{"id":19030,"date":"2022-04-02T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-02T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=19030"},"modified":"2022-04-02T08:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-04-02T12:00:00","slug":"awesomely-weird-alibaba-electric-vehicle-of-the-week-3000-electric-pickup-truck-with-bed-cap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=19030","title":{"rendered":"Awesomely Weird Alibaba Electric Vehicle of the Week: $3,000 electric pickup truck with bed cap"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s no secret that I love me a fun little electric pickup truck from China. Yes, I\u2019m that<\/em> guy that floated one over from half way around the world<\/a> to use as a farm truck in the US. But just like my four year old nephew after a run through a candy store, time does not stand still. And neither does the pace of development in Chinese electric mini truck factories. Because less than half a year after my own mini electric pickup truck rolled into my garage and heart<\/a>, more advancements are popping up in the industry. And that means that we all get to enjoy the latest that the Chinese mini electric pickup truck market has to offer in this week\u2019s rendition of the Awesomely Weird Alibaba Electric Vehicle of the Week<\/a>!<\/p>\n

My little e-truck, for all its charm, pales in comparison to this new Chinese mini electric truck technology.<\/p>\n

First of all, check out the major structural advances we have going on here.<\/p>\n

This little e-truck doesn\u2019t only get an extra two seats and two doors added to turn it into a crew cab, but the bed also now gets a cap on top for enclosed storage. <\/p>\n

I normally rib these comical little Alibaba EVs, but this truck is now so awesome that I don\u2019t know what to make fun of it for. It\u2019s legitimately awesome!<\/p>\n

With four seats, you can actually use this little truck as a family vehicle, transporting the wife and kids around with you. Whether or not she\u2019ll allow you to risk the family in a truck built entirely of crumple zone material is another matter, but at least it\u2019s got the seating capacity for it!<\/p>\n

The four seats are great, but it\u2019s that bed topper that I\u2019m really loving. Check that thing out! This 2:3 scale pickup truck is all set to be converted into a plumber\u2019s vehicle. You could specialize in fixing pipes in 2:3 scale houses!<\/p>\n

Or keep whatever the heck you want back there in rain-protected storage! Add a few breathing holes and you\u2019ve got a little version of those K-9 police trucks.<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

To be fair, I\u2019ll admit it\u2019s somewhat low performance. You\u2019re not going to be cracking 45 km\/h (28 mph) without a serious downhill run and a tailwind. But with that giant bed cap, you\u2019ve got quite a sail to catch that tail wind when it comes. Just don\u2019t cut across it or you might be wheels up \u2013 there\u2019s not much of a keel on this thing.<\/p>\n

And with its measly 2,000 watt motor, you probably shouldn\u2019t drive into the wind either. 2 kW?! That\u2019s not even two horsepower! I\u2019ve seen electric bicycles with more power than that!<\/a><\/p>\n

But let\u2019s get real. No one is buying this thing for its high performance features. They\u2019re buying it for how cool it is. And how much fun it would be to drive around in a mini-truck. Trust me, I know<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But you should also know that there\u2019s no way you\u2019re getting away with the claimed \u201c$2,950\u201d purchase price. <\/a>My two-seater electric truck was listed as $2,000, but by the time I put batteries and a number of accessories in it, then floated it half way around the world, I had paid at least 3x that.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s still a lot cheaper than a new Rivian<\/a> or F150 Lightning<\/a>, even if the specs don\u2019t quite match. But at least you can have one in a matter of months instead of years.<\/p>\n

If you are going to get one of these, be prepared for a wild ride. My purchase was quite a rollercoaster, including moments like the boat arriving in the US and the truck somehow not being on it<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But for the brave hearted out there whose significant others will let them take the whole family for a ride in this tin can with a bed topper, you\u2019re in for a tun of fun! And perhaps just a little tetanus trying to get the shipping crate open\u2026<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n
\n

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.<\/em> More.<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n\n

Subscribe to Electrek on YouTube for exclusive videos<\/a> and subscribe to the podcast<\/a>.<\/p>\n