This three-wheel EV is still the most fun thing we’ve driven all year
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Even less weather protection than a Renault Twizy? Please just add a few plastic panels to protect passengers from the sun and the rain.
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That is a weirdly attractive design, and I can't put my finger on exactly why. It's like if those trike motorcycles didn't look like something a chickenshit with a midlife crisis would buy.
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Just irked the residents of the state closer (in spirit) to Eugene than Corvallis.
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Yes, some states do require a bike license and helmet, but you can take the test using the SRK.
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Why does it have to be one thing and not the other? And you can imagine fleets of these on the roads in the next few years, that's not going to be the case for autonomous vehicles.
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The caption under the second image states:
"It's very stable to drive, and with a roof, seats, and seatbelts it's a lot safer than a bike or scooter. Some states won't require a helmet or motorcycle license to drive an SRK; for the ones that do, you can use it to take the test."
In fact, there's lots of really interesting information in the image captions that should probably be moved into the main text. It's really easy to miss if you don't cycle through the images.
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I really like it too. It's a very attractive design.
But then again, I also ride a Piaggio MP3. However, the downside to my scooter is that there's no chance of convincing my wife to ride as a passenger on any form of "bike" that leans. This may be a more palatable option.
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These look like those snowmobile-esque (but with wheels) things you see on the roads occasionally, but every time I see one I can't help but think a motorcycle that leans into turns, etc. is better... maybe a bit snobbish I guess, but it just doesn't look as fun to me. It would be like saying snowshoeing is as fun as skiing.
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The only three wheeled vehicle I'd trust in some of the hilly roads around here is the Piaggio MP3, because it actually leans with the turn. I would not like to make an abrupt turn onto a grade change in one of these. You get away with it on a CanAm Spyder because of its broad stance and extremely low center of gravity, but even then you know you're doing something that basic physics doesn't advise. Just how low is the center of gravity on these? I imagine the base is full of batteries, which probably helps.
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Does it have AC and/or heating? Those seem kind of important for a lot of the country.
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Yeah, I was about to post something like this. The steering on these sorts of vehicles works in the opposite direction of a motorcycle, which would be disconcerting. Something like this with an MP3 front suspension, a single seat, and RWD would be quite compelling. Still, this is a cool development. There is no reason why people need to be in 4,000lb vehicles all the time when there's often only one person in the car.
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I'm guessing no A/C based on how open the chassis is. Heat may be an optional feature too if they've gone for a more motorcycle like design. Even with heat you aren't going to be driving this over snowy roads in -40 weather I think.
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I'm not sure why you say this is safer than a scooter, because as much as I love the concept, my understanding is that being 3 wheels allows the design to qualify as a "motorcycle" and avoid all those complex safety requirements like airbags, crumple zones, crash tests, etc. Not saying there's anything wrong with that, but I think it's important that a journalist be explicit with the safety implications of not having to meet the same stringent safety requirements of a regular small passenger car.
Does the roof even help with safety? This thing or a scooter would likely just fall on it's side and then slide, and either way you have the likelihood that arms or legs will get pinched under various portions of the vehicle and crushed or burned in various ways. The only time I slid my motorcycle enough to have it land on top of my leg my heavy boots protected my leg from being crushed or burned by the motor, but generally speaking a step through scooter and this thing seem pretty similar in safety under that type of scenario.
Does the roof even help with safety? This thing or a scooter would likely just fall on it's side and then slide, and either way you have the likelihood that arms or legs will get pinched under various portions of the vehicle and crushed or burned in various ways. The only time I slid my motorcycle enough to have it land on top of my leg my heavy boots protected my leg from being crushed or burned by the motor, but generally speaking a step through scooter and this thing seem pretty similar in safety under that type of scenario.
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The frame/scaffolding reminds me of those "auto-rickshaw" thingies you see in Thailand or Vietnam. Tyre layout is different though - those have one wheel up front and two at the rear. That and they're not electric obviously.
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It's not like a scooter has all of that car safety stuff either...
"Safer than a scooter" is a pretty low bar to hurdle, and the mere presence of a rollcage and seatbelts probably checks the box right there.
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I would only anticipate seeing "fleets of these" piled on the road at the bottom of a hill with an inch of snow on it January 2027.
Or will Cities of the Future (tm) also be dry and temperate year-round?
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Piaggio made a hybrid version of this for a while:
That machine has to be the most fun you can have on three wheels!
http://www.cycleworld.com/2010/07/13/pi ... first-look
I had a 400cc version but I needed a clutch and ride a two wheeler now.
That machine has to be the most fun you can have on three wheels!
http://www.cycleworld.com/2010/07/13/pi ... first-look
I had a 400cc version but I needed a clutch and ride a two wheeler now.
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To be perfectly honest, for my normal daily commute this would be great. I travel 1.5 miles each way between the train station & home. This would be a lot more economical than my car, even though I can go around a month on a tank of gas w/ said car.
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I've been looking forward to these things for years. I just hope they actually get to the point of mass producing them instead of going *poof*. I also hope that the enclosure and air conditioning (mentioned as on option on their website at some point) are enough to make this a viable four season commuter.
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1.5 miles is easy biking distance. Heck, that's only about a 20 minute walk. Unless the conditions are really bad outside the car seems unnecessary.
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Looks great.
"I'd also pick one over a Smart Car2Go any day of the week."
I'm going to guess you don't live in a city with 100+ deg F weather.
"I'd also pick one over a Smart Car2Go any day of the week."
I'm going to guess you don't live in a city with 100+ deg F weather.
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Driving a three-wheel vehicle reminds me of that Top Gear Episode:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQh56geU0X8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQh56geU0X8
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Another so-called Millenial, that thing looks stupid but I worry how it'll perform in an accident. What happens when someone runs a stop sign or red light and plows into it broad-side?
Then 70 miles range - where exactly are you going to drive it? My daily commute is 70-80 miles round-trip if I don't have to take any detours (add another 40-50 miles minimum if there's a major accident) and don't have to go to any off-site meetings (add 5-10 miles) during the day. I can't afford to live in a $3000/mo place right in the city where all the jobs are.
I'll take a functional vehicle over that any day. Then I can also keep some basic emergency supplies stored in it for whenever I might not expect to have an emergency.
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The first 2 bikes I owned were mostly driven in the Mojave Desert area.
A lot of 100+ days...and some 40 degree mornings that turned your hands into claws after long rides.
On topic, I want one of these. I live in a college town and EVERYTHING...shopping, banking, doctors, etc. are 2-3 miles away at most, on slower surface streets.
Plus, there are literal fleets of cyclists, so bike-like gadgets shouldn't be that remarkable.
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A bike/scooter trip can stop & start anywhere. This thing still takes up a full parking space at every home and destination (to allow for its nose, and overall weight). So it does nothing to solve the urban density issue.
Ditto for commuting throughput. An arterial street full of these trikes would look much more like photo #3 than photo #2:
edit - adding source since they don't allow hotlinking: http://urbanist.typepad.com/.a/6a00d834 ... 970c-800wi
Ditto for commuting throughput. An arterial street full of these trikes would look much more like photo #3 than photo #2:
edit - adding source since they don't allow hotlinking: http://urbanist.typepad.com/.a/6a00d834 ... 970c-800wi
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