The first electric vehicle from Lynk & Co is designed to be shared, thus reducing its cost.
Acquire the product and then share it to recoup your investment.
Lynk & Co has recently introduced the 02, its first fully electric vehicle, designed to be shared among family, friends, or anyone willing to pay for its use. While the new model offers interesting features, what really stands out is Lynk & Co's unique approach to vehicle ownership.
Once a customer purchases, leases, or subscribes to the 02, they become a "provider," meaning they can set the price and conditions for sharing the car. In Amsterdam, for example, the Lynk & Co app shows various units of the plug-in hybrid model 01 available for loan at prices ranging from €7 to €12 per hour (or €47 to €123 per day), under the condition that pets are not allowed and smoking is prohibited inside the vehicle. When returning the car, the fuel consumed is automatically billed.
This lending model provides two important benefits. First, the owner can reduce their monthly payments by sharing the 02 when it is not in use, either on weekends or at night. This also helps local citizens benefit by increasing vehicle usage and preventing them from sitting idle and taking up valuable public space. Currently, 30% of Lynk & Co owners are already sharing their 01 vehicles, and the 02 has been designed to facilitate that option even further, starting with a "sharing strap" located near the steering column that can be activated to launch the sharing app on the 15.4-inch central screen. This feature can also be used remotely through Lynk & Co's Android and iOS apps.
Online sales in Europe have begun with prices starting at €35,495 (approximately $39,000). Additionally, Lynk & Co will offer a subscription option for the 02, with more details to be revealed in the future. Subscriptions for the current model, the 01, cost €600 per month (plus a €200 registration fee), covering maintenance, insurance, and taxes; this type of contract can be canceled at any time. At launch, the 01 cost €500 per month without a registration fee. The 02 can also be acquired through a traditional lease contract, with periods ranging from 24 to 60 months.
Regarding the 02, this new offering from Lynk & Co was developed in collaboration between Geely and Volvo and is based on Geely's Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA), which includes a 66 kWh NMC battery that provides a maximum autonomy (according to WLTP) of 445 km (277 miles). This range is suitable for many areas of Europe that have an extensive network of public chargers. The 02 can charge from 10% to 80% in 30 minutes with a 150 kW DC charger, or from 0% to 100% in 7.5 hours from an AC outlet, reducing this time to 4.5 hours if the "More" version of the 02 is chosen.
The 02 has also been designed to be more agile and fun in response to user feedback. It integrates the mentioned "sharing strap," as well as an alternative to the traditional horn called Hey Honk, which provides friendly alerts that interact with pedestrians and other road users. This model also features a selfie camera, now located in the rearview mirror and connected via USB for use as a dashboard camera.
Leveraging its battery, the 02 offers vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability to charge external devices, allowing it to power energy stations or electric bikes using a V2L charging adapter. In the trunk, there is 410 liters of space plus another 15 liters in the "frunk."
As a connected vehicle, the 02 includes numerous automatic safety systems, over-the-air software updates, 5G connectivity, a Wi-Fi hotspot, dual wireless chargers for phones, and the ability to remotely control the interior temperature. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will be available after an OTA update shortly after the first customer deliveries.
The Lynk & Co 02, known as the Z20 in China, is offered in a basic version for €35,495 and in the "More" variant for €39,495, which includes a 22 kW onboard charger, 14 speakers, 20-inch wheels, and a 360-degree camera. Currently, Lynk & Co operates in seven European countries: Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and Belgium, and plans to expand to a total of 22 European markets before the end of the year. The first deliveries of the 02 to customers in Europe are expected to take place in December.