A good start is half the work. And at the Canadian ElectraMeccanica, half the battle is apparently good enough. Especially for North American cities, the company developed the Solo EV, an electric tricycle that resembles a sawed-through Volkswagen Polo. ElectraMeccanica plans to launch multiple variants of the Solo.
As the name Solo suggests, the ElectraMeccanica is not a large car, intended for just one person. Not surprising that he has managed to elude our attention for several years now. The Canadians unveiled a study model of the crazy cart in 2016, to actually put it on the road in 2018. Now, four years later, the Solo is ready for a facelift and family expansion. At the CES 2022 technology fair – January 5 to 8 in Las Vegas – ElectraMeccanica is pulling the curtain on two new models.
Easier to operate
The facelift includes some minor but significant changes. For example, the Canadians have addressed the dashboard for better ease of use. The touchscreens in particular immediately stand out. These make navigation, the infotainment system and the vehicle settings easier to operate.
Do you want more space?
If it is up to the Canadians, the Solo will soon no longer operate alone. Solo drivers needed – unsurprisingly – more luggage space. Here: the Solo Cargo. In fact, this is a modified version of ElectraMeccanica’s ‘half’ car, behind which a kind of roof box has been pasted. In total, a spacious square meter of luggage space would have been added. The Vancouver-based car manufacturer does not say how this translates to litres, but does say that the Cargo would be ideal for meal delivery.
Solo 02 Concept
What do you get if you saw half a car in half again? The Solo 02 Concept! This convertible variant of the Solo EV was previously shown at SEMA 2021 and the Los Angeles Auto Show, but will also demand the necessary attention in Las Vegas.
It is not much inferior to a Dacia Spring
ElectraMeccanica does not give any specifications for any of the new Solos. Presumably these are identical to the current tricycle. It is powered by a 58 hp electric motor, with which the Solo reaches 100 km/h in less than 12 seconds. The ElectraMeccanica Solo EV has a top speed of 128 km/h. Not bad for half a car, especially if you compare it with a full-fledged car like the Dacia Spring. The electric Dacia, however, is about 70 km further on a full battery. The range of the Solo is 160 km. If you then hang it on the charging station for 2.5 hours, it will be charged again for 85%.
There are no half-baked cars hiding behind the silly appearance of the three ElectraMeccanica Solos. The tricycle can be particularly useful in our busy European cities. He is well worth the price. In the United States, an ElektraMeccanica Solo EV costs no less than 16,406 euros. However, the Canadians have no plans to bring the Solo EV to Europe.