Electra Meccanica Solo three-wheeled electric car unveiledElectra Meccanica Solo three-wheeled electric car unveiled

Canadian firm Electra Meccanica Vehicles Corporation is the latest to try to market a small, three-wheeled commuter vehicle.
Unveiled today, the Electra Meccanica Solo features an all-electric powertrain, and seating for one person.
The company is now taking fully-refundable deposits for the Solo, and says it expects to deliver the first vehicles next year.
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Electra Meccanica says the Solo isn’t meant to replace a conventional car, but rather to handle short trips such as commutes as efficiently as possible.
Since most people commute alone, a single-seat vehicle should be adequate for that task, the company reasons.
The front wheels are completely enclosed by bodywork which, along with a faux grille and lower intakes, gives the Solo a passing resemblance to conventional cars from that angle.
Electra Meccanica Solo
At 120 inches long, the Solo is a bit longer than a Smart ForTwo, but sits much lower to the ground.
Electra Meccanica claims a drag coefficient of 0.24, and a curb weight of 992 pounds—thanks in part to composite bodywork, and aluminum drivetrain components.
A front trunk (what Tesla owners would call a “frunk”) provides 10 cubic feet of cargo space, Electra Meccanica says.
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The Solo is powered by an electric motor that sends 61 kilowatts (82 horsepower) and 140 pound-feet of torque to the single rear wheel.
It will do 0 to 62 mph in around 8.0 seconds, and reach a top speed of 80 mph, according to its maker.
A 16.1-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack provides when capacity for an estimated 100-mile range, the company says.
Electra Meccanica Solo
It also estimates that a full charge from a Level 2 charging station should require about three hours.
The Solo’s gestation began back in 2007, when current Electra Meccanica CEO Jerry Kroll partnered with Henry Reisner, president of coachbuilder Intermeccanica.
The first prototype was completed in January 2015.
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Electra Meccanica is now taking refundable $250 Canadian (US $193) deposits for the Solo, which will retail for $19,888 in Canada, or $15,500 at current exchange rates.
Actually getting the Solo into volume production could prove a challenge, though.
Launching a new vehicle isn’t easy, and the struggles of Aptera and Elio Motors show that small, three-wheeled vehicles are no exception to that rule.
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