YouTuber Trey Tan was an early investor in Eli Electric, meaning that in a video shared on his YouTube channel, he was among the first to try out the new Eli Zero: a small electric “neighborhood vehicle,” as Tan calls it. .
Electric vehicles are already the most economical way to drive, saving on fuel and maintenance costs compared to vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICE).
But the Eli Zero, a two-seater electric car, takes savings to the extreme. Due to its small, lightweight design, its power needs are minimal – and startup costs for the car are only about $12,000, Tan reveals in his video.
Eli is headquartered in Los Angeles and Beijing, and reportedly makes cars in China, leaving open the question of whether President Joe Biden’s Chinese electric vehicle tariff plans and regulations could apply to that cost, but the company has already started taking reservations for Zero In the US it was advertised for just under $12,000 MSRP.
Tan started out as a skeptic, especially when it came to Eli Zero’s speed restrictions. “It can only go up to 25 miles per hour,” he says.
Furthermore, according to Tech Radar, the vehicle will not be legally allowed to drive on roads with a speed limit of 35 mph or less for crash safety reasons, giving it a “nearby electric vehicle classification.”
But by the end of his drive, Tan saw Eli Zero’s good points.
“One of the things I really like about this car is that when you drive it, it feels really comfortable, plus it’s really easy to steer,” he says, comparing it to golf carts that are similar in size but harder to control.
“This is really seamless,” he adds. “The throttle and brakes are very smooth.”
“What I like about the car is that it’s really compact,” he continues. “It’s so small on the outside, but it feels so big on the inside. It’s designed to be very roomy so you don’t feel like you’re in a small car.”
Tan also praised Eli Zero’s appearance. “It’s aesthetically pleasing,” he says. “If you look at small cars on the market, a lot of them look really old, but this one looks really futuristic and modern. I feel like it really has potential.”
Tan eventually decided that Eli Zero was not for him. However, he was optimistic about its use for many others. “It could be useful on college campuses, on golf courses, or … in senior living settings,” he suggests — areas where homes and other destinations are close together and space is at a premium.
Switching to neighborhood electric cars and larger electric vehicles will not only save people in these situations money, but will also reduce air pollution, which is currently largely caused by ICE transportation. Less air pollution means less heat trapped in the atmosphere, helping to cool an overheating planet.
If you’re interested in going electric, check out this guide.
Join our free newsletter to get weekly updates on the coolest innovations Improving our lives And Save our planet.
