The cheapest EV in the world has landed in the US – here’s what it’s like

electrek.co ^ | Oct 18 2021 - 12:41 pm PT | Staff

[Sgt_Schultze]

Or you could buy a Moke, it’s cooler looking.

[caww]

Changli vehicles are not homologated for on-road use in the US and do not meet the required Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for their class of motor vehicle. Thus, they are not street legal in most areas of the country.

[wintertime]

Yes, ....My electric assist trike was about $5,000.

[Squawk 8888]

Roughly 25 years ago I paid the equivalent of about $600 but our dollar was trading close to par back then, for an inferior product (lead-acid gel cells, heavier steel frame, etc).

Today, most ebikes are lighter due to the energy storage medium (litium-ion or lithium polymer), lighter frame (less payload == less steel), aluminum wheels, etc. At today’s exchange rate it would set me back about USD$2,000. Trikes probably cost more due to higher shipping costs necessitated by the increased weight (~150-200%) so you probably paid about the same.

After all, it’s ultimately about Value. Like Beauty, it is in the Eye of the Beholder.

Cheers,
JPL

[PJ-Comix]

Spam in a Can.

[Svartalfiar]

I'm impressed! The author actually answered my immediate questien/comment on these!

Keep in mind that Changli vehicles are not homologated for on-road use in the US and do not meet the required Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for their class of motor vehicle. Thus, they are not street legal in most areas of the country.

[HeadOn]

This should have been the EV design all along. Charging for hours is stupid. (or any period over 10 minutes)

Contract (or buy) with Jiffy Lube, etc, and put scissor lifts in the pits to lift the batteries in place. Instant infrastructure.

[steve86]

“Lead-Acid.....................”

And won’t last long at all after a few hundred charge/discharge cycles, even if deep cycle design. Been there, done that with an early electric motor scooter powered by flooded lead-acid batteries. And the battery replacement cost is horrific.

[steve86]

Yes, my current e-MTB cost $2,000, is really fun and exciting to ride and has more more range on a charge than I’ve ever made use of (17.5 Ah li-ion pack gives over 35 miles range). Spoked wheels, aluminum frame and significantly faster than the vehicle in the article.

[steve86]

Old thread

[shaggy eel]

,,, what would it cost if the slaves had to be paid real wages?