BTW, how fast does the NEV model go/its peak speed?
It would depend on your state. I'll quote from Wikipedia: "states that authorize NEVs generally restrict their operation to streets with a maximum speed limit of 35 or 45 mph (56 or 72 km/h). Because of federal law, car dealers cannot legally sell the vehicles to go faster than 25 mph (40 km/h), but the buyer can easily modify the car to go 35 mph (56 km/h). However, if modified to exceed 25 mph (40 km/h), the vehicle then becomes subject to safety requirements of passenger cars. ... Regulations for operating an NEV vary by state. ... NEVs in many states are restricted to roads with a speed limit of 35 mph (56 km/h) or less. As of February 2012, NEVs are street-legal in 46 states." These cars can usually be easily modified by a qualified electro-mechanic to yield higher speeds. But my recommendation is to wait until their full model is authorized. That way you get your top speed of 69 miles per hour and the "Sport Mode" ... which will begin to approach the acceleration as a Mitsubishi Mirage.
It's probably worth it to wait a few more months, just for that. Otherwise you will pay for after-market modifications that could bring your top speed to 54 miles per hour and then if you swap out the tyres for slightly taller ones you end up with 58 miles per hour. And you still won't have "Sport Mode". "Sport Mode" ( a switch on your dash-board, will eat into your range; but for short trips, is a nice thing to have.
Plus, if you wait for the non NEV model to come out you can play the same game with the tyres and up your top speed from 69 mph to 74 mph (again, at the expense of range, should you decide to floor it). Just for that I think it's worth waiting a few more months.
Without using "Sport Mode" you can likely expect ranges of about 70 to 85 miles. If you drive up to 37.2 miles per hour on a dry smooth flat road and keep it at the speed constantly you may get more than a 105 miles range. If you drive it on "Sport Mode" with the AC pumping at full blast at 69 miles per hour you'll probably get the EPA range of 59 miles. And if you replace the tyres with slightly taller ones to get yourself a max speed of 74 mph, your range will likely come down to about 50 miles.
Most of this is due to the drag coefficient, which I don;t believe they have published quite yet, but the faster you to, the more wind resistance, which is why electric vehicles generally go farther the slower you drive them.
The NEV K27 model costs: $15,499 USD, whereas the highway passenger K27 model costs $17.499 USD. For those extra $2K you won't have to scratch your head about electrical mods, enjoy the "Sport Mode" option, have all the safety features and be eligible to tax incentives and rebates that could potentially make it less expensive than the base price for a Mitsubishi Mirage.
I use the Mirage as a baseline because that's what I driver right now. It's base price is around $13K. The highway passenger one is likely to end up being less than that once you factor in green incentives and rebates and what not. The K27, due to its low centre of gravity, is likely to be more stable than the Mirage.
I believe that Kandi USA is currently in the process of getting their crash tests done. That will be an important milestone. I heard they may have had to sacrifice up to 40 vehicles for that purpose. Wish them luck. And be on the lookout for whenever they decide to make their next announcement.