The Juzhen Chengshi 01 Might Change The Way You Get Your Packages

What is it?

Over the past ten years or so, there’s been some major changes to the way that people buy things. Mainly, a huge shift towards online shopping. What that means is that more and more packages need to be delivered to more and more customers. But, how do you do it? What vehicle do you use? The answer in many places, is a big van, like a Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, or something even larger.

Here in China, the answer is often an electric scooter or even a three-wheeler. It’s not uncommon to see those things teetering down the road loaded down with dozens of packages.

The Chengshi 01, an all-electric van from Chinese manufacturer Juzhen that hopes to replace those scooters. Juzhen started as an R&D outfit for both foreign and domestic automakers before it decided to start building cars for itself. The result is their brand-new factory in China’s Shandong province, capable of producing 100,000 of these little vans per year.

Priced around 6,000 USD, the company sees the Chengshi 01 as a safer, cost-effective alternative to the electric scooters and three-wheelers generally used to deliver packages here in China.

Tiny vans are big fun

We at Wheelsboy are big fans of the “tiny van” category of vehicles. They’re adorable, like seeing a tiny giraffe, or a little baby elephant. The Chengshi 01 is no different. It makes us want to give it a name, like Benjamin, and have it follow us around all day long.

There’s not much you can do to spice up the shape of a work van, but Juzhen seems to have tried their best on the Chengshi 01. In addition to the orange accents on the rocker panels, there is the blacked-out glass area behind the passenger compartment. Juzhen says they plan to have a screen behind this in later models, but for now, you can use markers to write your own advertisements or messages.

All business on the inside

The inside of the Chengshi 01 is all business, and by business, we mean hard plastic and exposed metal. But that also means it’s practical, including a somewhat overwhelming number of cubbies. Buttons are limited to those on the center console above the transmission knob. Our test vehicle didn’t come with air conditioning, but Juzhen was nice enough to include a fan to blow hot air directly onto your face.

Then, of course, there is the sport button. Yes, this electric delivery vehicle does have a sport-mode and an eco-mode. One suspects that this big red button was chosen based on which supplier could provide the cheapest possible button, rather than which button best suited the interior and its purpose.

The instrument cluster is the only screen inside the car, and it does have some surprises, including Bluetooth audio and hands-free calling.

The layout of the Chengshi 01’s rear compartment will depend on which model you choose. Standard range models feature a single battery pack under the front seats, while extended range models will have another set of batteries placed in the empty space behind the passenger compartment.

While the extra range would certainly be appreciated, the lack of battery pack means you have a decent area to stand in and grab packages without breaking your back bending over. Some versions also allow you to install shelves inside the rear compartment, making it easier to sort packages.   

Beats riding a scooter

The Juzhen Chengshi 01 is powered by a rear-mounted electric motor that can be charged using a 220v home outlet. The standard range version has a 10.7kWh battery pack that provides 120km of range on the NEDC cycle, while the Plus has a 20kWh battery pack and an advertised range of 240km.

The 01 lacks much in the way of safety equipment, including airbags and electronic stability control. But considering the price, and the fact that it’s supposed to compete with scooters, that’s understandable.

When used in the way it was intended, as a commercial vehicle, the Chengshi 01 works quite well. At only 3.7 meters long, it’s very maneuverable, but its’ the width that comes in even more handy when driving in the back alleys of the city delivering packages

Of course, there are some downsides to being this cheap. For example, the lack of power steering. It’s not an issue when you’re up to speed, but when you’re trying to do a U-turn in a tight alley while a bunch of cars beep at you and enraged scooterists attempt to ram you out of the way, it becomes quite noticeable.

With only 15kW and 90Nm of torque (20hp and 67 lb-ft) on tap, the Chengshi 01 is slow, really slow. Aided by its tiny size, however, it is sufficient to squirt in and out of holes in traffic. This is not a vehicle that’s intended to be used in the suburbs, let alone out in the countryside, so its relatively short range and low speed are well-suited to an urban environment.

In the tradition of cheap commercial vehicles around the world, the suspension of the Chengshi 01 is McPherson struts up front and leaf springs in the rear. That means it tends to bounce after going over bumps, especially when unloaded. Potholes and speed bumps that would hardly give pause to a normal vehicle are like an invitation to pogo stick to the 01.

Takeaway

Driving the 01 around the city of Jinan for a day was an enlightening experience. It gave us the tiniest glimpse into the life of a delivery person here in China, and it’s clearly an incredibly tough job. On top of dealing with the weather and the breakneck pace that you have to maintain, there is also the issue of safety. Electric scooters and three-wheelers might be fast and convenient, but they’re nowhere near as safe as driving around in an enclosed vehicle, even one as simple as the 01.

Ultimately, we think the Chengshi 01 does a fine job of accomplishing its goal of providing a safer and affordable replacement for the traditional electric scooters and three-wheelers here in China.