"Jump in this beauty, and your daily commute becomes a breeze! No parking worries, no fines, and it's electric—money-saving and convenient!" In a small county 200 kilometers away from Beijing, a Poluda electric vehicle dealer chatted excitedly with Beijing News reporter.

During a day's visit to almost all electric vehicle dealerships in the county, phrases like "easy parking," "no violations," and "cost-effective" echoed through the sales pitches.

Electric vehicles, as the name suggests, are the slower cousins of their high-speed counterparts, typically capped at a speed of 70 kilometers per hour. Despite their similar looks to traditional EVs, they are classified as motor vehicles under the "Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China," meaning they must adhere to traffic regulations. This classification, however, is a bone of contention for these vehicles.

Despite the controversy, electric vehicles are gaining popularity in smaller cities and even in bustling metropolises like Beijing. However, their rapid expansion comes with its own set of issues, such as illegal driving, disregard for traffic rules, and improper parking.

In November 2018, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, along with other departments, issued a notice to strengthen the management of low-speed electric vehicles. This includes a ban on the addition of new low-speed electric vehicle production capacity and the requirement for standardized management. Standardization has become an unavoidable topic in the low-speed electric vehicle industry.

Just recently, there was a meeting summary of a low-speed electric vehicle standard-setting meeting led by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The documents indicate that the national standards for low-speed electric vehicles will be officially released in September. The document also sets requirements for the technology and production of low-speed electric vehicle enterprises. Many cities are now implementing standardized governance of low-speed electric vehicles.

Standards and norms are becoming an insurmountable threshold for low-speed electric vehicles.

Mileage, and the "Oil-Electric Hybrid" Option

In the county I visited, there was a street lined with three low-speed electric vehicle dealerships. They represented nearly a dozen brands of low-speed electric vehicles, and the street was filled with all sorts of electric vehicles. During the visit, the salesperson emphasized several times that buying this car meant no violations and no fines.

"Driving this car out is great because parking is easy, and you don't have to worry about violations," said Salesman Wang. Most of the customers who buy low-speed electric vehicles come for no violations and easy parking, he explained.

The salesperson introduced the high and low-end models in the store, and the range of the models was mostly around 100 kilometers, with a speed of 48-50 kilometers per hour. Prices ranged from a little over 10,000 yuan to over 30,000 yuan, with various shapes and sizes, from little "BMW" to little "Land Rover."

"We offer training for buying cars, and it's definitely easy to get started," said the salesperson. As the main power source is still electricity, "how far it can run" has become an important standard to measure the quality of a car.

"Under normal circumstances, it can run 100 kilometers without a problem. If you're worried, you can also buy an oil-electric hybrid model, which can be refueled normally with about 4 liters of oil, and you don't have to worry about the range," Salesman Wang also said that cold weather, air conditioning, and even high driving speed can also have an impact on the range, so you need to have a psychological expectation for this.

"In winter, the range can drop by about a third," said Salesman Wang.

The term "extended-range" also appeared in the description of low-speed electric vehicles during the visit. Brands like Poluda, Bidewen, and Lichi all have oil-electric hybrid models that can run on pure electricity or switch to electricity after refueling, even if the vehicle's range is insufficient.

In terms of speed, the majority of the models I visited had a speed of about 50km/h, and the salesperson said that the speed was limited from the factory. When asked if the speed limit could be adjusted, the staff said that it could be, but there was no need to.

"If you adjust the speed limit, the manufacturer will no longer provide after-sales service, and on the other hand, increasing the speed limit also poses safety risks, which is very dangerous."

Losing the Original Intention of Buying a Low-Speed Electric Vehicle: Insurance and Homemade License Plates, Is It Safe?

Of course, as vehicles that are not legally allowed on the road, the B-side of low-speed electric vehicles is the safety concern. Safety issues are still the key to the development of low-speed electric vehicles.

During the visit, whether it was Poluda, Longqi such small brands, or Yujie, Bidewen and other "big brands," the "cheapness" and "plasticity" of the vehicles were evident.

During the test drive of a Yujie brand model priced at 19,800 yuan, the plastic feeling was obvious when knocking on the door. The windows were old-fashioned and had to be manually operated; the gaps between the doors were large enough to fit a finger, and it was not easy to close the door once.

During the experience, it was found that almost all vehicles had poor sound insulation, and even some did not have sound insulation. The noise from the outside world while driving can have a significant impact on the driver, and the front windshield quality is also worrying, obviously reflective and has scratches, far from meeting the standards of automotive glass.

The reporter learned that for quality and after-sales issues, Yujie, Poluda, and other brands all introduced a one-year warranty. Bidewen brands introduced a two-year warranty. A Bidewen salesperson also said that after two years, if there are any problems with the parts, you can also contact them, and they will contact the factory for repairs.

The battery, which is currently sold in the market for low-speed electric vehicles, is generally lead-acid batteries. The battery capacity is about 5-6 blocks, and the specification is 12V100Ah. The charging time is about 8-10 hours. This battery is quite different from the lithium batteries and lithium iron phosphate batteries commonly used in new energy vehicles. The service life is shorter, and the performance in terms of battery storage capacity and other aspects is much worse.

And the "extended-range" and "rechargeable" models mentioned above are, according to industry insiders, simply installing a single-cylinder gasoline engine on the vehicle, similar to the oil tank of a motorcycle from early years, which does not have much technical content.

In the introductions of dealers and agents, problems such as plastic feeling and poor sound insulation are explained by "one yuan for one cent, the quality is not bad," "this price is good enough," and "it doesn't affect your driving at all, it's enough for commuting."

And for the battery issue that has always been a concern for new energy vehicles, the salesperson also said that 100 kilometers of range is completely enough. This kind of car is not like you drive a car, it's just for commuting, you won't go far, and convenience is enough.

Salesman Wang also calculated a cost for the reporter, saying that the electricity in the county is as low as 0.5 yuan per kilowatt-hour, which is more than ten times cheaper than oil. The cost is naturally low.

Even if the battery breaks down later, replacing it will only cost a little over 1000 yuan, and the maintenance cost is only 60 yuan per time, which is done every six months to one year.

It is worth noting that although not a true electric vehicle, the low-speed electric vehicles on the street are often seen with new energy electric vehicle-style license plates, and with their similar appearance to traditional cars, they are very confusing on the road. The only difference is that the license plate of the low-speed electric vehicle is a green gradient bottom, and the text displays "Electric AXXXXX"; while the normal new energy vehicle license plate is the national special plate.

For this, the salesperson said, "We also provide license plates here, but they are just for promoting our brand. If you want a realistic effect, you can buy a pair on Taobao for just a few dozen yuan, and you can also choose your own number."

A Beijing News reporter found on Taobao and other platforms that searching for terms like "new energy vehicle license plate" and "replacement car license plate" can find many custom license plate merchants, with prices ranging from a few dozen to a few hundred yuan.

What shocked the reporter even more was that these low-speed electric vehicles, which currently do not have clear qualifications, can be "insured." Representatives of the Poluda and Yujie brands said that they could handle insurance business from them. Both agencies said that they could take out a non-motor vehicle third-party liability insurance from the PICC, commonly known as the third-party liability insurance.

The official customer service of PICC said that indeed, there is such an electric vehicle third-party liability insurance in Hebei, and it can be taken out locally according to local policies. Meanwhile, the reporter contacted a PICC agent in the local area, who said that insurance could be taken out, and told the reporter that the insurance premium was 320 yuan, and the maximum compensation was 120,000 yuan. However, when questioned by the reporter, the agent never showed the specific insurance terms and clauses.

The reporter checked the related insurance categories of PICC and found that there were no insurance categories such as "low-speed electric vehicle" and "senior car." In the motor vehicle classification related to low-speed electric vehicles, there is also no option for low-speed electric vehicles. According to a relevant person consulted by the Beijing News reporter, local insurance companies may have some confusion due to performance considerations, and being able to take out insurance does not mean that it is legal and compliant.

The Arrival of Wuling Hongguang MINIEV and the Deterioration of Low-Speed Electric Vehicles?

On the streets, in addition to seeing various low-speed electric vehicles, there are also small cars of the same size as low-speed electric vehicles - A00-level microcars, which are real new energy vehicles. With the consumption upgrade and channel penetration, traditional car companies have not given up on the three and four-line markets but have recognized the potential of this market.

Just like Wuling Hongguang MINIEV, which is currently in great demand, has quietly appeared on the streets. Its price range is 20,000-40,000 yuan, and its appearance is diverse and youthful, attracting many young consumers. Data show that in the first month after the launch of Wuling Hongguang MINIEV, sales exceeded 10,000 units.

In addition, Great Wall Ora, Chery Xiaoyama, Baojun E100, BAIC New Energy EC series, and other models have won consumer favor with their small and versatile appearance and relatively low price. An industry insider said that even though low-speed electric vehicles have increased, and a certain market has formed, the advantages of new energy vehicles in terms of range, product quality, and brand are quite obvious.

"Consumption will eventually upgrade, new energy vehicles can enjoy national subsidies, and the current price trend is downward, for example, Wuling's price has already become similar to low-speed electric vehicles." Some consumers who are still hesitating to make a purchase said during an interview with the reporter that the brand of low-speed electric vehicles is indeed poor, and there are all kinds of cars, and some brands only have one model. It is also difficult to find information about the brand online, which makes people very worried about whether the car can be guaranteed after purchase, "I don't know what will happen to the car after buying it, will the manufacturer still exist in the future."

The reporter found that most of the brands and manufacturers of low-speed electric vehicles on the market come from Shandong, which is also known as the low-speed electric vehicle province. But behind the production and manufacturing and brand is mixed, many cars may be produced by small workshops, and selling one car is to make one yuan of profit. Industry insiders revealed.

In addition to small workshop production, well-known brands are either outsourced or produced by the same manufacturer with similar models. Lichi Electric's salesperson said that the vehicles of the FuLu brand are produced by Lichi. Brands like Bidewen, Leding, and Poluda all belong to the same company. After a search by the reporter, the qualification certificate information provided by the salesperson for the FuLu brand vehicle shows that the inspection information meets the requirements of the Q/LCZC001-2018 enterprise standard released by Lichi New Energy in 2018, which to a certain extent proves that the products of FuLu are indeed produced and inspected by Lichi, and Qichacha also shows that Bidewen, Leding, and others belong to Shandong Bidewen Auto, and the factories are all located at the same address.

These also lead to the chaotic production of the industry, and the practice of brand forgery and copying is common. The relatively chaotic consumer order also makes consumers unable to believe in the brand.

In fact, low-speed electric vehicles are a unique product of rural China. In the town streets of Hebei, Henan, and Shandong provinces, low-speed electric vehicles have become the main means of transportation.

Now, after experiencing wild growth, the low-speed electric vehicle industry has reached the stage of rectification and standardization, driven by market demand and its own problems. According to the traffic accident statistics of the public security traffic administration department in 2018, over the past five years, there have been 830,000 traffic accidents involving low-speed electric vehicles. It is imperative to regulate.

It is understood that this year Beijing will launch a special treatment for three-wheeled low-speed electric vehicles in three and four-line cities, and will impose penalties on超标 two-wheeled vehicles and unregistered electric vehicles that are still on the road after the transition period. On March 22, the city of Linyi, Shandong Province, launched a special action to carry out the road traffic order management of low-speed electric vehicles, strictly investigate various traffic violations.

In fact, as early as the end of 2018, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, together with other departments, jointly issued a notice to strengthen the management of low-speed electric vehicles. This includes a ban on the addition of new low-speed electric vehicle production capacity and the requirement for standardized management. Standardization has become an unavoidable topic in the low-speed electric vehicle industry.

In October 2019, the Ministry of Finance issued a document stating that it will support the upgrade of low-speed electric vehicles and promote the exit of low-quality and low-safety products from the market. Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released a document on the reply to the 7609th suggestion of the 13th National People's Congress, stating that in the next step, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will continue to vigorously promote the governance of low-speed electric vehicles and accelerate the formulation of standards for low-speed electric vehicles.

With the gradual clarification of standards, this is the choice facing all low-speed electric vehicle manufacturers. Many salespeople said during the interview with the reporter that although low-speed electric vehicles are not yet legally allowed on the road, they believe that the country will not take a "slash and burn" approach, but will gradually allow them to become legal.

Auto analyst Zhong Shi previously said that the market behavior logic of consumers choosing low-speed electric vehicles lies in finding the most affordable means of transportation within their acceptable payment capacity. National Association of Automobile Manufacturers Secretary-General C