102 » OpenRoad Driver
Photos courtesy of Electra Meccanica
EXTRAS
Three Wheelin ’
SOLO 3-WHEEL EV
by Lauren Kramer
»
Jerry Kroll likes to cite numbers : some 83 percent of drivers commute 60 kilometres or less each day as a single occupant in their vehicles . For Kroll , founder and CEO of Electra Meccanica , those stats reinforce that it is high time to create the SOLO , a threewheel , single-occupancy vehicle soon to be released to first buyers in Vancouver .
The SOLO turns heads with its sleek , space-age look and weighs in at 450 kilograms . It can reach a maximum speed of 130 km / h and takes eight seconds to go from standstill to 100 km / h . Its 16.1 kWh lithium ion battery pack can travel 160 kilometres before recharging is necessary , a process that takes three-to-six hours depending on the voltage used for charging .
Inside the cabin features an adjustable seat , AM / FM radio with Bluetooth / USB , power windows and an LCD instrument panel . Remote keyless entry and air conditioning are also available . “ Safety is very important to us ,” says Jeff Holland , spokesman for the company . “ It ’ s why we ’ ve equipped the