This article was initially revealed by John Faulkner on Clean Fleet Report, a publication that provides its readers the data they should transfer to automobiles and vehicles with greatest gasoline economic system, together with electrical automobiles, gasoline cells, plug-in hybrids, hybrids, and superior diesel and gasoline engines.
Three-wheel electrical car for one
Notion is every thing.
Solo is the car’s identify, and for good cause. It seats one particular person. Sound restrictive or restricted? All of it relies upon.
Coming to grips with a single-seat car
That is the elevator pitch from ElectraMeccanica about proudly owning a Solo EV.
“Each day, 119 million North Individuals commute utilizing private automobiles— and 105 million of them commute alone. Step into the way forward for driving. Scale back your fuel invoice to zero. Remove your environmental affect. Flip your commute into the spotlight of your day.”
Aside from the final line, they’re on to one thing right here. Go searching subsequent time you’re caught in Visitors from Hell freeway jam, and you’ll inevitably see automobile after automobile with solely the motive force. How about these 8,000-to-10,000-pound SUVs and pickups carrying just one 150-pound particular person? Salient factors. Then there’s the no gasoline expense and minimal upkeep, and that is wanting much more interesting. So, the place would a problem lie for the Solo EV?
Notion 1: Dimension. After I confirmed a number of mates pictures of the Solo, to an individual, they mentioned it’s too small for them. When advised it may maintain a 6-foot, 200-pound particular person, 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 will solely report on our drive round a coned course in a parking zone. Acceleration and braking have been the important thing factors we have been in search of, 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 stable, however not quick. The motor is loud at sluggish speeds, which we suspect turns into unnoticeable at freeway speeds. What we have now here’s a succesful freeway runner and an around-town bebopper that can 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 automobiles.
- 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” peak
This all-new, absolutely electrical car from ElectraMeccanica has two responsive entrance, 15-inch steer wheels shod with 135/70 tires, making the Solo straightforward to maneuver. Visibility was wonderful and, as anticipated, all gauges and controls are inside straightforward attain.
Solo EV options
Notion 2: Worth. My mates assumed a car this small was naked bones, outfitted with few comfort options. Giving them the advantage of 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 house=5 cubic toes
- Heater, defogger and air flow System
- Air-con
- LED headlamps
- Twin exterior heated mirrors
- Intermittent wipers
- Electrical parking brake
Solo EV fashions
The buyer mannequin of the Solo EV is a single-seat car with a small cargo compartment behind the motive force. The road is being expanded to incorporate two variations, providing versatility for industrial and fleet makes use of, each outfitted with a bigger cargo field with both rear or facet entry. Suppose supply providers for pizza, groceries and prescriptions. Perhaps even the final mile for mail and packages. The supply potentialities are compelling. There are even plans to develop a sports activities automobile variant and a two-seat model.
ElectraMeccanica, a Canadian firm, has a Chinese language strategic manufacturing and investor accomplice, the Zongshen Industrial Group. An American meeting plant is deliberate to be in-built both Nashville or Phoenix. On-line reservations are presently being taken, much 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 stream of shoppers.
Solo EV pricing, guarantee, and security
The Solo EV has a MSRP of $18,500, however being labeled as a bike works for and in opposition to it. The nice is it may be pushed within the HOV lane and not using a sticker. The kind of good, however might 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 together with your state to see what packages apply to the acquisition of a Solo EV.
Security options embody a chassis made from Teklam (a light-weight aerospace materials), entrance and rear crumple zones, facet affect safety and a roll bar. The Solo has doorways on either side that help in entry for on a regular basis use, and within the case of an emergency. Being labeled as a bike, the Solo received’t be crash-tested by the US Authorities’s Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) or the non-profit Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security (IIHS).
The Solo EV affords 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 a 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 presently underway for a world Solo EV that will probably be focused for nations the place site visitors congestion is dangerous, comparable to India, and cities the place interior metropolis car use is restricted to electrical automobiles. Rivera is seeking to “the UK and Germany the place they’re additional forward on their electrified agenda, parking is at a premium, their sharing is extra, and so they have congestion taxes. In London, Paris, Gothenburg, and Stockholm, it makes a number of sense.”
Different producers have tried getting market share in America with small electrical automobiles that price 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 now not being bought on this facet of the Atlantic. So, perhaps the decrease price 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 various for an city setting.
One other issue is pre-owned EVs which can be 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 notice: A member of the family not too long ago bought a 2019 Volkswagen E-Golf SE with 17,000 miles on it for $15,500. Contemplating one yr in the past this automobile bought for $33,500, you may see the place pre-owned EV pricing will probably be a problem to the Solo EV. We explored that market not too long ago.
All of this actually 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’s going to. Don’t guess in opposition to them.
You’ll be able to comply with Clear Fleet Report on Twitter and Facebook.
SHIFT is delivered to you by Polestar. It’s time to speed up the shift to sustainable mobility. That’s the reason Polestar combines electrical driving with cutting-edge design and thrilling efficiency. Find out how.
Printed December 28, 2020 — 01:00 UTC