ZhiDou
from 2014
ZhiDou D1
The brand's first model. Sold in Europe as the ZD D1 and also used in car-sharing fleets such as Share'ngo.
A two-seat, 100% electric city car that charges from an ordinary socket and parks almost anywhere.
ZhiDou (Chinese 知豆, known in Europe simply as ZD) is a Chinese maker of small electric cars. The D1 is about the size of a Smart ForTwo and was one of the cheapest electric cars ever officially sold in Slovakia. It is built for short, economical trips in and around town.
At home from a standard 230 V socket, at work or at a hotel. A Type 2 connector and cable come as standard.
Just 2,763 mm long with a 4 m turning radius. It fits where an ordinary car won't.
Around €1.70 per 100 km when charged at home. In Slovakia, third-party insurance is about €31 a year and the technical inspection is due only every 4 years.
No engine oil, filters, spark plugs or exhaust. Only the gearbox oil and brake fluid need changing.
Despite its small size, the D1 comes with equipment you wouldn't expect from a city runabout.
Figures for the European version of the ZhiDou D1 (L7e-CP category).
| Motor | brushless DC permanent-magnet motor (BLDC) |
| Power | 9 kW rated / 18 kW peak |
| Torque | 82 Nm |
| Top speed | 85 km/h (on original tyres) |
| Acceleration 0–45 km/h | 8 s |
| Transmission | single-speed, D / N / R push buttons |
| Brakes | discs front and rear |
| Regenerative braking | no |
| LFP (LiFePO4) | LMO (Li-Mn) | |
| Fitted to | newer cars | original equipment |
| Capacity | 150 Ah | 160 Ah |
| Energy | 11.5 kWh nominal | |
| Layout | 24 cells in series | 20 cells in series |
| Voltage | 72 V nominal, 87.6 V max. | 74 V nominal, 85 V max. |
| Cell voltage | 2.5 / 3.2 / 3.65 V (min / nom / max) | 3.7 / 4.25 V (nom / max) |
| BMS | E-Pow YT02-24, CAN bus | newer E-Pow, older a different type; CAN bus |
| Heating | yes, heating pads under the cells | |
| Service life | approx. 6,000 cycles | approx. 2,000 cycles |
| Location | under the seats (low centre of gravity) | |
| Manufacturer warranty | 4 years | |
| Connector | Type 2 (Mennekes), AC |
| Charging time | approx. 5–6 h (230 V / AC station) |
| Cable for household socket | included as standard |
| On-board charger | AC 85–265 V input, efficiency ≥ 93%, IP46 |
| Consumption | approx. 10 kWh / 100 km |
| Real-world range | 80–110 km |
| Manufacturer's range | up to 120 km |
| Body | 3-door hatchback |
| Length × width × height | 2,763 × 1,539 × 1,524 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,765 mm |
| Turning radius | 4 m (8 m diameter) |
| Ground clearance | ≥ 110 mm |
| Max. gradient | ≥ 25% |
| Tyres | front 145/60 R13, rear 165/55 R13 |
| Weight | 670 kg |
| Seats | 2 |
| Boot space | approx. 300–320 l |
| Vehicle category | L7e-CP (heavy quadricycle) |
Sources: zhidou.autos, forum.zhidou.autos – battery analysis, ZhiDou D1 service manual (forum download section). Range drops in winter and with the heater or air conditioning on.
The D1 is almost the same size as a Smart ForTwo (2,695 × 1,559 × 1,542 mm), but with a shorter wheelbase. Click a drawing to enlarge it.
An electric car needs far less servicing than a combustion car. This applies to the D1 as well as the D2 / D2S, which share the same chassis and gearbox.
| Oil type | API GL-4, SAE 85W-90 or 75W-90 |
| Quantity | approx. 500 ml |
| 1st change | after 3,000 km |
| 2nd change | after 12,000 km |
| Then | every 10,000 km or once a year |
| Procedure | drain through the drain plug, clean its magnet, refill through the filler hole until oil just starts to overflow |
| Brake fluid | DOT 4 |
| Change interval | every 2 years or 50,000 km |
| Heavy use | every year or 25,000 km (e.g. deliveries) |
| Brake pads | replace at ≤ 3 mm lining thickness |
| Brake discs | replace at > 1 mm wear per side |
| Pressure – unladen | 2.2 bar (220 kPa) |
| Pressure – laden | 2.4 bar (240 kPa) |
| 12 V battery | gel 12 V / 32 Ah (6-EVF-32), maintenance-free |
| 12 V replacement | gel 12 V, 20–35 Ah. Never a standard flooded lead-acid battery! |
| Third-party insurance (avg.) | approx. €31 a year |
| First inspection (STK) | within 4 years of first registration |
| Further inspections | every 4 years (since 1 July 2024; previously every 2 years) |
| Inspection fee | approx. €38, i.e. under €10 a year |
| Emissions test | not required (electric vehicle) |
| Category | L7e-CP – heavy quadricycle |
If the last inspection was before 1 July 2024, the original 2-year deadline still applies. The new 4-year interval starts from the next inspection.
| Long-term parking | don't leave the car discharged; when parking it for a month or more, unplug the 12 V battery connector under the front bonnet |
| Why | the remote-locking receiver and radio slowly drain the 12 V battery. Once it is flat, the traction battery cells can be over-discharged and damaged. |
| Charging in frost | LFP cells must not be charged below 0 °C, which is why the battery is heated |
| Cell balancing | via the 26-pin service connector on the battery (RC-EV-TP26A), max. 5 A per cell, up to approx. 3.65 V |
High-voltage parts (orange cables) are dangerous. If in doubt, leave the work to an EV specialist.
Sources: gearbox oil and brake fluid, tyre pressure, 12 V battery, cell balancing, disconnecting the 12 V battery, high-voltage safety (forum.zhidou.autos), ZhiDou D2S owner's manual, Slovak Decree No. 81/2024 (inspection intervals) and zhidou.autos (insurance, inspection fee).
No wallbox or special installation needed. Plug the car into an ordinary socket in the evening and it's charged by morning. With solar panels on the roof, you drive practically for free.
Comparison based on the ZhiDou D1's consumption (10 kWh/100 km) and a typical petrol or diesel city car. Fuel prices as of October 2026 in Slovakia: petrol (95) €1.859/l, diesel €1.988/l.
| Energy source | Unit price | Use / 100 km | Per 100 km | 30 km / day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home AC charging (D1) | €0.17/kWh | 10 kWh | €1.70 | €0.51 |
| Public AC charging (D1) | €0.28/kWh | 10 kWh | €2.80 | €0.84 |
| Petrol (95) | €1.859/l | 6.5 l | €12.08 | €3.63 |
| Diesel | €1.988/l | 5.5 l | €10.93 | €3.28 |
Based on 10,000 km a year (Smart: 5 l/100 km at €1.859/l; D1: 10 kWh/100 km at €0.20/kWh). That saves roughly €1,486 a year.
| Item | ZhiDou D1 | Smart fortwo |
|---|---|---|
| Third-party insurance | €31 | €145 |
| Inspection (per year) | €9.50 | €52.50 |
| Energy / fuel | €200 | €930 |
| Servicing and maintenance | €100 | €700 |
| Total per year | ≈ €341 | ≈ €1,827 |
Source: zhidou.autos – running cost comparison (Slovak prices). Actual costs depend on your tariff, supplier and driving style.
Click a photo to enlarge it. Use the arrow keys to browse.
The D1 (from 2014) was followed by the updated D2 and D2S generations. All are two-seaters, and many spare parts are interchangeable between them.
The brand's first model. Sold in Europe as the ZD D1 and also used in car-sharing fleets such as Share'ngo.
Redesigned with more modern technology. Sold in Europe as the ZD D2 (e.g. Italy, the Netherlands) and in Germany as the Elaris Pio (2021–2023).
An improved D2 with a new front end and richer equipment.
D2S figures (D2S-M1K version) are taken from the official owner's manual.
| Specification | D1 | D2S (D2S-M1K) |
|---|---|---|
| Length × width × height | 2,763 × 1,539 × 1,524 mm | 2,811 × 1,540 × 1,555 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,765 mm | 1,765 mm |
| Track front / rear | 1,325 / 1,301 mm | 1,325 / 1,301 mm |
| Kerb weight | 670 kg | 795–820 kg (gross 1,000 kg) |
| Motor | BLDC, 9 kW / 18 kW peak | PMSM 144 V, 15 kW / 30 kW peak |
| Top speed | 85 km/h (original tyres) | 105 km/h |
| Battery | 11.5 kWh – LFP 150 Ah or LMO 160 Ah | LFP or LMO, 120 Ah and a larger version |
| Range | 80–110 km real-world | ≥ 140 km WLTC (120 Ah), up to 200 km WLTC |
| Tyres front / rear | 145/60 R13 / 165/55 R13 | 145/60 R13 / 155/50 R14 |
| Ground clearance | ≥ 110 mm | ≥ 110 mm |
| Max. gradient | ≥ 25% | ≥ 25% |
| Turning circle | 8 m (4 m radius) | 8 m |
| Safety | disc brakes | disc brakes, ABS, driver airbag |
| Seats / doors | 2 / 3 | 2 / 3 |
Sources: ZhiDou D2S-M1K owner's manual and D2S service manual (motor: 5,200 rpm rated, 7,300 rpm max.). The older D2 (2015–2017) had a weaker motor (18 kW) and a top speed of 88–100 km/h (CarNewsChina). In Spain the D2S was also sold as the Invicta D2S. In Germany, Elaris offered it from 2021 as the Elaris Pio (27 kWh, up to 225 km range, €18,410). Elaris filed for insolvency in January 2025.
The full ZhiDou D1 brochure, cars for sale, spare parts and diagnostics are on zhidou.autos (in Slovak). Technical questions are welcome on the English-language forum.zhidou.autos.
Current cars for sale from zhidou.autos (located in Slovakia). Click a listing to see more photos and full equipment (in Slovak).
All listings, including spare parts, are on zhidou.autos/predaj.
Have a question about ZhiDou electric cars, buying one, servicing or spare parts? Send us a message using the form or email us directly.
✉️ [email protected]ZhiDou D1 and other models for sale.
Spare parts for the D1 / D2 / D2S, diagnostics and repairs.
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