ZD D2S - Reader's Review [video]

The Krakow branch of Traficara presented the Chinese Zhidou / ZD D2S quadricycle with good equipment. Since I usually drive a 2nd generation Nissan Leaf, I decided to test it and share my impressions with the readers of the www.elektrowoz.pl portal. Here is my ZD DXNUMXS review / test.

Two explanations: I sometimes refer to the ZD D2S using the term "car" or "automobile". However, this is an ATV from the L7e category, a microcar.

Summation

Pros:

• good workmanship,
• dynamics and driving pleasure,
• relatively good range,
• sizes.

Cons:

• watch,
• price and lack of purchase for real estate,
• no ABS and airbags as standard,
• uncertainty of work.

First impression

The car is striking. Almost every passer-by pays attention to the unusual proportions and appearance. After a quick glance, it's easy to guess that the car is made in China, which automatically evokes the association of poor quality with "bad Chinese food." Therefore, I was very surprised when, instead of rubbish, I was met by a pleasant interior.

The seat covers are made of imitation leather material and the cockpit is made of hard plastic, but overall there is no objection.

Visibility and driving position are very good: there was no feeling of constraint and movement restriction. Just behind the seats, there is a small trunk that can easily accommodate purchases or a large suitcase. For me, this is another plus, if we assume that the car will be used as a city vehicle.

Let's go to!

The layout of the buttons and the way the car is turned on are very intuitive. The parking brake, as in the lower trim levels of the Nissan Leaf, is located under the left foot. In my car, the direction of movement is selected with a ball lever, here - with a knob. After pressing the start button, ZD D2S comes alive with a strange growlwhich stops after a while. I did not expect such a buzz from an electric car and, I confess, spoiled the first impression a little.

I change the direction of travel to reverse, and the center display shows the rear camera view with the sound of parking sensors. A very pleasant surprise: in a car of this class, the picture was clear, crisp and comparable in quality to Nissan.... Buttons and knobs do not impose restrictions either. No feeling of sagging or poor quality.

Trip

I noticed very quickly that the car had a rigid structure and suspension. Every hole and unevenness is felt, which especially touched me on the streets of Krakow. However, this has its advantages: Zhidou D2S responds quickly and accurately to every change of direction, which, combined with a low center of gravity, gives the impression of a go-kart ride.

How long will such a kit last on our leaky roads? It is hard to say.

Another pleasant surprise is the engine, which despite power 15 kW (20,4 hp) i torque 90 Nm gives a clear sensation of being pressed against the chair. It is enough to start from a traffic light and overtake several internal combustion cars popular on our roads!

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I haven't had a chance to test this maximum speed 85 km / h, but from experience I know that there is nothing to tighten: such a ride quickly depletes the battery. The manufacturer's declared range of 200 km is certainly not worth believing (Traficar gives 100-170 km depending on the weather), but Battery 17 kWh should be enough to drive more than 100 kilometers, which gives an excellent result. Moreover, the ZD D2S will only move around the city.

Aside from the enjoyable driving experience, I also liked the precision of the electric power steering and the turning radius that allows you to turn on the spot. Not bad!

The brakes are not very strong, but they work and give the feeling of a clear effect on the speed of the car - and this is the most important thing. He surprised me a little. without ABS as standardbut it seems to me that he must be somewhere if we move around a country that is a member of the European Union. It's the same with the airbag. I also didn't like the regenerative braking: it's not as powerful as the Nissan and is used for deceleration, not braking. For me, this is a definite disadvantage.

Ideal for the city?

After spending several tens of minutes with the car, I got the impression that this is a good car for the city. The interior makes a good impression, the car is beautifully made, it has alloy wheels, LED headlights, it drives well, and the streets of Krakow are not much worse than the Leaf. The downside - for some: significant - can be the controversial appearance of the car and the fact that it, like a quadricycle, has not been crash tested. But is this really a problem for Poland's second busiest city, where the average speed is 24 km/h? Compared to a bicycle or motorcycle, the ZD D2S provides incomparably better protection.

> Warsaw, Krakow – the busiest cities in Poland [Inrix Global Traffic]

What worries me a little is the lack of information about the reliability (durability) of the car. Personally, I would be afraid that if I decided to use the ZD D2S, it would break quickly. Just like the cheapest internal combustion vehicles, where the most important thing is to reduce production costs and additional profit on parts after the sale of the car.

In Poland, the ZD D2S can be driven either in Krakow Traficar (as of February 2019) or it can be purchased on a long-term lease for four years. The first installment is 5 PLN, followed by 47 installments of 1 PLN each, which is less than 476 PLN in total. Provided that we drive up to 74,4 kilometers per month.

Such an agreement does not give us ownership of the car, but at the same time guarantees that everything, even the replacement of tires, will be carried out within the framework of the monthly subscription fee.

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