ElectraMeccanica Solo | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | ElectraMeccanica |
Production | 2018–2023 |
Assembly |
|
Body and chassis | |
Class | Battery electric microcar |
Body style | 2-door coupe |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 80 in (2,032 mm) |
Length | 122 in (3,099 mm) |
Width | 61 in (1,549 mm) |
Height | 53 in (1,346 mm) |
Curb weight | 2,176 lb (987 kg) |
The ElectraMeccanica Solo is a single-passenger, three-wheeled, battery electric vehicle, produced by ElectraMeccanica from 2018 to 2023.
Initially, at the time ElectraMeccanica was founded in 2015, the concept of a three-wheeled small electric car was intended to take the form of implementing an existing project. Co-founder Jerry Kroll was then considering restoring the former American Myers Motors NmG model, to which he had purchased the rights, to production. [1] Ultimately, this three-wheeled vehicle remained only a reference point for building a new, larger and more technologically advanced vehicle. Sketches of the finished design were officially presented in June 2016, and the production model was finally presented 3 months later. [2] [3]
The Solo took the form of a three-wheeler with one pair of doors and a slim body that tapered towards the rear unicycle. Similarly to the original by Mike Corbin from 1996, the Solo was designed to transport only one person, the driver. The spaciousness of the passenger cabin was to ensure, among others, relatively large, over 2-meter wheelbase. Behind the driver there is space for a 285-litre trunk. [4] In 2022, a Cargo variant with an enlarged storage compartment was also offered. [5]
On March 26, 2024, Electrameccanica was acquired by California-based commercial electric truck startup Xos, Inc. [6]
Production of the Solo initially began at ElectraMeccanica's Canadian factory in New Westminster, initially for the domestic market, with the first delivery to a customer in Vancouver. [7] In 2021, production was moved to China as part of a partnership with the local company Zongshen from Chongqing to meet demand in the United States, where exports began 3 years after the first units were built. [8] In 2022, production was to be moved again, this time to newly established plants in Mesa, Arizona, but the production line in Mesa was never completed. [9] After 5 years of small-scale production, the new management team of the Canadian startup, which in the meantime had been entirely transferred to the United States, changed its policy and ended the production of Solo. [10] The company offered to buy vehicles from buyers, responding to previously reported defects that could become difficult to service over time. [11]
On February 28, 2024, Solo Automotive Inc., of Vancouver, Canada, wholly owned by Jerry Kroll, acquired all of the Solo assets, including Industrial Design, Trademarks, and Patents. [12]
The company plans to enter the European and UK markets with a more advanced model called the SoloGT, which will be manufactured at a plant in Spain. The first vehicles will go on sale in early 2025, and reservations with a $200 refundable deposit will be available soon on the new SoloEV website. [13]
BorgWarner Inc. is an American automotive and e-mobility supplier headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. As of 2022, the company maintains production facilities and sites at 92 locations in 24 countries, and generates revenues of US$15.8 billion, while employing around 52,000 people. The company is one of the 25 largest automotive suppliers in the world.
Aptera Motors Corp. is an American crowd funded, pre-production startup company based in Carlsbad, California. It was founded in 2005 before liquidating in 2011. The company was relaunched by the original founders in 2019.
Arcimoto, Inc. is an electric vehicle company headquartered in Eugene, Oregon that designed, manufacturered, and sold the FUV—a tandem two-seat, three-wheeled electric vehicle—and its four variations.
Rivian Automotive, Inc., is an American electric vehicle manufacturer and automotive technology and outdoor recreation company founded in 2009. Rivian produces an electric sport utility vehicle (SUV), a pickup truck on a "skateboard" platform that can support future vehicles or be adopted by other companies, and an electric delivery van, the Rivian EDV. Rivian started deliveries of its R1T pickup truck in late 2021. The company planned to build an exclusive charging network in the United States and Canada by the end of 2023.
Lucid Group, Inc. is an American automotive and technology company that manufactures electric vehicles and supplies advanced electric vehicle powertrain systems. The company is headquartered in Newark, California. In September 2021, the company began producing the Lucid Air sedan at its factory in Casa Grande, Arizona. The company expects to begin production of its second model, the Lucid Gravity SUV, in late 2024. Lucid also supplies and develops powertrain technology to other automakers, including Aston Martin.
Fisker Inc. is an American automotive company founded by Danish automotive designer Henrik Fisker and his wife Geeta Gupta-Fisker.
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is a battery electric minivan produced by German manufacturer Volkswagen. Based on the dedicated battery electric MEB platform, it is the first production electric minivan from Volkswagen and part of the Volkswagen ID. series. A retro styled minivan, the design of the ID. Buzz is inspired by the Volkswagen Type 2 (T1) Microbus.
GreenPower Motor Company Inc. is a Canadian electric bus manufacturer and distributor in North America. The company fabricates multiple zero-emission models, including transit buses, school buses, and double decker buses. GreenPower headquarters are in Vancouver, British Columbia, with a sales office in Rancho Cucamonga, California; an assembly facility in Porterville, California; and a production facility in South Charleston, West Virginia. Its stock is traded on Nasdaq the United States.
Singulato Motors was the new energy vehicle brand of Chi Che-hung Technology Co., Ltd,. Singulato was founded in December 2014 in Beijing as an internet company to produce premium Chinese new energy vehicles. Singulato Motors aimed to develop new energy vehicles (NEV), autonomous driving systems, automotive networking services with a focus on big data development and cloud computing technologies.
Li Auto Inc. is a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Beijing, with manufacturing facilities in Changzhou. Founded by Li Xiang in 2015, the company mainly builds electric vehicles that use range extenders for a power supply. Li Auto has vehicle manufacturing, engineering, and design services located in Changzhou, Jiangsu with corporate headquarters and research and development located in Beijing.
Canoo Inc. is an American automotive company based in Torrance, California, that develops and manufactures electric vehicles. Canoo's research & development team is based in Michigan, in the Detroit region, and production operations are in Justin, Texas. The company also plans to produce commercial electric vehicles such as vans for fleet, vehicle rental and ride sharing services.
Bollinger Motors is an American automobile manufacturer of electric vehicles based in Oak Park, Michigan.
Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology Co., Ltd., trading as Leapmotor, is a Chinese startup automobile manufacturer headquartered in Hangzhou, China, specializing in developing electric vehicles. The company was founded in 2015, and sold its first vehicles in 2019. In 2023, Stellantis acquired 20 percent stake of Leapmotor, and plans to sell Leapmotor vehicles in Europe.
The Chevrolet BrightDrop, formerly the BrightDrop Zevo, is a battery electric delivery van produced by General Motors (GM). It was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show on 12 January 2021 under the BrightDrop brand, with production starting in December 2022.
BrightDrop is a subsidiary business created by the American manufacturer General Motors in 2021. The business offers a system of connected products targeting first- and last-mile delivery customers, including light commercial electric vehicles, ePallets, and cloud-based software.
Omega Seiki Mobility is an Indian electric vehicle manufacturer that is developing its own line of commercial EVs primarily deployed with e-commerce for last-mile delivery. Headquartered in New Delhi, India, Omega Seiki serves as a separate business auto vertical of the Anglian Omega Group. The company's first vehicle - Rage+, was indigenously designed and developed in its manufacturing facility in Faridabad, Haryana. Launched in February 2020 at the Auto Expo 2020, Rage+ is claimed to be India's first smart electric cargo three-wheeler. Recently, the company also unveiled a refrigerated vehicle - Rage+ Frost that will assist in delivery of food and pharmaceuticals, particularly the COVID-19 vaccine. Going forward, Anglian is looking to invest US$300–600 million in its e-mobility venture as it is committed to build India's first global electric cargo company.
Foxtron Inc. or Foxtron Vehicle Technologies is a Taiwanese manufacturer of electric cars and buses based in Taipei, operating since 2020 as a joint venture between the technology company Foxconn and the car company Yulon.
The Rivian EDV and ECV, also known as the Delivery, are a line of battery-electric cargo vehicles built by Rivian. Initially they were exclusive to its investor Amazon, which uses the EDV for package delivery, but in November 2023, sales were opened to other companies as the ECV / Delivery, with minor cosmetic changes. The EDV and ECV use the RCV platform, which is derived from the R1 platform that underpins the manufacturer's R1T pickup truck and R1S sport-utility vehicles, and is built in three sizes. Specific models include the EDV/ECV-500/Delivery 500, EDV/ECV-700/Delivery 700, and EDV-900.
The Canoo Multi-Purpose Delivery Vehicle is a line of battery electric delivery vans produced by Canoo, the first of which was unveiled in December 2020. There are three planned models, the MPDV1 and the taller MPDV2, both sharing the same wheelbase and platform as the earlier Canoo Lifestyle Vehicle, and the MPDV3, which will use an enlarged version of the same platform.
REE Automotive, Ltd. is a commercial electric vehicle developer and manufacturer. The company's electric vehicle platform features independent interchangeable corner modules, dubbed REECorners. The corner modules are positioned directly adjacent to each wheel, and they encapsulate all of the vehicle's drive systems such as the motor, inverter, steering, brakes, and suspension. They are controlled electronically, by-wire, allowing for a completely flat platform chassis onto which custom chassis bodies can be attached.