Have You Heard Of The Tiny Chinese EVs From ChangliEV?

Oct 21, 2023

The Chinese company offers a tiny EV, a minuscule pickup truck, and "SUV" that are about the size of a golf cart and can be imported to the U.S.

Have you ever considered buying a Mini Cooper but stopped because, well, it's just too big? Or maybe you’d like a pickup truck but need it to be more than a foot shorter than the Chevrolet Spark? Perhaps what you really desire in your heart is to have an electric vehicle that looks like a Honda Pilot that had been left in the dryer for too long and thus has similar dimensions to a golf cart? Well, if any of these fit the bill for your automotive desires, then ChangLi has the solution.

The Chinese company, which began making electric tricycles since 1996, has now entered the car game as ChagLiEV, and their minute models can be imported to the U.S. Though, to call their products "cars" may be a bit of stretch, because the dimensions of their models certainly aren't typical by any stretch of the imagination. But for uniqueness, and frankly, cuteness, ChangLi EV absolutely delivers. To boot, with lead-acid batteries and plastics that could be rejected for kid's toys for being too low-rent, these tiny little EVs are cheap.

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ChangliEV offers three miniscule all-electric models that bring an all-new meaning to "subcompact." There is the boxy and tiny Mini EV, the larger Mini SUV, and even the tiny Mini Pickup for those who want some truck capabilities…just not a lot of them.

The Mini EV, which shares some styling similarities to a scaled-down Honda Pilot, is the smallest of the bunch. The average dimensions of the golf cart you drive around while ignoring the "path only" signs at your local course are 92 inches long, four-feet wide, and 5.5-feet high. That means at 95x48x64 inches, the Mini EV is almost exactly the same size as standard golf cart. And it's just about as fast, as well. The Mini EV tops out at 28 mph. It has a claimed range of 30 miles from its 3kWh battery, but don't despair, a 5kWh battery is also available. Charging times are four to six hours at 110V.

Though its performance figures are akin to something you see traversing down the road in 55+ country club communities, you get a lot more (though still not a lot) than a car can offer. For instance, there's an AM/FM radio, windshield wipers, a heater, crank windows, a spare tire, a USB port, backup camera, and LED lighting. And as it's fully enclosed, you get protection from the elements.

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If you want something a bit bigger, but still 17 inches shorter than a Chevy Spark, the ChangLiEV's Mini SUV provides more room for the portly, a 126-inch length, 61-inch width, and 65-inch height, to be exact. It includes the same features as the Mini EV with four doors, and a larger battery and an electric motor for a range of up to 30 miles and a 28-mph top speed. Charging the more powerful (hold your laughter) all-electric setup takes six to eight hours at 110V.

Not only does the Mini SUV take its namesake from popular automaker, ChangLiEV doesn't seem to care about any copyright infringement as it's a clear copy of the Mini Cooper's styling, just with the availability of bubble-gum pink paint. It comes complete with Mini's rounded headlights, a grille that looks like a shrunken-down version of the Cooper's, and even a round housing for the "infotainment" screen in the center of the dash. We say "infotainment" because there's no clear indication if there is actually an operating system for the screen. Photos also show another screen forward of the steering wheel, perhaps serving as a digital gauge cluster to monitor its vicious speeds of up to 28 mph.

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It's an often-heard complaint that modern midsize and compact trucks just aren't very compact, but ChangLiEV has a fix that might leave some prospective pickup buyers eating those words. The company's Mini Pickup (the company isn't too creative with its naming, after all) spans 130 inches in length, comes with four doors, and yes, a truck bed. Buyers can even opt for a hydraulic dumping bed, air conditioning, or a 6kWh motor. What could one possibly do with a pickup that is five feet shorter than a Hyundai Santa Cruz? Well, truck stuff! Admittedly, just on a much smaller scale. ChangLi EV doesn't give the dimensions of its bed, but it's fair to say it's not exactly commodious.

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The short answer is yes, so long as you don't mind paying for shipping a model from China or importing it through third-party distributors. The cost? Well, ChangLiEV lists all three models for $9,999 on its website, but they are sold on Alibaba.com (in case you needed another reminder this isn't your typical car) for about $2,000-$3,000. Publication Electrek actually purchased a Mini Pickup through Alibaba, and with options, $2,200 for shipping and some unforeseen issues, the total cost was around $7,000. That might seem like a steep price, but it's about the same as you’d be expected to pay for a new golf cart. And, of course, a golf cart doesn't have a pickup bed, the (admittedly limited) creature comforts of ChangLiEV's models or a fully enclosed cabin.

Before you prime your wallet, however, it's important to note that there are likely no areas in the U.S. where any of the ChangLiEV models are road legal. This is true even for municipalities in which golf carts can be used on the street, as most cities still require that road-going carts are DOT-approved, something the Mini EV, Mini SUV, and Mini Pickup cannot provide.

But for something to pilot through your neighborhood, or to do some small-scale truck duties around your property, ChangLiEV's models are sure to grab attention and provide the kind of novelty that only a tiny car can provide.

Joe Parker is a nationally award-winning journalist and columnist from the Atlanta area. He has served as an automotive journalist for the past four years alongside extensive sports, business, government, and column writing. His favorite modern car feature is ventilated seats to combat the Southeast U.S. climate, and his heel-toe shifting attempts usually end in disappointment.