Electric flat cars, also known as electric flatbed trucks, electric level cars, trolleys, crossover cars, electric track vehicles, and ground crawlers, are on-site track-based electric transportation vehicles. Firstly, they are track-type vehicles that require tracks to be laid on the ground, typically with I-beam-shaped surfaces contacting the tracks. Secondly, they are electric-powered vehicles that automatically operate under the drive of an electric motor and reducer. Moreover, they are flatbed vehicles with a level surface and no cabin cover; in special cases, they can be non-flat but also without a cabin cover. The vehicle body lacks a steering wheel, with only forward and reverse directions (even when turning, it relies on the track for the turn). This type of vehicle boasts simple structure, ease of use, high load capacity, resistance to dirt and damage, easy maintenance, and a long service life. Due to its convenience, robustness, economy, practicality, and ease of cleaning, it has become a transportation tool for frequent short-distance, fixed-point heavy cargo transportation within and between factory buildings.

Electric trolleys are mainly used in mobile lifting water carriage, etc.; in brick factories, kiln factories, refractory factories, ceramic factories, and calcining factories for electric kiln loading and unloading carts, etc.; in engineering, tunnels, and environmental sanitation for electric transport vehicles, electric dump trucks, and electric sanitation collection trucks, etc. Electric transport and dump trucks are also applied in flour mills, mining plants, foundries, chemical factories, furnace material factories, and farms, etc.