In comparison with lots of the funky-looking EVs we discover for the Awesomely Bizarre Alibaba Electrical Car of the Week column, right now’s entry is dangerously near being nearly regular. In reality, it truly is pretty regular in China, the place smaller and cheaper EVs are fairly frequent.

This particular mannequin is produced by a producer generally known as Wuling, which you might have seen earlier than. The carmaker has even created a three way partnership with GM, leading to some neat little electrical pickup vans and different small electrical vehicles.

The strangest factor right here is that there are literally Wuling vehicles listed on Alibaba, which is often residence to the stranger varieties of nonconventional electrical automobiles comparable to espresso carts formed like classic VW buses or an complete yard electrical prepare set you may trip round on.

The mini electrical Wuling automotive here’s a severe step up from the decrease manufacturing worth automobiles we’re used to seeing on this weekly column. I dare say it even appears to be like sort of… cool!

The little Wuling has some fairly first rate specs, too. The 30 kW motor places out 40 hp, which is lots for such a small and light-weight automotive. It might probably attain speeds of as much as 100 km/h (62 mph), that means it’s nice for the town however can even journey on city highways and arterial roads.

The 26.5 kWh battery isn’t precisely large, nevertheless it additionally doesn’t must be. That is very a lot an city automotive, and in order that smaller battery that also affords round 280 km (173 miles) at slower metropolis speeds. For anybody doubting that declare, take into account that these figures work out to round 150 Wh/mi (90 Wh/km), which appears cheap for a golf cart sized automotive touring at metropolis speeds.

However this Wuling isn’t a easy golf cart. It’s received full home windows and doorways, good inside, local weather management, and naturally that convertible prime.

There are actually solely two downsides I can consider. First, that $15,000 worth is significantly lower than you’d truly find yourself paying to get it to the US. I wouldn’t be stunned if ocean freight costs, tariffs, customs charges and different costs find yourself doubling the value earlier than it hits US soil. Secondly, when you did determine to purchase one in all these Wuling automobiles on Alibaba, it wouldn’t spend very lengthy on US soil earlier than being confiscated by CBP and destroyed. These aren’t even near being avenue authorized within the US and thus aren’t authorized for import.

So that is yet one more one in all these cool Chinese language EVs that we’ll sadly simply should get pleasure from from a distance. Although you higher imagine that if I ever get to go to China (once more), I’ll positively be cruising round in fashion in one in all these.