Environmental News

Dallas-Fort Worth is first in the U.S. for debut of Kandi electric car

The Kandi 27 is the smaller of the two.

Photo by Kandi

A new electric car is coming to America, and the first place you'll be able to get it is in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company is Kandi Technologies, a Chinese electric car maker, which will launch its first two models in the U.S. in August.

Both models are compact vehicles, and both are hatchbacks:

The Kandi 27 is a compact model that accommodates up to four passengers. It features a 17.69 kWh Lithium battery and a driving range up to 100 miles. It's $13,000 after federal tax credits ($19,999 without).
The Kandi 23 is a larger vehicle, the size of a small SUV, with more trunk space. It features a 41.4 kWh Ternary Lithium battery and a driving range of more than 180 miles. It's $22,500 after federal tax credits ($30,000 without).

Sales will initially be focused in Dallas, because Kandi America is headquartered in Garland, where they bought a dealership to facilitate the launch.

The launch will take place at a virtual event on August 18. Customers can reserve their K27 or K23 with a fully-refundable $100 deposit. The cars will be available for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Kandi America CEO Johnny Tai says in a statement that Kandi's mission is to make electric cars accessible to all. "With these first two models, we are starting an Auto EVolution that will enable anyone, regardless of their financial status, to afford a reliable, high-tech EV," he says.

And Xiaoming Hu, Chairman of Kandi Technologies, says that other EVs have mainly served the high end of the market. That's definitely true of the Tesla, although the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Bolt aren't all that expensive.

The virtual launch takes place on August 18 at 10 am. The release says that participants will engage in a "meaningful experience" hosted by a "surprise emcee," ooh who could it be, with a live drawing in which the winner gets a K23.

To be eligible for the giveaway, participants must register for the event at www.drivekandi.com before midnight on August 17.

transportation sustainability

Coworking News

New coworking space to open in Dallas' Oak Lawn neighborhood

Office Evolution

A coworking space is opening in Dallas in a central location: Office Evolution, a Louisville-based coworking chain, will open what a release says is a "state-of-the-art coworking space" at 3500 Oak Lawn Ave. #360 in Dallas at the southeast corner of Lemmon Avenue.

No details on what makes it state-of-the-art, but construction is ongoing and an opening is anticipated in mid-October.

Office Evolution was founded in 2003 as a shared workspace-coworking environment, cultivated on the principles of "Ohana," the Hawaiian tradition that references family working toward a common goal. (The founder was from Hawaii.)

The company started out in Boulder, Colorado, then relocated its headquarters to Louisville. It's an affiliated brand of United Franchise Group, and is part of The Vast Coworking Group, which specializes in franchising within the coworking industry. All of their locations are franchised.

The Dallas location is owned by franchisee Michael Pickering, a Dallas native who runs a family-owned indoor soccer facility in Dallas. (There are two other Office Evolution locations in the DFW area in McKinney and Southlake, owned by different franchisees.)

They're describing the Dallas location at 3500 Oak Lawn Ave. as "Turtle Creek," although its location at Oak Lawn and Lemmon really puts it at the epicenter of Oak Lawn. (To further complicate matters, the building previously and incorrectly described its address as "Uptown.")

It's a seven-story building in which the majority of tenants are doctor and medical offices.

Office Evolution rates include a coworking day pass for $25, plus "flex" office options starting at $200 a month for 20 hours, up to $550 a month for 80 hours.

Amenities of the building that are also accessible to Office Evolution customers include a front desk; a 1,000-square-foot fitness center; covered parking; and on-site security six days a week.

According to a spokesperson, Pickering and his team put $1.2 million into the renovation to transform the space, which occupies most of the fourth floor where it will span 9,240 square feet of space with 41 total offices — one of which is earmarked as an "on-demand office" for the professional on the go.

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