"The Three-Wheeler" Craze: A Worldwide Tour of Chinese Tricycles
Did you know? Recently, a peculiar type of vehicle has been making waves on the internet - the Chinese tricycle, also known as the "Three-Wheeler," especially creating a sensation in the United States.
Since the beginning of this year, orders for Chinese electric tricycles三轮车(sān lún chē) in the United States have been skyrocketing. Once a Chinese "Three-Wheeler" appears on the streets of America, it instantly becomes the center of attention. The lightweight and distinctive design of the tricycle, paired with the unmistakable "Attention: Reversing" sound, seems to possess a magical charm, captivating the attention of many.
三轮车 (sān lún chē), noun, tricycle
Examples:
- The tricycle is used for delivering goods.
这辆三轮车用于送货。
zhè liàng sān lún chē yòng yú sòng huò 。 - He rides a tricycle to work every day.
他每天骑三轮车去上班。
tā měi tiān qí sān lún chē qù shàng bān 。
What is the magic behind the tricycle? It lies not only in its unique appearance but also in its practicality. With a tricycle, one can not only enjoy leisurely rides unlike any other mode of transportation but also carry a significant amount of cargo with its spacious rear area, accommodating items like mattresses or large furniture effortlessly. Moreover, being electric, the tricycle is incredibly environmentally friendly and considerably cost-effective compared to electric cars, offering excellent value for money.
How did it gain such popularity? It turns out that a blogger living in the United States had prepared an electric tricycle purchased from China for her American father-in-law during last Christmas, costing around 5000 yuan. Upon receiving the vehicle, the father-in-law was overjoyed, immediately assembling it and eagerly driving it to the neighbor's house to share the joy. The next day, the father-in-law took the family for a ride, attracting significant attention from the locals. Everyone marveled at the unseen vehicle, with some expressing immediate interest in purchasing the blogger's tricycle.
This is just one example; electric tricycles manufactured in China are also garnering attention in other countries and regions. In some small towns in Europe, residents have shown a keen interest upon seeing electric tricycles, impressed by their utility and convenience. They believe it is a suitable mode of transport for short urban commutes. Moreover, the eco-friendly nature of electric tricycles aligns with the increased environmental awareness among Europeans, making them a favored choice.
In Africa, Chinese-made electric tricycles have become quite the sought-after commodity. Due to relatively underdeveloped infrastructure in some regions of Africa, certain road conditions are not suitable for large vehicles, a gap perfectly filled by the agile and compact electric tricycles, catering to the local residents' transportation needs.
Whether on city streets or rural paths, the sight of electric tricycles cruising can be seen everywhere. Many Africans have expressed that electric tricycles are not only affordable but also have low operating costs, making them an ideal commuting option. Some businesses have even converted electric tricycles into small cargo vehicles for transporting goods, further expanding their usability.
After the blogger shared these intriguing videos on Chinese short video platforms, netizens became excited, and the level of attention and discussion continued to rise. Many netizens were debating whether domestically imported Chinese tricycles could legally operate on American roads.
To address these queries, the blogger博主(bó zhǔ) specifically posted an updated video. In the video, the blogger accompanied her father-in-law to the local vehicle registration office to register the electric tricycle. After a detailed inspection by the officials, the electric tricycle fully complied with the road regulations, allowing it to be registered for motorcycle plates, granting similar road rights as motorcycles. It successfully passed the inspection process.
博主 (bó zhǔ), noun, blogger
Examples:
- The blogger has many followers.
这位博主有很多粉丝。
zhè wèi bó zhǔ yǒu hěn duō fěn sī 。 - She became a popular blogger.
她成为了一名受欢迎的博主。
tā chéng wéi le yī míng shòu huān yíng de bó zhǔ 。
Even more interestingly, the local officials responsible for inspecting the vehicle highly praised the tricycle and even suggested to the blogger that they could propose to the local mayor the establishment of a factory to import parts from China for assembly and sale in the United States.
With its advantages, Chinese tricycles are gaining popularity worldwide, transcending borders and cultural differences, and discovering their own stage in foreign lands. Are you also curious about this type of vehicle?