Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > EcoModding Central
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 08-06-2014, 05:51 PM   #1 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
radiantthought's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 54

Leaf on the Wind - '13 Nissan Leaf
Thanks: 6
Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts
Anyone heard of this? Kandi Viper 250MD reverse trike.

So, for background here. A few months back I got super excited about the Ecomotive Eco-Exo kit car, but balked when I found out that the Suzuki Bergman donor vehicle does not have a reverse gear. I was originally thinking it would be a great platform for aeromodding. Unfortunately, without the ability to reverse gears, or to stick my feet out and push off as their forums suggested, it just didn't make sense.

Today, I was tooling around the net and stumbled upon the Kandi Viper 250MD. This vehicle appears to have solved the eco-exo's reverse problem and comes pretty much ready to roll for a similar price point. After doing a little shopping around, it seems a number of dealers sell them for around $6k, which seems reasonable to me.

Has anyone looked into, or even driven, one of these? Any thoughts?

Also, I wasn't sure if this should go in the motorcycle/scooter section or not. I thought since it's much more car-like than motorcycle-like that this seemed like a better place. If I was wrong, by all means move it.

  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 08-06-2014, 06:40 PM   #2 (permalink)
home of the odd vehicles
 
rmay635703's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere in WI
Posts: 3,874

Silver - '10 Chevy Cobalt XFE
Thanks: 495
Thanked 863 Times in 650 Posts
Good lord, that site used to hawk Kandi Cocos, I figured they were out of business.
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2014, 06:55 PM   #3 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
radiantthought's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 54

Leaf on the Wind - '13 Nissan Leaf
Thanks: 6
Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by rmay635703 View Post
Good lord, that site used to hawk Kandi Cocos, I figured they were out of business.
I'm not familiar, but the way you say that doesn't sound good. Care to elaborate?

From what I see it looks like an all-electric smart car knockoff.
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2014, 09:25 PM   #4 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
freebeard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: northwest of normal
Posts: 27,562
Thanks: 7,738
Thanked 8,554 Times in 7,041 Posts
Coincidentally, the forum software is serving up to me an Elio Motors ad.

$6800... air-bags...

Last edited by freebeard; 08-07-2014 at 02:48 PM.. Reason: spelling
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2014, 09:54 PM   #5 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
radiantthought's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 54

Leaf on the Wind - '13 Nissan Leaf
Thanks: 6
Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts
I love the Elio concept, I hope it works out, I'd love to buy one if they ever come to market. This actually exists right now though. I even found a scooter/atv place about 50 miles away that carries them. Maybe I'll head up there sometime and see if I can grab a test drive.
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to radiantthought For This Useful Post:
Fat Charlie (08-07-2014)
Old 08-06-2014, 10:23 PM   #6 (permalink)
EcoModding Apprentice
 
ecoTex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 180

green VX - '95 Honda civic VX
Team Honda
90 day: 59.74 mpg (US)
Thanks: 209
Thanked 162 Times in 47 Posts
40 mph top speed would be a problem for me. Looks fun though
__________________


My adjustable WAI / HAI build thread

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tml#post408134
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2014, 10:40 PM   #7 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Philippines
Posts: 2,173
Thanks: 1,739
Thanked 589 Times in 401 Posts
I believe that means that the Kandi line-up is sourced from China... probably from one of the hundreds of small car suppliers on Alibaba.com. The Coco looks exactly like a Chinese EV.
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2014, 11:49 PM   #8 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
radiantthought's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 54

Leaf on the Wind - '13 Nissan Leaf
Thanks: 6
Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by niky View Post
I believe that means that the Kandi line-up is sourced from China... probably from one of the hundreds of small car suppliers on Alibaba.com. The Coco looks exactly like a Chinese EV.
Yeah, I came across that when I was looking into it earlier. Apparently the company is called Zhejiang Kangdi Vehicles, but decided Kandi sounded a little better for western markets. From that article it sounds like QC is pretty hit or miss, which is a shame. I wish there was more affordable competition in this market segment.
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2014, 12:47 AM   #9 (permalink)
Human Environmentalist
 
redpoint5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 12,395

Acura TSX - '06 Acura TSX
90 day: 24.19 mpg (US)

Lafawnda - '01 Honda CBR600 F4i
90 day: 47.32 mpg (US)

Big Yeller - '98 Dodge Ram 2500 base
90 day: 21.82 mpg (US)

Prius Plug-in - '12 Toyota Prius Plug-in
90 day: 57.64 mpg (US)

Mazda CX-5 - '17 Mazda CX-5 Touring
90 day: 26.68 mpg (US)

Chevy ZR-2 - '03 Chevrolet S10 ZR2
90 day: 17.14 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,192
Thanked 4,380 Times in 3,354 Posts
Why do they use motorcycle tires when the profile isn't utilized? Motorcycle tires are expensive, and if the profile isn't used, will wear out quickly.
__________________
Gas and Electric Vehicle Cost of Ownership Calculator







Give me absolute safety, or give me death!
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2014, 01:09 AM   #10 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
radiantthought's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 54

Leaf on the Wind - '13 Nissan Leaf
Thanks: 6
Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by redpoint5 View Post
Why do they use motorcycle tires when the profile isn't utilized? Motorcycle tires are expensive, and if the profile isn't used, will wear out quickly.
You must be talking about the eco-exo, the kandi viper uses 165/70R13 tires all around. The reason I'd guess the eco-exo uses motorcycle tires is because its steering system is designed to use the front end from the suzuki bergman. They seem to like to use as much of the donor vehicle as possible, so that falls in line with that.

  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com