Vancouver’s Electra Meccanica Vehicles Corporation (EMV) is set to show off their SOLO all-electric commuter vehicle and Tofino electric car development chassis at this week’s Vancouver Auto Show (March 28 – April 1, Vancouver Convention Centre West, booth 514).
Their parter, Intermeccanica, has built concourse-quality Porsche 356 Speedster replicas for the past 60 years. The Tofino is an evolutionary design based on those 356s—and all-electric at that.
“The entire team here at Electra Meccanica is excited to show off our new SOLO in our home town at the Vancouver show,” said Mark West, President of Electra Meccanica. “We have been working hard on the Tofino EV roadster and are thrilled to show off the base underpinnings of this special vehicle.”
The Tofino will be revealed later this year, equipped with a high-performance, all-electric motor and a body made of a lightweight aerospace-grade composite. The roadster will be available in five stunning colours with a suggested retail price starting at $50k.
The SOLO, an innovative, all-electric commuter vehicle, made its world debut at Vancouver’s Luxury and Supercar Weekend and is being exhibited at the Vancouver Auto Show for the fourth year in a row.
[The ultra-colourful Joe Average limited-edition SOLO]
[Christopher Lloyd from Back to the Future even signed the dashboard!]
After receiving images of this cool little e-vehicle I just needed to test-drive one for myself. Thankfully, the folks at Electra Meccanica obliged. I recently took one for a spin around their East Van headquarters.
Once you get used to not having a rear window, you get cozy behind the wheel and zip around the streets at a decent clip. Despite pouring rain and late afternoon traffic, it didn’t take long for me to get used to the few switches and buttons on the dashboard.
The rear camera makes it easy to park and the peripheral vision is quite good as the SOLO is so slender that it doesn’t block your view when checking out the side mirrors.
Since only 15% of Lower Mainland vehicles carry more than one person at any given time, I could see owning a SOLO as a weekday commuter.
KEY SPECS
– 17.3 kWh Lithium-Ion battery
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Rear-wheel drive
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54 horsepower DC PM electric motor
- 105 ft-lbs torque
– Charging time: 3 hours/220V(level II) – 6 hours/110V(Level I)
– Up to 160km (100mi) range
– 0-100 km/h: 8 seconds est.
–
Top Speed: 130km/h est.
Interior
– LCD digital instrument cluster
- Remote keyless entry
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Power windows
– AM/FM stereo with Bluetooth/CD/USB
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Adjustable heated seat with integral head rest
– Heating, defogger and air conditioning
– Rear view backup camera
– Carpeted trunk
Exterior
– Available colours: Titanium Silver, Electric Red, Raven Black, Arctic White
– LED headlamps
– Heated exterior mirrors
– 15” aluminum alloy wheels
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All-season tires 155-60 R15 (Front) – 175-55 – R15 (Rear)
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Two-speed windshield wipers, intermittent
Safety
- 3-Wheel Disc Brakes
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Electric Parking Brake
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Daytime Running Lights
If you’d like to get your hands on one of these spiffy rides, there’s two ways of doing so, either at the show or via Electra Meccanica online:
– Pre-order the SOLO for a $250 fully-refundable deposit
– Reserve the Tofino for a $1,000 fully-refundable deposit
About Electra Meccanica Vehicles Corp
Electra Meccanica is a designer and manufacturer of electric vehicles. They’re the team behind the all-electric SOLO, a single passenger vehicle developed to revolutionize the way people commute, as well as the Tofino, an elegant high-performance two seater electric roadster sports car. Both are tuned for the ultimate driving experience while making your commute more efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly.