Some of you may have seen the funky, three-wheeled, tilting Carver vehicle on the latest episode of Futurecars. It's been featured previously on Top Gear too. Now Gizmag reports a new company named Venture Vehicles is bringing an electric variant of it to the USA. It will be called the VentureOne.
The VentureOne will be available in two hybrid-electric models and a pure BEV model. The hybrid version will get 100 MPG, while the BEV version will have a 200 mile range per charge from a 3kWh Li-ion battery pack. It will have two in-wheel motors and will use regenerative braking. Other specs: 0-60 MPH in 6 seconds, top speed over 100 MPH, price ranging from $18K for the low-end hybrid to $23K for the BEV. Production in late 2008.
Reportedly it will charge from a standard 110V outlet. And yes it will tilt just like the Carver. With three wheels it is legally considered a motorcycle in the USA (just like the T-Rex/Silence) so you will have to get a motorcycle license and possibly a helmet.
Far more detailed info can be read from the source at gizmag:
http://www.gizmag.com/go/6842/
It's really amazing all the EVs -- and especially all the
sporty EVs -- that are popping up. I'm having trouble keeping track of them all. (Tesla, Venturi, Wrightspeed, Mullen GT, UEV Spyder, Silence, VentureOne) However, almost all of them seem to be just over the horizon. . . Not much you can go buy and drive home in today. Let's just hang on and keep our fingers crossed, we may be on the verge of an EV renaissance. :)
I too am disappointed in the TM management but I have not LOST faith all together YET. I believe that the S is still 2-3 years out not 4-5. As it get pushed further out I will be looking around for something else. The car I have now will last another 5 years easy. I have vowed that the next thing I buy will be electric or at least a true ZEV.
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