Have you ever ever been within the temper to drive an electrical bus, after which thought to your self, “the one factor that might make this higher is that if the bus was formed like a marsupial”? Yea, me neither. At the least not till I stumbled upon this treasured specimen of a koala bus.

It’s not the primary animal-shaped electrical bus that has headlined the Awesomely Bizarre Alibaba Electrical Car of the Week column. But it surely simply is likely to be the cutest.

And to be honest, I did assume it was a mouse till our graphics man corrected me. However that’s form of the fantastic thing about a nondescript animal bus – it may be no matter you need it to be!

On this case, what it’s is a 14-seater electrical bus, together with the driving force. There’s even a full seat subsequent to the driving force, good for that one child on the bus. You recognize the one.

Granted, the inside doesn’t look fairly as magical as the outside, however generally that’s simply life.

And actually, there are a number of head-scratchers unfold across the inside. I’m nonetheless making an attempt to determine precisely how the seat belt system works right here. Is it a buddy system? Are these crotch straps? is it ornamental? If you happen to’ve acquired each a plastic seize deal with AND a chrome face-smashing bar AND velvet ropes as an alternative of partitions, do you really want the loop-de-loop belts, anyway?

The world wants solutions.

Sadly, I don’t have a whole lot of onerous solutions for you on the design selections. What I can let you know although is what is occurring concerning the technical aspect.

Based mostly on the spec sheet, it appears like we’re working with a 5-meter (16-foot) bus carrying a curb weight of a mere 1,250 kg (2,755 lb). Frankly, that’s suspiciously light-weight. I’m form of questioning what was minimize out (apart from the partitions) to attain that svelte physique.

It appears the powertrain is likely to be a part of the reply. As an alternative of a burly workhorse of a motor, we’ve acquired a paltry 5.5 kW spinner powering that rear axle. And the 9.6 kWh battery isn’t precisely enormous both, although the lead acid battery design means it’s most likely contributing to round 1 / 4 of your entire car’s weight.

However hey, after I stated “koala bus”, I don’t assume anybody got here working over anticipating one thing that was going to put down respectable occasions on the native drag strip. You’re all right here for a bus with a koala on it, and by god, that’s what you’ll get. I’ll stake my fame on this proper now – there’s no different bus on the market that’s acquired extra koala than this one, and that’s a promise you possibly can take to the financial institution.

Simply don’t attempt to make a world wire switch when you’re there. Simply because this koala bus is priced at round $8,500 doesn’t imply it’s best to attempt to get one into your driveway. Ignoring the entire host of points comparable to avenue legality and security, don’t neglect that you just’d have a brilliant fascinating car in your fingers and no locking doorways. Good luck waking up and nonetheless having a koala bus in your driveway. That pet goes, going, gone as quickly as thieves understand what a prize you’ve discovered. I don’t know the resale worth of an electrical animal bus on the black market, but it surely’s acquired to be up there.

So add this to the checklist of enjoyable, humorous, or simply plain bizarre Alibaba electrical automobiles that I’d like to strive however I’m not going to danger my paycheck on making an attempt to personal.