World News – CA – Zero emissions, one seat, three wheels

The Solo, from Canadian designer and manufacturer ElectraMeccanica, is an all-electric vehicle with capacity for one passenger, with a range of 100 miles and a top speed of 80 miles per hour.. It retails for $ 18,500, and folks are found in a select few from U. s. Cities on the west coast can see for themselves.

The car is just over 10 feet (122 in) tall and 57.6 in. 5 inches wide at the front wheels – much smaller than a typical passenger car. For example, the 2020 Honda Accord Sedan is 192. 2 inches long and 73. 3 inches.

Paul Rivera, CEO of ElectraMeccanica, said: « When you drive it, it feels like you are sitting in the cockpit of a fighter plane or in a Formula 1 car. ». . “It’s really cool and really different.

But a large part of Solo’s marketing strategy relies on efficiency and practicality. The company quotes pre-epidemic statistics that show that every day, 119 million North Americans commute in personal vehicles – and 105 million of them do so themselves..

“This is a custom-designed vehicle that nicely fits passenger cars on one end of the spectrum and micro-mobility [scooters, electric bikes, etc.. . ] On the other end, ”Rivera said.

Supported by 17. A 3 kWh battery spins one rear wheel, and the Solo features a heated seat, Bluetooth stereo, rear view camera, power steering, electric brakes and air conditioning. Has front and rear crease zones, side impact protection, torque reduction stability control and winding bar.

ElectraMeccanica is headquartered in Vancouver, but Solo is manufactured in China. The first production shipments of the vehicles arrived in the United States last month.

Customers can take one for a test drive, but cannot purchase one from the kit. To get one, you must apply for one that will be delivered at a later time. A single order requires a deposit of $ 250, and is refundable.

Rivera will not disclose how many filings have been made, but he said the « waiting list is too long » and estimated that the order placed now may not be delivered until « the middle of next year. ».

One potential drawback: While the conventional four-wheel electric vehicle qualifies for a federal tax credit of up to $ 7,500, the Solo does not receive such a credit.. This is because it has been classified as a motorcycle by the federal government.

Evan Drury, who looks at automotive trends as Edmunds’s Senior Manager. com, is skeptical about the one-seat prospects. Last year, Mercedes-Benz announced that it would stop selling the all-electric, two-seat smart car in North America, largely due to slow sales.. .

Rivera said he believed the smart EV didn’t cut it because it didn’t leave enough space to carry luggage or groceries, something Solo took up. In fact, ElectraMeccanica will soon come out with a fleet version of Solo. It’s the same size as the current car but the hatchback has been removed to provide more cargo space.

ElectraMeccanica, NASDAQ: SOLO, Stock, Finance