It should be easy to maneuver and park as well, with an overall length that’s just 14 inches longer than a Smart ForTwo (120 inches) and an overall width of 47.6 inches (about 17.9 inches narrower than the Smart). It says 80 percent of commuters now drive alone, and the average USA commute is 50 miles roundtrip, which would be well within the Solo’s range.
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Nevertheless, even though it might not be able to compete with a traditional car’s X-factor, new Electra Meccanica Solo could well appeal to those that might otherwise be contemplating a motorbike for the daily commute. In the meantime, interested buyers can reserve a vehicle for pre-order by putting down a refundable $250 deposit.
The Solo is not proposed to replace the conventional vehicle, but rather, it is meant to operate at minimal cost and as efficiently as possible for the average commuter, according to EMV’s COO, Henry Reisner said in an official statement.
The Solo follows closest in the footsteps of Elio Motors in aiming for fiscally responsible commuters, although from the front it eschews the open-wheel look of the Elio in favor of a closed-fender design-and more of a conventional small-car look from the front.
Safety: The Solo has been classified as a vehicle in Canada and as “an autocycle” in 41 USA states, Holland stated.
MORE: Golly, Elio Motors has built. a auto!
In part because of its chassis, made of aerospace composites-and because it doesn’t comply with passenger-car standards-the Solo has an official curb weight of just 992 pounds. Braking is handled by three-wheel disc brakes, and a low 0.24 coefficient of drag should help keep highway commuting quiet and efficient.
It also estimates that a full charge from a Level 2 charging station should require about three hours.
A front trunk (what Tesla owners would call a “frunk”) provides 10 cubic feet of cargo space, Electra Meccanica says. The Solo also has some fancy features, like a digital instrument display, power windows and keyless entry. Titanium Silver, Electric Red, Raven Black, and Arctic White are the four available colours upon release.
The SOLO retails at $19,888 in Canada, which is approximately $15,500 in USA dollars using today’s currency conversion rate. It is warrantied bumper-to-bumper for two years, and the battery comes with an eight-year warranty. Those who put deposits now may expect delivery after the first quarter of 2017.
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And tomorrow, one lucky bidder will be going home with Solo production #00001, which will be auctioned off during the show’s first-ever Supercar Auction.
