You may have heard of the Japanese phenomenon of "kei cars" - small vehicles designed to meet local regulations, which allow much smaller, lighter cars and trucks to legally drive on the road. Over the decades, these rules have helped create some of the coolest, and often the coolest, small cars in the world Now the Japanese automaker is planning to bring its Kei car to the United States. Presenting the HW ELECTRO puzzle.
The Riddle isn't so much a Kei car as it is a Kei van, drawing inspiration from many Japanese small car traditions.
The small electric van celebrated its US debut last week at an event that signaled the brand's plans to enter the US market. According to HW ELECTRO, commercial sales of PUZZLE are expected to begin in 2025. In other words, we still have time to wait.
As HW ELECTRO President Xiao Weicheng explained at the launch,
"The launch of PUZZLE marks HW ELECTRO's commitment to addressing environmental issues and creating innovative green solutions for the commercial vehicle market. We are excited to officially launch PUZZLE today. And we look forward to bringing It's in the US market in 2025.
This isn't the Japanese company's first rodeo, though it is its first foray into the US market. HW ELECTRO enters the domestic market for the first time with the ELEMO series, a new generation line of versatile commercial electric vehicles. The ELEMO series, which includes the ELEMO, ELEMO-K and LEMO-L medium-sized pick-ups, was launched with the aim of reducing the burden on the environment and making the country more resilient to natural calamities.
Disaster resilience is also emphasized in the Puzzle Electric Van, which is equipped with on-board AC outlets, USB ports, Wi-Fi internet connectivity and emergency tools. Roof-mounted solar panels are included to ensure functionality even during extended power outages. There is also a first aid kit and a crowbar in case you encounter any problems that can be solved with a little extra strength.
Some cars in the US are already equipped with electrical outlets and first aid kits, but PUZZLE's design means these types of features face outwards, meaning they can be accessed from outside the car to help others.
The car's flat, angular design helps reduce engineering and tooling costs and "makes the best use of the maximum dimensions in the KEI car body, creating an exceptionally large and efficient cargo space." The passenger seat folds down to accommodate particularly large items and can serve as a table for the driver," the company says.
As a two-seater, the Puzzle is primarily intended for commercial applications, although it would make a very impressive bed with a mattress in the back. Perhaps it should be a smaller mattress. At just under 3.4 metres, this salad bowl is already smaller than the lesser Fiat 500e.
However, compared to the Fiat 500e's tiny boot space of 180 litres, the PUZZLE seems to easily win the cargo competition. They actually announce Didn't know how much space there is in the back, but it looks like it could fit in a stripped-down Fiat, so it's probably significantly more than 180 litres. The
rest of the technical specifications haven't been decided, or at least haven't been made public yet. And it's not a number you really care about. : Price.
While we don't know how fast or how long it will last, we can at least enjoy its angular beauty. And maybe in a few years we'll finally be able to drive a Japanese Kei on American roads or go camping in an electric van! Remember that you may need to sleep in the fetal position if you go hiking.
The car has already impressed me. It's great, do it. Click the "Go" button or whatever. A small electric van with a large cargo area, an adorable face and electrical outlets. I like it. For some reason I like the built-in lever. Except for the occasional traffic accident, who knows when it will come in handy. Yesterday I literally used a crowbar to rescue my neighbor from a stuck elevator in our building. If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times. liver keep Life. (I don't think I've ever said this. But my work is still visible on the new soft slopes of the elevator doors in our building!) The biggest problem for me is the regulatory framework that allows this to happen in the states of the United States
. They could try to do this under the existing Low Speed Vehicle (LSV) regulations, but that would be a shame as it would limit the PUZZLE's top speed to just 25 mph (40 km/h).
Let's hope they can get it to meet the minimum requirements for a full-size car, though that will affect the final price.
I guess that brings us back to the same old point... America needs European-style ATV laws so we can have fun with mini-cars that still average 40 to 50 miles (65 to 80 km/h). )
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