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Old 06-03-2016, 03:59 PM   #1 (permalink)
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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.

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Old 06-03-2016, 05:43 PM   #2 (permalink)
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So the single rear wheel is the drive wheel. Why does this seem like a bad idea to me?
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Old 06-03-2016, 09:48 PM   #3 (permalink)
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I bet they don't start selling them next month.
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Old 06-04-2016, 07:49 AM   #4 (permalink)
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How can they start production next month when all they have is a chassis? No prototypes? Hardly anything on their website?
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Old 06-04-2016, 08:27 AM   #5 (permalink)
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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.
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Old 06-04-2016, 08:29 AM   #6 (permalink)
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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.
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Old 06-04-2016, 12:01 PM   #7 (permalink)
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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.
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Old 06-04-2016, 12:54 PM   #8 (permalink)
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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.
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Old 06-05-2016, 03:16 AM   #9 (permalink)
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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?
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Old 06-05-2016, 06:04 AM   #10 (permalink)
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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.

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Last edited by redpoint5; 06-05-2016 at 11:17 PM..
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