-hand trams on the market are still relatively expensive, and this is even before the brokering attempts of some owners who have not yet been informed that the supply problems from last year have almost disappeared and most tram importers have stock available for delivery.
The cheapest electric car in Israel, the Mini Leap Motor T03, which competes with the Kia Picanto, costs NIS 100,000. Next in line is the cheapest electric family car, the Ora Funky Cat Pro 300, which we are driving today.
When an electric jeep costs more than NIS 150,000, and the popular ones cost more than NIS 160,000, the Ora Funky Cat Pro 300 is an interesting option. Last month, right after the local launch, we drove the long-range version whose price starts at about NIS 170,000. But this trick cat also has a version with a smaller battery, 48 kWh instead of 63 kWh, and a combined range of 310 kilometers instead of 420 kilometers.
Ora Funky Cat Pro 300 (Photo: Udi Etzion)
The engine is the same, the equipment levels are the same, and only the price drops to NIS 138,000 if you manage to catch one of the cars from the first shipment released from customs according to the purchase tax increase, or to NIS 145,000 if you miss out.
The Ora, for those who didn’t listen in the previous lesson, is a Chinese tram that imports every carrier and does everything to escape the image of a Chinese tram. It starts with the name, which is designed and manages to evoke a smile, and is expressed even in the passenger compartment, with a cat’s footprint sewn onto the armrest between the driver and the passenger. Today, when everyone is racing for horsepower and accessories, a little sense of humor doesn’t hurt.
The design also tries to be cute, with round headlights reminiscent of a Volkswagen Beetle, and games of lights in the front and back when opening the vehicle from the remote, and closing it. The retro design also hides the fact that in terms of dimensions it is a small Jeep, with a height of 1.6 meters. The electric drive allows for an efficient design of the vehicle, and so on a length of 4.2 meters, it has a wheelbase of 2.65 meters, which is good for a compact vehicle, and so is the width – 1.8 meters.
The passenger cabin is the same as that of the expensive model with the large battery: a pair of large 10.25-inch screens that are very reminiscent of the arrangement in the Hyundai Ioniq 5, one for vehicle operation and multimedia (still without Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which will be offered in a remote update in a few weeks), and the other as a dashboard. Unlike other streetcars, there are also switches as before, prominent and nickel-colored, for urgent tasks such as turning on the air conditioner and blowing hot air into the windshield to disperse steam.
The seating is high and spacious, with the rear seat especially impressive, with a flat floor, and plenty of room for the head and legs. Adults feel completely comfortable here. If only there was an air conditioner outlet for the back seat it would be perfect. At least there is a USB socket. The only problem is the trunk, which has a volume of only 228 liters, less than a mini car. There are many types of strollers that won’t fit here, and those that do won’t leave room for anything else.
The small battery version is offered in two trim levels. We drove the basic Pro 300, which, in addition to the pair of screens, also has electric front seats, wireless mobile charging and leather-like upholstery. Ramat Pro Plus adds a panoramic sun window, heating, cooling and massage to the front seats and an electric trunk door, and costs NIS 147,000 from the initial stock, and NIS 154,000 after it runs out.
Another worthwhile addition is the service package: maintenance once every two years or 30,000 kilometers, and for the first five years the vehicle owner will have at his disposal, even if it is the second or third buyer, a 24/7 service center, charging services on the way, collection and return of the vehicle for maintenance and a replacement vehicle In case of prolongation of treatment time beyond four hours. These are things we have seen so far only in luxury vehicles.
Ora Funky Cat Pro 300 (Photo: Udi Etzion)
The safety specifications are the same and include a high level of active systems, as reflected in the European crash test in which Ora received 5 out of 5 stars.
With the small battery Ora is lighter by a not very significant 40 kilos, and with the same 171 hp that is also in the large battery, the performance is excellent. The weight reduction shortens the acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h by 2 tenths of a second, to 8.3 Very quick seconds. The good road behavior is maintained, as is the good ride comfort compared to trams.
And the big question: the actual driving range. We drove in Ora with the big battery during the previous storm, and the cold really hurt the range we achieved, about 300 kilometers in practice. This week, in three days of driving in pleasant weather, which included intercity driving, a short strenuous section in the Jerusalem mountains, and a little city driving, the Funky Cat registered an average consumption of 14.8 kWh per 100 kilometers, less than the manufacturer’s figure for combined driving which is 16.7 kWh. Most of the drive was on “economy” mode, which doesn’t hurt performance too much, but is less thirsty for electricity. Either way, a range of 310 kilometers is certainly realistic in relaxed driving.
The fact that Ora is capable of fast charging at a maximum rate of only 80 kWh is less significant when the battery is smaller and fills faster: 38.5 minutes for fast charging from 20% to 80% battery (46 minutes for the large battery) and 5.5 hours from 0 to – 100% at home charging (an hour less).
The small battery version gives much better value for money than the expensive big battery versions, with a small compromise if you don’t constantly make long trips. True, you will have to charge once on the way to Eilat, but how many times will it happen. On long trips you will have to be less spontaneous and plan more stops to charge, but how many times do you travel more than 300 kilometers at once? And you saved 25 thousand shekels which are required as an addition for the additional 15 kWh.
Ora 300 Pro is a well-equipped and very agile car relative to its price, spacious for its passengers, comfortable and even a bit of a head turner. If you can live with its limited trunk, it will be a successful buy.