http://www.seattletimes.com/business/3-wheeled-electric-vehicle-could-go-on-sale-soon/
By
DEE-ANN DURBIN
The Associated Press
DETROIT (AP) — A three-wheeled electric vehicle could be on the road
later this year in the U.S. and Canada.
Electra Meccanica Vehicles Corp. of Vancouver, British Columbia,
officially unveiled the one-seat Solo on Friday. The Solo could go on
sale as early as November pending approval by U.S. and Canadian
regulators. It costs around $15,500.
Two hundred people have already put down a refundable deposit of 250
Canadian dollars ($193) to get the Solo, Electra Meccanica spokesman
Jeff Holland said. Those who put down deposits now can expect delivery
after the first quarter of 2017. The company eventually hopes to sell
the Solo globally.
The Solo is classified as a car in Canada and as an autocycle in 41 U.S.
states, Holland said. That means it doesn’t require users to wear a
helmet or have a motorcycle license, but it also doesn’t have some
safety features that are required in cars, like air bags.
The company sees the vehicle as ideal for low-speed commutes but it does
have some safety features. Those include a backup camera, chrome-alloy
tubes built into the side for crash protection and aluminum crush zones
in the front and rear. The Solo’s body is made from the same strong but
lightweight aluminum composite as the floor on a Boeing 787.
The Solo has two front wheels and one rear wheel and is 10 feet long, or
about 14 inches longer than a Smart car. It looks pretty normal in
front: It’s nearly as wide as the Smart and has a hood, headlights and
grille. But it tapers off sharply in the back. There’s a plug hidden
under its license plate.
The Solo is powered by a lithium-ion battery that can go 100 miles on a
charge. It takes three hours to fully charge the battery using a
220-volt outlet or six hours using a 110-volt outlet. It has a top speed
of 80 mph and goes from zero to 60 mph in 8 seconds, which is equivalent
to a Toyota Camry.
The Solo has some fancy features, like a digital instrument display,
Bluetooth connectivity, power windows and keyless entry. Air
conditioning costs extra. It comes in red, black, silver and white.
Electra Meccanica expects its customers to be urban commuters who want
an environmentally friendly vehicle. It says 80 percent of commuters
currently drive alone, and the average U.S. commute is 50 miles
roundtrip, which would be well within the Solo’s range.
The U.S. and Canadian governments are certifying the vehicle now and
will let the company know if it will qualify for tax credits and other
incentives, like use in carpool lanes, Holland said.
Once that process is completed, the company plans to open stores and
start deliveries, he said. Electra Meccanica is currently reviewing 35
applications to open dealerships worldwide.
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Peri
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