Electric cars like the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S do all they can to look and feel like conventional cars, but breaking free of this homogeneity is the Morgan EV3.
The ash-framed three-wheeler might look like an automotive anachronism, but beneath composite carbon panels lurks a tubular space frame chassis and a liquid cooled 46kW motor driving the rear wheel. Weighing less than 500kg, the all-electric three-wheeler has a top speed of 90 mph and a range of 150 miles.
Our favourite design feature is the distinctive brass conductive cooling fins, which encase the batteries, and asymmetric headlight layout.
The EV3 will go into production towards the end of this year and cost around 2016 and will be priced around £30,000.
It won’t take the week’s shopping let alone child seats, but with British Summer Time only weeks away, electric motoring has never seemed so desirable. See Morgan-motor.co.uk
Most of us rode tricycles when we were kids, but these humble vehicles could dramatically improve the way we travel today as adults.
If we valued clean air, safe streets, health and vitality above effortless personal mobility – or if petrol became unaffordable – most would turn to bicycles and human-powered vehicles. Human-powered vehicles (HPVs) make the most of lightweight materials, a recumbent seating position and sleek bodywork to achieve speeds of up to 80 mph, but their focussed design and distinctive appearance means only the earliest of early adopters rides them.
World’s coolest pedal-powered trike
The fastest and lightest HPVs might look like futuristic pods, but a new breed of pedal-powered trike has an altogether more stylish and accessible appearance.
Picar has re-imagined the famous motorised trike built by Morgan for the last century as an electrically assisted trike. Greener still than the Morgan EV, the charming trike makes the ideal commuter. Fitted with 27-inch mountain bike wheels and boosted by a 1 kW electric motor, the retro-inspired three-wheeler can achieve speeds of up to 40 km/h when needed.
ETA: Ethical breakdown cover
Established over 25 years ago, and with over 5,000 recovery trucks on call 24/7, the ETA has a proven track record of providing efficient, reliable breakdown cover. We handpick only the best local mechanics and garages around Britain to send out if you break down. We believe this way of working is efficient, environmentally friendly and helps support local communities and economies, too. It’s one of the reasons we have been voted Britain’s most ethical insurance company.
Ian Brown
In the Morgan EV3 video the person using the wood plane sets it down on its base; this blunts the blade and it should be put down on its side. Also why can’t someone design an electric car which is a small hatchback with decent passenger space and load carrying capacity; why do they have to be stylish and/or sporty.