THE Roewe E50 electric vehicle debuted by SAIC uses the carmaker's most advanced green technologies and aims to take on the Nissan Leaf electric car.

The nation's largest auto group said the subcompact Roewe E50 is powered by a lithium ion battery, which allows a maximum mileage of 190 kilometers with a top speed of 130 kilometers per hour. It took the model only 15 seconds to accelerate to 100kmph.

Compared to the bigger Nissan Leaf, the Roewe E50 has longer mileage but lags in top speed. The Nissan Leaf, equipped with a 85 kilowatt electric motor, can run for 160 kilometers on one charge with a top speed of 145 kmph.

Gan Pin, general manager of SAIC's new energy vehicle unit, said the carmaker aims to boost the competitive edge of the Roewe E50, which will be mass produced in October, through enhanced safety and reliability.

Besides the high-performance electric motor system, the Roewe E50 also features advanced technologies including an electric-steering system and a vehicle heating management system to ensure zero emission.

The Roewe E50 needs eight hours of charging to replenish its power and it is also designed with a fast charging socket, which recovers 80 percent of the power through a 30-minute fast charge.