Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > Fossil Fuel Free
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 06-03-2016, 04:59 PM   #1 (permalink)
Master Novice
 
elhigh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SE USA - East Tennessee
Posts: 2,314

Josie - '87 Toyota Pickup
90 day: 29.5 mpg (US)

Felicia - '09 Toyota Prius Base
90 day: 52.44 mpg (US)
Thanks: 427
Thanked 616 Times in 450 Posts
A new mass market EV

Hey folks,
I just spotted this over at Treehugger.com:The SOLO, a single passenger electric three-wheeler, is slated for July launch : TreeHugger
And also their own website:Electra Meccanica – Solo – An All-Electric Vehicle


The interesting bit about it is that unlike the Elio, this vehicle's expected to drop next month. That's a lot more immediate than the Elio's ever-retreating debut.

__________________




Lead or follow. Either is fine.
  Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to elhigh For This Useful Post:
mcrews (06-03-2016), NeilBlanchard (06-06-2016), Xist (06-04-2016)
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 06-03-2016, 06:43 PM   #2 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
bhazard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Toledo, OH
Posts: 500

2012 Golf TDI - '12 Volkswagen Golf TDI
TEAM VW AUDI Group
90 day: 45.51 mpg (US)
Thanks: 6
Thanked 34 Times in 27 Posts
So the single rear wheel is the drive wheel. Why does this seem like a bad idea to me?
__________________
'05 Outback XT, 19 mpg

BP-turbo 93 Festiva (long gone)
1/4 mile - 12.50@111.5
Best MPG - 36.8
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2016, 10:48 PM   #3 (permalink)
Engine-Off-Coast
 
Natalya's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 564

Red 2000 Insight (2017 through 2019) - '00 Honda Insight 5MT
90 day: 64.72 mpg (US)

Red 2000 Lithium Insight (2020) - '00 Honda Insight LTO
90 day: 71.76 mpg (US)
Thanks: 224
Thanked 309 Times in 177 Posts
I bet they don't start selling them next month.
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2016, 08:49 AM   #4 (permalink)
Not Doug
 
Xist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Show Low, AZ
Posts: 12,230

Chorizo - '00 Honda Civic HX, baby! :D
90 day: 35.35 mpg (US)

Mid-Life Crisis Fighter - '99 Honda Accord LX
90 day: 34.2 mpg (US)

Gramps - '04 Toyota Camry LE
90 day: 35.39 mpg (US)

Don't hit me bro - '05 Toyota Camry LE
90 day: 30.49 mpg (US)
Thanks: 7,254
Thanked 2,229 Times in 1,719 Posts
How can they start production next month when all they have is a chassis? No prototypes? Hardly anything on their website?
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2016, 09:27 AM   #5 (permalink)
Master Novice
 
elhigh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SE USA - East Tennessee
Posts: 2,314

Josie - '87 Toyota Pickup
90 day: 29.5 mpg (US)

Felicia - '09 Toyota Prius Base
90 day: 52.44 mpg (US)
Thanks: 427
Thanked 616 Times in 450 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by bhazard View Post
So the single rear wheel is the drive wheel. Why does this seem like a bad idea to me?
That's a good question - why?

There have been lots of tadpoles that are easily as stable as any four wheeler, both front and rear drive. It's mostly a matter of putting the CG as low as possible between the front wheels. Since there's a heavy battery pack that needs to go in this car and its shape is kind of up to the manufacturer, and the motor may not even need a transmission, the motor out back driving through a belt or chain and the pack at the front and down low looks like a layout that suggests itself. Driving the rear wheel, where the tapering shape makes the available volumes too small for cargo or seating but perfectly adequate for a small motor, just leaves more volume available at the front for batteries and/or feet.
__________________




Lead or follow. Either is fine.

Last edited by elhigh; 06-04-2016 at 12:51 PM..
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2016, 09:29 AM   #6 (permalink)
Master Novice
 
elhigh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SE USA - East Tennessee
Posts: 2,314

Josie - '87 Toyota Pickup
90 day: 29.5 mpg (US)

Felicia - '09 Toyota Prius Base
90 day: 52.44 mpg (US)
Thanks: 427
Thanked 616 Times in 450 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xist View Post
How can they start production next month when all they have is a chassis? No prototypes? Hardly anything on their website?
I got nothing. Just saw it pop up on Treehugger.
__________________




Lead or follow. Either is fine.
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2016, 01:01 PM   #7 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Missoula, MT
Posts: 2,668

Dark Egg - '12 VW Touraeg
Thanks: 305
Thanked 1,187 Times in 813 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xist View Post
How can they start production next month when all they have is a chassis? No prototypes? Hardly anything on their website?
Yeah, but they have picked out the colors.
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2016, 01:54 PM   #8 (permalink)
Master Novice
 
elhigh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SE USA - East Tennessee
Posts: 2,314

Josie - '87 Toyota Pickup
90 day: 29.5 mpg (US)

Felicia - '09 Toyota Prius Base
90 day: 52.44 mpg (US)
Thanks: 427
Thanked 616 Times in 450 Posts
I have learned a bit more. It's been in development for a while; it appears to me they have acquired the rights to the old Corbin Sparrow/Myers Motors NMG



And then once they had the rights to the Sparrow, they pretty much dropped most of what it brought with it. The control paradigms, the power infrastructure and even some of the old philosophy surrounding electric vehicles (both coming from the manufacturer and from the buying public) have all changed to the point that the existing design of the Sparrow is almost completely irrelevant in the current climate.

According to the facts shared during the interview, the Solo has experienced a delay to market already; it was supposed to drop this spring and clearly that goal has been missed.
__________________




Lead or follow. Either is fine.
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to elhigh For This Useful Post:
Christopher Jordan (06-04-2016)
Old 06-05-2016, 04:16 AM   #9 (permalink)
It's all about Diesel
 
cRiPpLe_rOoStEr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Posts: 12,864
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1,683 Times in 1,501 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by bhazard View Post
So the single rear wheel is the drive wheel. Why does this seem like a bad idea to me?
What could be wrong with that?
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2016, 07:04 AM   #10 (permalink)
Human Environmentalist
 
redpoint5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 12,741

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

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

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

Chevy ZR-2 - '03 Chevrolet S10 ZR2
90 day: 17.14 mpg (US)

Model Y - '24 Tesla Y LR AWD

Pacifica Hybrid - '21 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
90 day: 85.85 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,316
Thanked 4,468 Times in 3,433 Posts
Keeping the rear wheel drive Jeep facing forward was a challenge on wet pavement. I suspect it's even more of a challenge with a single rear wheel and heaps of torque. There had better be a traction control program in place to help the driver keep the right end pointed forward.

The price had better be low, otherwise, what's the point? A 2011 Leaf will be dirt cheap when the gen II launches.

Seems silly it's a 1-seater. My motorcycle is very affordable, and it can carry 2. I'd probably choose a Segway over this.

__________________
Gas and Electric Vehicle Cost of Ownership Calculator







Give me absolute safety, or give me death!

Last edited by redpoint5; 06-06-2016 at 12:17 AM..
  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread






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