The 3-wheeled electric Solo is so thin it’s barely a car

By Bruce Brown Published September 9, 2016

The wraps are off! Electra Meccanica‘s three-wheeled, all-electric Solo commuter vehicle unveils today in Vancouver, Canada, at the Luxury and Supercar Weekend event in the VanDusen Botanical Garden.

The Solo’s specs haven’t changed since our earlier coverage. The 992-pound, single seat, three-wheel electric vehicle is rated for 100 miles per charge of its 16.1kWh lithium-ion battery. The battery charges in three hours with 220V or six hours with 110V with a J1772 universal connector. Acceleration is brisk but not exactly fearsome at a rated eight seconds to 60 mph. Top speed is estimated to be 80 mph. The Solo has rear-wheel drive with its single back wheel and disc brakes on all three wheels.

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“The entire team here at Electra Meccanica is excited to unveil the Solo at the Luxury and Supercar show,” said Electra Meccanica CEO Jerry Kroll. “Most people had a good idea of what the Solo would become, but they will be impressed by its clever design and meticulous attention to detail. It far exceeded our expectations.”

The 10-foot-long Solo is 14 inches longer than a Smart Fortwo, but 19 inches shorter than a Fiat 500. The Solo rides on 15-inch aluminum alloy wheels front and rear, with disc brakes for each plus an electric parking brake. The car has bi-halogen headlights, heated side mirrors, and two-speed windshield wipers. The solo will be available in Titanium Silver, Electric Red, Raven Black, and Arctic White.

Air conditioning is not standard equipment — it’s made in Canada, after all — but is an available option. The Solo has power windows, keyless entry, a rearview backup camera, AM/FM stereo with Bluetooth/CD/USB, an LCD instrument cluster, and an adjustable cloth seat. The carpeted “frunk” (front trunk) holds approximately 10 cubic feet of cargo, just a little more than a Fiat 500. There’s also room behind the single seat which the company describes as similar to a large grocery cart.

“It has appeal for driving enthusiasts, practical commuters and the environmentally conscious,” Electra Meccanica COO Henry Reisner said. “We believe the Solo will become the commuter vehicle of choice for the masses. The vehicle is nonpolluting, very economical to operate, and people will have a heck of a good time driving it, too.”

Whether you consider the Solo as a daily commuter car, an around-town second car, or a fun way to try an electric vehicle, you’ll want to check with your state to determine whether it’s classified an automobile or a motorcycle. That classification will affect insurance rates, possibly financing, and most likely potential federal or state tax credits.

The Solo list price is $19,888 in Canada or approximately $15,500 in the United States. It is warrantied bumper-to-bumper for two years, and the battery comes with an eight-year warranty.

Electra Meccanica is taking pre-orders for the Solo with a $250 refundable deposit. Delivery is scheduled for an unspecified time in 2017.

Former Contributing Editor

Bruce Brown Contributing Editor As a Contributing Editor to the Auto teams at Digital Trends and TheManual.com, Bruce…

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