In comparison with most of the funky-looking EVs we discover for the Awesomely Bizarre Alibaba Electrical Car of the Week column, right this moment’s entry is dangerously near being virtually 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 often called 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 dwelling to the stranger varieties of nonconventional electrical autos resembling espresso carts formed like classic VW buses or an whole yard electrical practice set you possibly can trip round on.

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

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

The 26.5 kWh battery isn’t precisely huge, nevertheless it additionally doesn’t must be. That is very a lot an city automobile, and in order that smaller battery that also presents 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 automobile touring at metropolis speeds.

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

There are actually solely two downsides I can consider. First, that $15,000 value is significantly lower than you’d truly find yourself paying to get it to the US. I wouldn’t be shocked if ocean freight costs, tariffs, customs charges and different costs find yourself doubling the worth earlier than it hits US soil. Secondly, in the event you did determine to purchase considered one of these Wuling autos 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 considered one of these cool Chinese language EVs that we’ll sadly simply must take pleasure in from a distance. Although you higher consider that if I ever get to go to China (once more), I’ll positively be cruising round in fashion in considered one of these.