electra meccanica takes on tesla with this three-wheeler solo microcar

as general motors co. readies itself to close a century-old factory near toronto, electra meccanica is shaping the future of the automotive industry with its microcar. the compact three-wheeler, dubbed ‘solo’, is an electric one-seater vehicle that costs $15,000, and it’s forecast to take over the west coast.

images courtesy of electra meccanica

the solo features an 82 horsepower AC synchronous electric motor that generates 128 ft-lbs of torque. it goes from 0-60 mph in eight seconds and has a top speed of 82 mph. charge time sits at an impressively short three hours and generates a 100-mile range. it’s no wonder then, that according to bloomberg, 5,000 units of electra meccanica’s one-seater microcar are expected to be zipping around LA by the close of 2019, with an additional 70,000 to be delivered over the next two years.

video by electra meccanica vehicles

electra meccanica has come up with a quirky version of an automobile at a time when carmakers like tesla, nissan and volkswagen are racing to make the car of the future. the manufacturer is currently discussing plans to take over the closing GM plant and has other vintage-inspired electric vehicles in the making.

‘this company is producing the car that elon musk wishes he were building,’ electra meccanica chief executive officer jerry kroll, told bloomberg. ‘it is great to produce a $45,000, a $100,000 car or a $250,000 car. but for the masses? a $15,000 car that can get them to stop using gas. that’s creative.‘