Thanks for doing this video. This is the car of the future!! I’m happy to see a Canadian company that is forward thinking enough to build something so radical!!
Very cool video! I love the Electra Meccanica Solo and future product line! As a owner of a Bricklin (another Canadian Car!) this story and car totally sparks my interest! way to go!
Hell yeaaahhh this is a nice tour haha... this is exactly what I want to see... how everything is made!!!! Hopefully we get these here in Australia soon... Nice to see they’re using composite/alloy honeycomb in their chassis
Why? Composites just jack-up the complexity and cost of manufacture, and in this kind of application (i.e. townie runabout), the advantages of the technology are unnecessary. [Soapbox:] 3-wheel BEVs, solar vehicles, velomobiles, etc. would be far more common and accessible modes of transportation IF the manufacturers didn't make them out of God-level carbon fiber and Unobtanium-Adamantium-Mythril alloys.
I’m pretty sure that the ‘top secret’ location is New Westminster, BC. I live nearby. I’m seriously thinking of buying one of these. I used to be an all-weather motorcyclist, but I’m becoming more of a fair weather rider and for the crappy weather days, this vehicle might suit me perfectly. Attractive price, seems attainable, unlike a Tesla.
I really want one. I've been wanting people to take it in the freeways. I live with a lot of freeways in our area and nobody is showing me how fast they could take it on the freeway so hopefully you get a chance one of these days to show someone that you're on the freeway at least more than 20 mi
Also a reply from the company I sent in March regards to presales for Toronto: Thank you for your email. While we have acquired US compliance, and will be delivering vehicles this summer, we are still in the process of obtaining Canadian certification. We are hopeful that we will have good news later this year. Once we have Canadian compliance we'll have a much better idea of Canadian delivery dates.
i wish they make a 2 seater car like the Mercedes Smart Cars - I would like liked to know the spcs of the Car too in your write up since i did not feel like watching the whole Video.
The appeal of this car is that it has one seat though; the world is full of two and four seaters, which are wasted space for the vast majority of commutes.
Waiting for Solo#635. A little concerned looking at those cars boosting prototype head lights and interior. Hope mine is set up for LED lights and the new style interior.
Muito legal este vídeo. Sou brasileiro e estou super interessado em construir um veículo elétrico que, com toda certeza, é o futuro do mercado de automóveis. Parabéns à companhia SOLO pelo excelente trabalho! É perceptível que gastaram bastante tempo no desenvolvimento dos projetos! Um forte abraço!
Thanks for the video. Was wondering how they were doing the testing for range. Keep us updated on the Solo and let us know when they get certified for Canada. Won't put money down til that comes through, i will use the tag so you get your $100 credit.
I'm pretty sure they're already certified in Canada, as they're being driven all over town. I drove one out to the factory and they're selling them in the showroom in Vancouver.
@@DownieLive They have told me they are going through certification now, and are not complete as of yet. Was just wondering if they had told you anything different while you were there. Ontario has a trial program right now for 3 wheeled vehicles but all have been open motorcycle types they say this is classed as a car so must be different process to certify.
I think you just told me why I haven't seen this car everywhere yet, it must be registered as a motorcycle, which means you need a M license and not a G license in Canada, which means the market they could possibly sell to is GREATLY reduced because I don't know very many people willing to get a motorcycle license to drive a "car"...just my opinion
All the width and length without the internal capacity. How apart from more modern electics is this better than the four seat Mitsubishi I-miev, or my favourite the Miev Van by the same manufacturer?
Are they actually manufacturing, selling and delivering cars from the factory in China? Very cool. Wish the had these in Ottawa. I'd buy one in a second. Racing red!
At 2:17, you say, "When you accelerate. it actually lifts your tail". Are you sure? Every rear wheel drive car will lift the front when you accelerate - whether one, two, or three tires in back. Consider what happens with a drag car. They even have bars in the back to keep the front from lifting too much.
I know what I said, and I know what I felt. Every car I've been in before this squats under acceleration. This one lifted under acceleration. Very odd feeling, hence why I mentioned it.
Electric cars are great for city. Horrible for road trips. That’s any electric car brand. Build quality is great, looks awesome and just not a long trip vehicle to vacation with.
Cars like these would suit my needs but as l'm in Australia guessing l'll never see any of these. Still waiting for government authorities to decide what class a Renault Twizzy fits into Informative video though The Microlino is another interesting vehicle.
Craig Gill I'm in Tassie and Imported a Mitsubishi Minicab Miev, and that fits the bill for a reasonably priced, tiny city vehicle, but It has a tonne of room inside. maybe it would suit you. My first 12 months, 8000kl of operation cost $330 in extra electricity, and it is quick off the mark in traffic which is a hoot. Cheers
uh...aren't these actually made in China? Here's the problem: expensive for a small single seat with the safety of a motorcycle (not a car, doesn't need to pass crash tests). For the same money, you can get a used Nissan Leaf. Bigger, more range, safer.
Make sure to check that used Leaf's battery condition before you buy it. A lot of first generation EVs have lost nearly half their range and the replacement batteries are $6-8k.
Will the Solo company still give me a discount for my all in reservation credit from my wasted Elio reservation along with your referral? Btw Elio reservation all in number #1575. Yes I got duped like many others back in 2013
I think I am falling in love, with this car. I would propose to the company in trading. Me working in exchange for a car. I am very experienced in automobiles, have worked on them all my life, mechanical, body and paint. I owned a body shop for over 16 yrs in California. I would trade my work at their shop, for a car at any time for as long as it takes and more. Just to see these vehicles on the road. And off course, me driving one.
This video needed to be about 4 times as longer. I want to see every step every wire every switch. Love the car. No offense, but why would I mention you and give you money off your car? How about I mention you and I get $200 of my car reservation....... I saw a RU-vidr get a Tesla Roadster for free this way. I just don't believe that your 10 minute video warrants a free car. Sorry. Loved the video.
Costs you nothing, and helps out DownieLive should he decide to go Solo. I'm not planning on purchasing one myself, but if I did, and this video happened to be a key motivator for me, I wouldn't mind mentioning him on the reservation, though I do agree it would be nice if there was something to gain for both parties...
Just to set the record straight......NOT all States view 3 wheeled cars as motorcycles. Texas for example has a rule that if it its straddled like a 2 wheel motorcycle then it can be registered as such but.....if you ride inside like a car then it will be registered as such. Seems it the same up in Canada too since they have the large license plates.
Yes. 48 of your states have now changed legislation so that it qualifies as an autocycle, so you don’t need to wear a helmet or have a motorcycle license.
@@DownieLive Sure wish Texas was one of them. I've been working on my own design with ICE. I drive more that 100 miles in a day so electric is not practical for me.
The only thing this would be practical for is small delivery like pizza, and like hourly rentals but that's it. $15,000 for a single seater and no storage? It's a toy. There are way too many practical used hybrids and even EVs that are cheaper. You can get a used Prius, Leaf, or Insight with low miles for $15,000 which are miles better.
HOW MUCH IS VEHICLE THIS SELLING FOR...??? I bet they have overpriced this item just like most other electric cars/bikes/etc whilst claiming they want "Everyone" to be able to go green.
at 8:25/10:42 I see a Renault Twizy BC plates "FF5-77G" Would this should be the one imported 3 years ago: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xGkfmTHIb3U.html
Yup that is exactly what I was thinking. No AC might be fine for Vancouver but Toronto would require ac. Also a seat for one more/ cargo would make a lot of sense.
Dan R yup agreed the heat pump would cut power usage for heating also. Only that many heat pumps will not heat below -18 deg C. Not that I would drive this little baby at less than 0 c or in the snow. I would Uber then.
@@fredfrond6148 very true bud, maybe a PTC auxiliary heater in there to help in very cold temps. Automatically heats interior while charging and warms batteries up below -7c
@@fredfrond6148 The news from Meccanica is that the ramp up to mass production at the China factory happens next month (August 2019) and those cars (called "Production models) will have power brakes and steering AND air conditioning!
Love the car but it is a total deal breaker for me that it is real wheel drive. This car will NEVER WORK SAFELY on snow or ice. I owned a three wheeled electric car called the "gizmo" so I know how this tech runs on snow/ice -horrible!
the design is just so....fugly :( why solo couldn't make something dope like the sondors 3 wheel ev? the tofino is also a poor design. nothing that make you feel like you're in the 21st century. it's 2020 guys, get with the times or get left behind.
One seat, two doors??? Doors are expensive, failure prone, and heavy. A hinged top could be lighter stiffer and cheaper and offer better visibility and is easier to seal from rain! Also putting two wheels in front puts the CG too far back, making it prone to oversteer impossibly to brake in turns and have bad aerodynamics. Wheel width could also be narrower with skinnier tires. Too tall, a more reclined driver position is more comfortable and also improves aerodynamics. Other properly built three wheelers are in the 15 city 60 hwy Wh/km. I'm guessing this vehicle is using twice that so range is ridiculously poor? This is horrible, I really need to start my own EV company hiring only engineers, so these know-nothing startups can have something to aspire to!
The one piece monocoque would have to be completely redesigned if the roof was to removable otherwise it would flex excessively on turns and fold in a frontal impact. If the doors are made of the same material as the car , I'd like to think they aren't heavy at all. They're aiming for a cheaper alternative for commuter vehicles with smaller footprint. Nothing wrong with that. I'd happily sell my infernal combustion engined car for one of these. Less maintenance. And I'm a HD mechanic.
@@danr8194 I think my critcism is rooted in the attempt to make it feel like an ordinary car when you drive it, with the chosen very upright riding position and the mentioned two doors. I owned a City-EL in the 90'. It was like a clamshell: Bottom tub was a double shell of heat formed ABS with expanding foam inbetween. The frame itself was a single thin walled 80mm bent tube frame encircling the driver and providing anchor points for the suspension and front fork (it was a 3 wheeler too) The lid was polycarbonate with a smaller tube around the bottom. The hinge was just behiond the headlight, so it flipped open forward. That made access also between parked cars aswell as maintenance easy. A pair of gas springs provided neutral lift so it would stay in any open position. It didn't leak at the seal only through the sun roof and visibility was 360, as there were no pillars. Making a 3 wheeled EV makes it a motorcycle, so there are no need for a "cage" to make it heavy or pillars to obstruct vision.
