The Geely Maple Caocao 60 is a striking new entrant in the world of electric vehicles. Created under the Maple brand, which is part of the Ruilan Automobile division of the Geely holding, this electric vehicle showcases a blend of style and practicality. Despite its sleek liftback design, it comes packed with features that make it a competitive player in the EV market.

Geely Maple Caocao 60: The Budget EV Built for Battery Swapping and Big Mileage

Forget what you think you know about budget electric vehicles. The Geely Maple Caocao 60 is rewriting the EV rulebook with one goal in mind—keep ride-hailing drivers moving. Priced from just $17,500 (€16,400), this Chinese-built electric liftback punches above its weight in ways the big dogs haven’t seen coming. Battery swapping in 60 seconds? Yep. 415 km (258 miles) of CLTC-certified range? Check. And it's got a 500-liter trunk to swallow luggage like a pro. Built by Livan under the Geely umbrella, this car is pure urban grit with a tech twist.

Battery Swapping in 60 Seconds? Yes, Really.

The standout trick here is Geely’s Global Battery Rapid Change (GBRC) platform. The Caocao 60 doesn’t waste time waiting at chargers—just pull into a swap station and roll out a minute later. Geely’s already got stations up in Hangzhou, Jinan, and beyond, with eyes on 5,000 locations across China by 2025. That means more uptime and more earnings for drivers who hustle.

Charging the old-fashioned way? Sure, that works too. It supports 60–80 kW DC fast charging—30 minutes gets you 30–80%. If you’re parking it overnight, 7 kW AC charging gets the job done in 8–10 hours. Flexibility like this is rare, especially in cars under $20K (€18,700).

Built for the Streets, Not the Strip

Under the hood (well, floor), you’ll find a single front-mounted motor kicking out 100 kW (134 hp) and 230 Nm of torque. Don’t expect neck-snapping acceleration—0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) lands in 10 to 12 seconds—but you’ll cruise comfortably through cities at a top speed of 130 km/h (81 mph).

With a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery from Gotion High-Tech, the Caocao 60 skips fancy chemistry for long life and low cost. The 50–55 kWh pack is good for 415 km (258 miles) under CLTC or around 200–217 miles (WLTP). Geely swears by its durability too—600,000 km (373,000 miles) of tested life. If you’re logging city miles for a living, this thing’s got the legs.

Inside Job: Ride-Hailing from the Ground Up

Step inside and you’ll find function over flash, but done well. There’s a 10.25-inch touchscreen in the center stack, plus a bonus LCD for your passengers. Rear seats come with USB ports, folding tables, and recline angles that could shame mid-sized SUVs. The materials are easy to clean—think commercial use, not couture—but everything feels tight and ready to work.

The Caocao 60 rides on the Geely Emgrand L platform and includes motion sickness mitigation features, supposedly through tuned suspension and cabin airflow. It’s clear Geely listened to drivers and passengers alike when they drew this blueprint. One-touch seat adjustments, vented driver’s seat, cup holders where they matter—it’s all in there.

Tech and Safety Without the Sticker Shock

Tech heads get Geely’s Flyme Auto infotainment (a simplified version) with OTA updates, navigation, and basic phone mirroring. Don’t expect Tesla-level computing power, but it gets the job done. Users on X have noted some lag, but OTA tweaks are already rolling out. Safety includes six airbags, Bosch ESP, ABS, EBD, and a rearview cam as standard. Adaptive cruise and lane-keep assist are available on the higher trim.

It’s not flashy, but it’s got what counts for a daily driver or fleet vehicle. And honestly, when you’re spending 8+ hours a day in traffic, you want stuff that works—not bells that break.

Unmatched Value for Ride-Hailing Operators

With a starting price of just ¥119,800 ($17,500 / €16,400) and topping out at ¥139,800 ($20,400 / €19,100), the Caocao 60 undercuts rivals like the BYD Qin Plus EV and Geometry A Pro by thousands. For operators on a budget, that’s a huge win. Add in battery swapping, 500-liter trunk space, and a build tested for 600,000 km? You’re getting a lot of car for not a lot of coin.

Designed with Caocao Mobility’s 150 million users in mind, the Caocao 60 isn’t trying to be everything to everyone. It’s trying to be the best damn workhorse on the EV block. And by the looks of it, it might just pull that off.