Awesomely Weird Alibaba EV of the Week: This 18 MPH suitcase is a terrible idea
I’ve got a bit of a reputation for testing out some of the wildest, strangest, and most interesting non-car electric vehicles on the internet. In order to find many of these far-fetched electric steeds, all I have to do is pop open a few (dozen) Alibaba tabs in my browser and start window shopping through the world’s largest repository of creative EV engineering. That’s exactly how I found this week’s focus: a surprisingly fast and fun-looking suitcase that you can giddy-up and ride till the wheels fall off, which they very well might.
Now let me tell you right off the bat: I did not actually buy this awesome-looking scooter suitcase (scootcase?). This is part of a long series of posts where we enjoy the beauty (or horror) of some of Alibaba’s wildest EVs from the safe distance of our computer screens.
But this one is really tempting me. And that’s because for a mere US $733, this electric suitcase that nobody ever asked for could be yours!
It’s powered by a 400W motor – or perhaps two 400W motors, as the ad copy isn’t super clear. But either way, that single or double motor is apparently enough to send this suitcase careening around an airport terminal at a wholly irresponsible 30 km/h (18 mph).
If this seems like a half-baked idea, then you’re probably being generous. The last thing I want when I’m rushing to catch a flight is to be taken out at the knees by someone riding an 18 mph suitcase. But then again, the simple solution to that problem is to already be on my own electric suitcase! Problem solved – and race started!
The concept sounds far fetched, but the execution actually looks pretty decent, especially when shown off by the leggy model giving us the money shot, above.
The design is sort of fascinating, even if I’m not 100% sure I understand the engineering. Apparently it starts life as a normal carry-on suitcase. You know, the boring old kind that you can’t drift around a Cinnabon on your way to Gate 16A.
But then it transforms like Optimus Prime into a scooter, folding part of the suitcase back on itself and pivoting its trolley pull-handle 90 degrees into a set of handlebars. At that point you pop a fat squat right onto Scootimus Prime and you’re ready to fly around an airport at breakneck speeds. Based on the graphic below, I’m led to believe this transformation takes just five seconds.
I can’t imagine this does any favors to the storage space available inside of the suitcase. But hey, did you buy your suitcase to carry things, or did you buy it to race old folks on those Terminal 3 golf cart shuttles? Yeah, that’s what I thought. So quit complaining, go toss your laundry and neck pillow in a plastic shopping bag, and strap on your riding goggles because we’ve got some very narrow tire marks to lay down on some very squeaky airport linoleum.
The on-board battery is said to be enough for 13 km (8 miles) of range, which seems longer than necessary in any airport setting. It also powers some USB outlets on the suitcase, meaning you could recharge your phone in a pinch.
The 75Wh battery is compliant with pretty much any airline, falling below the 100Wh limit. So if you’re getting hassled at the airport about your new wheels, it won’t be by TSA, but rather all the teenagers laughing at you while posting it on TikTok.
But let ’em laugh, because they’re just haters in your non-existent rearview mirror. If they only knew what sweet loadout this scootcase had, they’d be singing a different tune.
There are surprisingly nice features like four speed settings, electronic braking, cruise control, and even a reverse feature. You might scoff, but my LiveWire electric motorcycle doesn’t even have reverse. Harley engineers could learn a thing or two from this silly little thing!
Some final thoughts
As interesting as this thing looks, I don’t think I’ll be dropping $733 on it anytime soon. I’ll have to stick with my trusty Cotopaxi travel backpack, which can neither ferry me around an airport nor charge my devices, but has served me well for boring old tasks like carrying my belongings.
And as many of my longtime readers will already know, this is very much a tongue-in-cheek post as part of a long series of other tongue-in-cheek Alibaba posts (which I hope to resurrect to a near-regular schedule again). Therefore, nothing in this post should be taken as an endorsement of this product. In fact, please do not buy this thing. You’ve been warned. If you do buy it, don’t complain to me when you get a speeding ticket from a mall cop or get banned from LaGuardia for causing a pileup outside of a Sbarro.
Let’s just let this thing exist in its own weird little corner of the internet with the rest of the finest electric vehicles that Alibaba has to offer.
And that, my friends, is a wrap. It’s good to be back.
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With the federal EV incentive set to expire at the end of September, Ford is urging its dealers to prepare for a rush of buyers.
Ford warns dealers of upcoming EV rush
Like most automakers, Ford is preparing for a shakeup under the Trump Administration. After the “One Big Beautiful Bill” was signed into law on July 4, the $7,500 and $4,000 tax credit for new and used EVs will no longer be available after September 30.
In a memo sent to dealers this week, Ford warned, “demand is expected to increase as the deadline approaches for eligible vehicles.”
The letter (via CarsDirect) confirmed that the EV tax credit “will no longer be available for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025.”
Ford blamed Trump’s new bill for the expected rush of EV buyers ahead of the incentive deadline. Although the Mustang Mach-E doesn’t qualify for the credit, since it’s built in Mexico, Ford is passing it on through a leasing loophole. While it’s still available, the F-150 Lightning does qualify for the credit when purchased or leased.
Last week, Ford launched its new “Zero, Zero, Zero” summer sales promo, offering a $0 down payment, 0% interest for 48 months, and zero payments for the first 90 days on most Ford and Lincoln vehicles.
The new campaign replaces the employee pricing for all campaign, which ran through the first half of the year. Despite outpacing the industry with overall sales rising 14% in Q2, Ford’s EV sales fell by nearly a third.
Ford spokesperson Martin Gunsberg told Electrek that electric vehicle sales were lower due to the Mustang Mach-E recall and the transition to the 2025 model year. “Our dealers can’t sell what they don’t have,” Gunsberg said.
Although the Mach-E doesn’t qualify for the credit when purchased, it’s still one of the best EV lease deals available right now, starting at $395 per month. The offer is for 36 months with no down payment required.
Ford isn’t the only one preparing for big changes over the next few months. Honda extended its ultra-low lease offer on the Prologue until the end of September. Hyundai and Kia are slashing prices with generous discounts ahead of the deadline. The 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 might be the best EV deal at just $179 per month right now.
Looking to snag the savings while they are still available? You can use our links below to find deals on top-selling electric vehicles in your area.
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Environment
Tesla engineer admits Tesla didn’t maintain Autopilot crash records amid trial over fatal crash
A Tesla engineer admitted in court that Tesla didn’t maintain Autopilot crash records before 2018, 3 years after launching the ADAS system, in a trial over the death of a bystander in a crash involving Autopilot.
Tesla is currently on trial in Miami over a crash involving a 2019 Tesla Model S that was operating on Autopilot.
The case attempts to place some responsibility on Tesla for creating complacency with drivers, who were led to believe Autopilot could do more than it actually could.
George McGee was driving his Model S on Autopilot in Key Largo in April 2019 when he dropped his phone and looked down to pick it up when the car blew past a stop sign at a T intersection, and crashed into a parked Chevrolet Tahoe.
22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and her boyfriend Dillon Angulo were standing next to the parked Tahoe. Benavides died and Angulo was seriously injured.
The police charged McGee with reckless driving, but the families of the victims sued both McGee and Tesla. McGee settled with the plaintiffs, but Tesla hasn’t.
The automaker has been sued many times over fatal crashes related to its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems. Recently, Tesla settled a few of those lawsuits, but this one is the first to make it to trial.
The plaintiffs allege that Tesla’s communications regarding Autopilot have led drivers, such as McGee, to become complacent and use Autopilot in a manner that led to this crash. They also claim that Tesla misrepresented the safety of Autopilot and failed to deploy proper driver monitoring to ensure its safe use.
The trial started on Monday and on Thursday, the jury heard testimony from Tesla software engineer Akshay Phatak who said that Tesla didn’t even complete records of Autopilot crashes before March 2018 (via Law360):
At the end of the first day of testimony, jurors watched part of the videotaped deposition of Tesla software engineer Akshay Phatak in which he said Tesla did not maintain records before March 2018 for evaluating whether it was safer to operate Tesla vehicles with the autopilot engaged or shut off.
When asked if Tesla maintained records or data before 2018 that kept track of the number of crashes that occurred per vehicle mile driven with the autopilot engaged, he replied simply, “No.”
That’s despite Tesla launching Autopilot almost 3 years prior. The jury will hear more of Phatak’s deposition today after Tesla attempted to keep it out of court over claims that it contains “sensitive trade secrets.”
Plaintiffs also challenged Tesla’s Autopilot safety report. We previously highlighted how Tesla suddenly stopped reporting the statistics and only started again a year later, while updating older data.
Dr. Mendel Singer testified on Tuesday and highlighted the discrepancy:
He noted that Tesla offered corrections to the vehicle safety report in January 2023 after finding some errors and miscounts. The crash data for when the autopilot was on stayed about the same, but the crash rate for when the autopilot was off went up by about 50% in the updated report, he said.
Mary Cummings, a professor and director of the Autonomy and Robotics Center at George Mason University and a longtime critic of Tesla’s self-driving efforts, is expected to testify today.
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General Motors and Redwood Materials are joining forces to take EV battery tech beyond the road and onto the grid. The two companies just signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding that sets the stage for turning both new and second-life GM batteries into energy storage systems to support the US’s rising electricity demand.
The collaboration aims to help the grid keep up with the surge in power-hungry applications, from AI data centers to electrified transport and industry.
“The market for grid-scale batteries and backup power isn’t just expanding, it’s becoming essential infrastructure,” said Kurt Kelty, GM’s VP of batteries, propulsion, and sustainability. “Electricity demand is climbing, and it’s only going to accelerate… GM batteries can play an integral role.”
Redwood launched a new venture in June called Redwood Energy that repurposes both new and used EV battery packs into fast and cost-effective energy storage systems. Today’s announcement allows Redwood to use second-life batteries from GM EVs and new GM battery modules to create US-built energy storage systems.
This isn’t just a future plan – it’s already happening. GM’s repurposed EV batteries are currently powering the biggest second-life battery project in the world. Located in Sparks, Nevada, Redwood’s 12MW/63MWh installation is also the largest microgrid in North America and supports Crusoe, an AI infrastructure company.
“Electricity demand is accelerating at an unprecedented pace,” said JB Straubel, Redwood’s founder and CEO. “Both GM’s second-life EV batteries and new batteries can be deployed in Redwood’s energy storage systems, delivering fast, flexible power solutions.”
And the timing couldn’t be better. AI data centers alone are expected to triple their share of US electricity use, from 4.4% in 2023 to 12% by 2028. That’s driving the urgent need for scalable, domestic energy storage.
GM and Redwood Materials say they’ll share more details on their plans later this year.
Read more: Arizona brings a huge grid battery online ahead of peak demand
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