If you can do this for $900, just think what could be achieved with double the budget.

Bigger battery, more powerful engine so slight gradients aren't a barrier to progress, a bit of crash protection.

No good for a motorway trip, but around town where a 40mph max speed and a 20 mile range may be all that is required, it could be a winner. Drive at 16 years old, park end on, fine for shopping, school run etc.

Similar price to a mid-market electric bike, safer, keeps you dry, and very cheap to run!

Et Voila!

2182/5000

Light quadricycle, light quadri-mobile, cart, Car Without a License or VSP: whatever the name used, we are talking about one and the same type of vehicle. According to the official definition, it is a 4-wheel motor vehicle with an enclosed cabin, designed to carry a maximum of 2 people including the driver.

On the road, what are the obligations of the driver of a car without a license?

Like all vehicles on our roads, VSPs are subject to specific rules.

- Like any other road user, the driver must respect the highway code. In the event of an infraction, he cannot lose points, but he will be fined.
- It is prohibited to circulate on expressways, expressways such as peripherals and motorways.
- It must respect the speed authorized for quadricycles, that is 45km / h.
- The driver can carry only one passenger.
- Everyone on board a cart must wear their seatbelt.
- Children under 12 (or less than 1.50 m tall) are allowed on board. In accordance with the law, they must be installed in an approved seat.

What are the administrative obligations of the VSP driver?

- Driving a light quadricycle is possible from 14 years old. People born before January 1, 1988 can drive one without a code or driver's license. Only drivers born after this date must have an AM license (formerly called BSR). To find out more www.aixam.com/fr/legislation
- To travel, a VSP must have a gray card. The procedures are the same as for a classic vehicle, whether it is a new or used cart.
- Cars without a license must have a license plate. It is compulsory at the rear. A second forward is optional.
- A quadricycle is exempt from technical control.
- Indispensable: the driver of a VSP must obligatorily insure his vehicle with at least the civil liability guarantee (the third party). He can naturally take out additional guarantees.

Found some more info on the website of the guy who bought it (jalopnik.com/i-ordered-a-brand-new-chinese-900-ev-...7), but a couple of key points. First, the $900 (actually around $930) was just the purchase price. Shipping the 770lb (around 350kg) 'parcel' was another $1784!. But this was to Wilmington North Carolina, it surely would be a fair chunk less to a port on the west coast. Even so, as the guy points out, that still makes it ridiculously cheap, even compared to a golf cart, the one he listed as a comparison was over $9000.

Also, it seems in the US there is a particular category of 'car' this does fit into, and is entirely legal to use. That is 'Low speed neighborhood electric vehicle', whereby applicable vehicles can be used in areas where the speed limit is less than 40mph.