THIS CHINESE VAN MIGHT BE THE WEIRDEST CAR WE'VE DRIVEN - 2024 MULLEN ONE FIRST DRIVE AND REVIEW

EV Channels Review

This review of the 2024 Mullen One electric cargo van, a rebadged Chinese Wuling 100 van, highlights its unique and often bizarre nature. The presenters express significant skepticism about Mullen's business model and funding, noting its history of failed import projects and recent rebranding to Bollinger Innovations. Despite its questionable origins and a host of ergonomic and practical flaws – including a single-seater configuration, poor visibility for taller drivers, a rudimentary infotainment system, and a harsh, noisy ride – the van surprisingly delivers a fun, albeit terrifying, driving experience. The reviewer found the acceleration and motor noise reminiscent of a sports car, making it an unexpectedly enjoyable, albeit impractical, vehicle. The van's homologation for the US market includes a large front bumper and airbags, but overall safety is questioned. With a 42 kWh battery and an EPA-rated range of 110 miles, it's positioned as an urban delivery vehicle, though its performance on the highway, reaching up to 68 mph, is noted as a significant achievement given its limitations. Ultimately, the Mullen One is presented as a quirky, fun, and deeply flawed novelty rather than a serious consumer choice.