Chinese Electric Trikes

[Sethodine]

So lately, I've developed this hobby of seeing what kind of interesting things I can find on Alibaba.com. If you're not familiar with the site, it is a world-wide Business-to-Business (B2B) connecting site, kinda like Amazon for factories and trading companies in China, India, etc.

Tonight's journey down the rabbit hole led me to Electric tricycles, scooters, and bikes. Most of them are just your typical electric mopeds and granny scooters, but a few of them enter into actual EV motorcycle/car territory. Here are a few of my favorite examples.

THIS ONE is most comparable to the Elio in design (reverse trike, two tandem seats), although stats-wise it is barely road-legal (and just a tad too slow to get the EV Motorcycle tax credit).
Assuming the posted stats are accurate, it has a maximum speed of 43 mph, and a range of 99 miles on sealed lead-acid batteries. It is powered by a 5kw DC motor. Unfortunately, they don't show a side-profile view on this model. Just $6300 a piece, with a minimum order quantity of 4.

THIS ONE has more car-like capabilities, although they don't say how much they cost (you gotta contact them for the price). It has two side-by-side seats, and supposedly can go 74 mph and has a range up to 124 miles. It is powered by Lithium Iron Polymer batteries. This one is front-wheel drive, powered by a 20kw AC motor. And whatever the price is, you gotta buy at least 5 of them.

There are several other examples to be found, both trikes like these or fully-fledged cars. Unfortunately, I'd be willing to bet that none of the Chinese cars could pass DOT regulations, but thanks to looser motorcycle requirements I think anybody willing to do the paperwork could make a pretty penny importing trikes like these.

 

[BigWarpGuy]

The first one reminds me of the Cree Sam.

 

[BigWarpGuy]

Alibaba. Here is one similar to the one shown above - same source.

 

[Sethodine]

Alibaba. Here is one similar to the one shown above - same source.

Yeah, I thought about posting that one too, but it was so similar to the others I decided not to bother

I've actually been doing a lot of research into importing motorcycles, and it turns out that even that is harder than I thought. The easiest option would be to purchase them as incomplete vehicles, removing all of the components which do not comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), and remove the drive train, then import it as an "assemblage of motor vehicle equipment items". The items which would need to be removed (if they are non-compliant) are: brake hoses, brake fluid, glazing, lighting equipment, seat belt assemblies, tires, and rims.

The nice thing about all those equipments, is that those parts all carry their DOT certification from the original part manufacturer over to the vehicle manufacturer, so if you wanted to import a large number of vehicles you could probably get the Chinese manufacturer to source components from DOT-certified vendors (for a premium price, I'm sure). Then the vehicle would only need to be shipped without the electric motor and the differential (or belt), since these are the only "drive train" components an electric vehicle has.

Once imported, you would still need to do some more work. You'd need to become a Manufacturer yourself, and submit VIN information to the NHTSA. The vehicles would need compliant hardware installed, new electric motors and other drive train components, and all the proper VIN engraving and vehicle information labeling that the law requires. (I think the VIN/Labeling stuff can be skipped if you are building one soley for yourself, kind of like kit-building a car, but I'm not 100% sure on that).

So yeah, it's kind of involved.

 

[Sethodine]

Actually, I lied. the easiest way to import a motorcycle is to buy one from a manufacturer that already builds motorcycles to DOT certification.

 

[AriLea]

I'd have to say a Chinese competitor for Elio on US soil is not likely. If for no other reason, the extended issues involved are matched in the automotive market and there you have not seen much to worry about.

The Slingshot is a cheap TRex competitor, but still prices out at $27k a unit.

 

[Sethodine]

I'd have to say a Chinese competitor for Elio on US soil is not likely. If for no other reason, the extended issues involved are matched in the automotive market and there you have not seen much to worry about.

The Slingshot is a cheap TRex competitor, but still prices out at $27k a unit.

Here's your Chinese Elio competition. It even comes in a Deliverator model

After shipping overseas it'd be about $3200, but at least they claim to already build to DOT spec.

 

[AriLea]

Here's your Chinese Elio competition. It even comes in a Deliverator model

After shipping overseas it'd be about $3200, but at least they claim to already build to DOT spec.

FYI, these factory and campus 'tramps' do not always include state or federal licencing for the quoted price. If they stay relegated to one private property or closed campus (off public roads) there is little gov will do about it after you receive it. Farmers know all about the issue.
If DOT approved, it still adds licencing costs and processing which requires more proof than just the DOT stickers.

 

[AriLea]

BTW,, Electric Morgan., 1100lbs, and $50k, but available in the US this year.
Is this a competition to the Elio Base market? No, a segment? Maybe.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/video/the-brand-new-three-wheeled-electric-classic-car/vi-BBqeAfI

 

[Sethodine]

FYI, these factory and campus 'tramps' do not always include state or federal licencing for the quoted price. If they stay relegated to one private property or closed campus (off public roads) there is little gov will do about it after you receive it. Farmers know all about the issue.
If DOT approved, it still adds licencing costs and processing which requires more proof than just the DOT stickers.

Oh, I'm sure it's not as easy as ordering a book from amazon Hidden costs, etc. I guess the subject of the ever-globalizing economy just facinates me.