This article was initially printed by John Faulkner on Clean Fleet Report, a publication that provides its readers the data they should transfer to automobiles and vans with finest gasoline financial system, together with electrical automobiles, gasoline cells, plug-in hybrids, hybrids, and superior diesel and gasoline engines.
Three-wheel electrical automobile for one
Notion is every little thing.
Solo is the automobile’s title, and for good purpose. It seats one individual. Sound restrictive or restricted? All of it relies upon.
Coming to grips with a single-seat automobile
That is the elevator pitch from ElectraMeccanica about proudly owning a Solo EV.
“Every day, 119 million North Americans commute using personal vehicles— and 105 million of them commute alone. Step into the future of driving. Reduce your gas bill to zero. Eliminate your environmental impact. Turn your commute into the highlight of your day.”
Apart from the final line, they’re on to one thing right here. Go searching subsequent time you might be caught in Site visitors from Hell freeway jam, and you’ll inevitably see automotive after automotive with solely the motive force. How about these 8,000-to-10,000-pound SUVs and pickups carrying just one 150-pound individual? Salient factors. Then there may be the no gasoline expense and minimal upkeep, and that is trying much more interesting. So, the place would a problem lie for the Solo EV?
Notion 1: Dimension. After I confirmed a number of pals pictures of the Solo, to an individual, they mentioned it’s too small for them. When advised it may possibly maintain a 6-foot, 200-pound individual, they shrugged, then mentioned it’s too small to be secure.
Driving a solo EV
Till Clear Fleet Report has the Solo for a number of days, we are able to solely report on our drive round a coned course in a parking zone. Acceleration and braking had been the important thing factors we had been on the lookout for, pretty much as good dealing with for a three-wheeler won’t ever be a priority. The acceleration was peppy, however not quick, and the braking was strong, however not quick. The motor is loud at sluggish speeds, which we suspect turns into unnoticeable at freeway speeds. What we’ve here’s a succesful freeway runner and an around-town bebopper that may go up-to 100 miles on a cost with a prime pace of 80 mph.
The specs illustrate how easy and uncomplicated the Solo is in comparison with different autos.
- 53 horsepower liquid-cooled motor
- 94 foot-pounds of torque
- 17.3 kilowatt-hour NCA (lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxides) liquid-cooled battery
- 220V (degree 2): 2.5 hours for as much as 90% cost
- 110V (degree 1): 8 hours for as much as 60% cost
- Energy disc brakes
- Electrical energy steering
- 1,710-pound curb weight
- 10’ 6” size
- 57.5” width–on the entrance wheels
- 53” top
This all-new, totally electrical automobile from ElectraMeccanica has two responsive entrance, 15-inch steer wheels shod with 135/70 tires, making the Solo simple to maneuver. Visibility was wonderful and, as anticipated, all gauges and controls are inside simple attain.
Solo EV options
Notion 2: Worth. My pals assumed a automobile this small was naked bones, geared up with few comfort options. Giving them the good thing about the doubt, I nodded, then gave them this record, which drew their approval.
- Distant keyless entry
- Energy home windows
- Energy mirrors
- AM/FM/Bluetooth/USB
- LCD digital instrument cluster
- 4-way adjustable seat
- Rear view digicam
- Carpeted rear storage compartment (trunk)
- Cargo area=5 cubic ft
- Heater, defogger and air flow System
- Air con
- LED headlamps
- Twin exterior heated mirrors
- Intermittent wipers
- Electrical parking brake
Solo EV fashions
The patron mannequin of the Solo EV is a single-seat automobile with a small cargo compartment behind the motive force. The road is being expanded to incorporate two variations, providing versatility for business and fleet makes use of, each geared up with a bigger cargo field with both rear or aspect entry. Assume supply providers for pizza, groceries and prescriptions. Possibly even the final mile for mail and packages. The supply potentialities are compelling. There are even plans to develop a sports activities automotive variant and a two-seat model.
ElectraMeccanica, a Canadian firm, has a Chinese language strategic manufacturing and investor associate, the Zongshen Industrial Group. An American meeting plant is deliberate to be in-built both Nashville or Phoenix. On-line reservations are at present being taken, just like the early Tesla mannequin, with a $250 deposit. Dealerships are both open or being arrange in mall areas in California, Oregon, and Arizona. These manned retail websites don’t require a big actual property footprint and are within the circulate of shoppers.
Solo EV pricing, guarantee, and security
The Solo EV has a MSRP of $18,500, however being categorized as a bike works for and towards it. The nice is it may be pushed within the HOV lane with no sticker. The form of good, however could possibly be higher information, is the Solo, as a bike, doesn’t qualify for the federal $7,500 tax credit score or California’s $2,000 EV rebate. However in California it’s eligible for a $750 rebate that goes to electrical bikes. So, you will need to examine along with your state to see what packages apply to the acquisition of a Solo EV.
Security options embody a chassis product of Teklam (a light-weight aerospace materials), entrance and rear crumple zones, aspect impression safety and a roll bar. The Solo has doorways on each side that support in entry for on a regular basis use, and within the case of an emergency. Being categorized as a bike, the Solo gained’t be crash-tested by the US Authorities’s Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) or the non-profit Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security (IIHS).
The Solo EV presents bumper-to-bumper warranties for 2 years, and 5 years on the battery.
Observations: 2021 ElectraMeccanica Solo EV
Paul Rivera, ElectraMeccanica’s CEO is an enthusiastic believer within the Solo EV, an enthusiasm which appears to run far deeper than only a paycheck for him. His ardour for the way this small, single-seat all-electric, three-wheeler will make a distinction on society is infectious. The Solo EV Clear Fleet Report drove was designed for the American market, however for Rivera, that’s solely the start.
He mentioned improvement is at present underway for a world Solo EV that will probably be focused for international locations the place site visitors congestion is dangerous, corresponding to India, and cities the place inside metropolis automobile use is restricted to electrical autos. Rivera is seeking to “the UK and Germany where they are further ahead on their electrified agenda, parking is at a premium, their sharing is more, and they have congestion taxes. In London, Paris, Gothenburg, and Stockholm, it makes a lot of sense.”
Different producers have tried getting market share in America with small electrical autos that value twice as a lot because the Solo EV, however with little success. Each the Mercedes-Benz Smart, which has two seats, and the Fiat 500e, which might seat 4, are not being bought on this aspect of the Atlantic. So, possibly the decrease value of possession would be the distinction maker for ElectraMeccanica, the place they make the case for the Solo EV as an environment friendly, sensible transportation different for an city setting.
One other issue is pre-owned EVs which are lower than three years previous, are nonetheless on their unique warranties, have seating for 4 and bigger cargo areas. These are available for $15,000 to $17,000. Private word: A member of the family just lately bought a 2019 Volkswagen E-Golf SE with 17,000 miles on it for $15,500. Contemplating one 12 months in the past this automotive bought for $33,500, you possibly can see the place pre-owned EV pricing will probably be a problem to the Solo EV. We explored that market just lately.
All of this definitely doesn’t imply the Solo EV can’t discover and fill a distinct segment the place the others couldn’t. If Paul Riviera has something to say about it, it can. Don’t guess towards them.
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Revealed December 28, 2020 — 01:00 UTC
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