Just in case you missed the memo, the Chinese are starting to own the electric car business. Sure Tesla gets the headlines, but behind the scenes companies like Geely, SAIC, BYD and Chery are making big big waves. So no surprise then to find a tiny brand doing some interesting stuff, like this Blaval M7 solar powered EV. The range starts at a ridiculously low $5000 for the ultra slow golf cart model, but spend a little more and you’re into regular EV city commuter level.

 

The top model comes with 100 km/h top speed, 400 km range, 3-5 hour fast charge, rear camera, sunroof, entertainment system with central LCD screen. Oh and a 300W Sunpower solar panel embedded in the roof. Which is probably what explains that amazing range.

The big question is, how long before this kind of price point reaches the West? Because we know for certain that if there’s any chance at all, the Chinese will find a way. There are rumors of huge EV mountains languishing in fields all over China, spare vehicles with no home, so something has to give. Either these cars are going to ‘accidentally’ end up at the bottom of the Pacific ocean somehow, or we’re going to see them over here in volume very soon.

In the meantime, there are an increasing number of these cars reaching the less affluent markets like Pakistan and South America. So it’s only a matter of time. And before y’all kick off about the 100km/h top speed, try and think back to the max rush hour speeds in major cities of the world nowadays. It’s something like horse and carriage speed. Which makes anything above 10 mph a positive drag race.