Kaiyi e-Qute 04

Battery, motor and charging

The Kaiyi e-Qute 04 is a fully electric city hatchback sold in Pakistan by Q-Autos, the brand’s exclusive dealer. It comes in two versions named after their claimed range, 300 km and 400 km, both rated under the NEDC test according to Kaiyi Pakistan. The 400 km version uses a 39.8 kWh battery. Kaiyi Pakistan does not publish the battery size of the 300 km version; launch reports put it at 28.08 kWh with a 40 kW (about 54 hp) motor making 110 Nm. Power goes to the front wheels through a single-speed gearbox.

DC fast charging takes the battery from 30 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes. A full charge from a home connection takes about 7 hours for the 300 km version and about 9 hours for the 400 km version. Every e-Qute 04 comes with a complimentary home charger that Kaiyi values at Rs 150,000, plus a V2X reverse-charge gun that lets you power other devices from the car’s battery.

Size and practicality

At 3,695 mm long, 1,685 mm wide and 1,615 mm tall, with a 2,500 mm wheelbase, the e-Qute 04 is a compact car that is easy to park in crowded markets. Kaiyi says it seats five, and kerb weight is listed at 1,120 kg. Kaiyi Pakistan does not publish boot space or ground clearance, so check these at a showroom if you carry a lot of luggage or often drive on broken roads.

Equipment by variant

Both versions share the same equipment on the official site. Safety kit includes front airbags, ABS, EBD, electronic stability control, tyre pressure monitoring, a 360-degree camera, an acoustic warning sound for pedestrians and auto hold. Inside there is a 10-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a six-speaker sound system, keyless entry and one-touch power windows on all four doors. Outside it has signature daytime running lights and follow-me-home lighting.

Warranty

Kaiyi Pakistan has not published warranty terms on its website. Ask the dealer for the vehicle and battery warranty in writing before you pay.

Which variant to buy

Our opinion: the 300 km version at Rs 4,490,000 is enough for most city drivers who can charge at home every night, and it gets the same features as the dearer car. The 400 km version costs Rs 700,000 more according to launch reports and makes sense if you regularly drive between cities or cannot charge every day. Since the equipment is identical, the extra money buys only a bigger battery and more range.