Looking for a quirky work vehicle

[Diggs]

So I've been somewhat actively (halfheartedly?) looking for a quirky head-turning electric vehicle/car. Something I can have wrapped in my company logos and drive locally as a rolling advertisement and business attraction. Unfortunately most don't have the range or the speed I need (much of my travels are on 55 mph roads) and the only one that does have range and speed (Corbin Sparrow) doesn't have the storage inside that I need. Although I'd like to convert the lead-acid battery systems to Lithium (Lithium-Iron-Phosphate preferred) to increase range and speed the expense (~$3,000-$6,000) is more than I want from something I would use only half the year (no heat). So far the contenders I have found for sale are -

Citicar - Very slow and short range. If only I lived in town and worked in town. Could be wrapped to look like a computer mouse? Needs batteries -


Corbin Sparrow - Fast, good range and already converted to Lithium but expensive, no storage and requires a 3,400 mile road trip to get it -


Zapcar Xebra - Fair speed, limited range but a relative will give me one that needs work and new batteries.


I'm really starting to drag my feet as I don't want to loose my open garage space and the drawbacks are more than I want to put up with. Hmmmm.......

 

[Fred Claus]

 

[Diggs]

There's quite a few electric Smart cars for sale around here but I'm looking for something a little more unconventional and head turning.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

 

[Diggs]

Ha! (@YeOldeStonecat ) Head-turning is right. That's almost what they use in Alligator Alley in Florida. (Missing the gun racks....) Not too many on-site computer repairs out there - heh!

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Heh..yeah could easily say "Meanwhile in Florida". I'll be heading down in a bit, but near Bradenton. However in Jan I'll be down in the keys and cutting through everglades to check out Goodland and Everglades City. Will see some of them crazy huge buggies then I'm sure.

 

[Moltuae]

Zapcar Xebra - Fair speed, limited range but a relative will give me one that needs work and new batteries.
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I don't know if Only Fools and Horses made it across the Atlantic, but if a three-wheeler is what you're looking for ...

Personally I'd prefer a much larger/safer vehicle. Perhaps a vintage muscle car? Or, if you want something dead quirky, how about a hearse?

 

[Diggs]

I don't know if Only Fools and Horses made it across the Atlantic, but if a three-wheeler is what you're looking for ....

Now that's what I'm talking about! (...but trying to keep it electric...)

 

[Moltuae]

Now that's what I'm talking about! (...but trying to keep it electric...)

I would image a Plastic Pig (aka Reliant Robin) like that would be one of the easiest vehicles to convert to electric since they're such a simple vehicle (effectively a 'dead' rear axle and a motorbike engine driving a single front wheel). Looks like a simple enough DIY job: http://electricreliantrobin.blogspot.com/

I had a Grandad who owned a Reliant Robin when I was a kid. I think 'quirky' is certainly a word that could be used to describe them, along with dangerous and terrifying They were somewhat prone to falling over when cornering, which isn't really a desirable quality for a car.

 

[Moltuae]

Thinking about it further, I suppose the batteries could be used as ballast, to help prevent the car from falling over while cornering.

OR, at the very least, the batteries might help to quickly incinerate you should the car fall over, saving you the embarrassment of having to climb out of a capsized three-wheeler alive.





Edit: I notice the electric Robin blog hasn't been updated in 5 years. I wonder whether he gave up on the project or died in a tragic Li-ion/Robin inferno!

 

[Sky-Knight]

I'd never own a Robin... we illegalized three wheelers for a reason. You need two wheels up front to provide the leverage to keep the thing upright while cornering and driving forward. The single wheel in the back is a tipping hazard only while driving in reverse, and presumably, you'd be going slow enough doing that, that it isn't an issue.

I've love anything from these guys... but out of my price range: https://www.viamotors.com/

It's really too bad this thing will likely never see the light of day: https://www.eliomotors.com/

 

[Diggs]

Thinking about it further, I suppose the batteries could be used as ballast, to help prevent the car from falling over while cornering.

That's what the Xebra does. Puts three of the batteries across the back axle and the other three right down the center console but towards the rear. Actually pretty stable says my nephew.

In turn - Anyone from across the pond would recognize "Sir" Sinclair's invention. I have one of those available to me also but it's obviously not practical. Was never practical even when it was first invented -

 

[Diggs]

It's really too bad this thing will likely never see the light of day: https://www.eliomotors.com/

I really like Elio but it's been a long time coming and still not there yet......

 

[Mike McCall]

 

[Computer Bloke]

In turn - Anyone from across the pond would recognize "Sir" Sinclair's invention. I have one of those available to me also but it's obviously not practical. Was never practical even when it was first invented

Why the scare quotes around "Sir"? Sir Clive came by his knighthood honestly, by making a significant contribution to the British computer industry. He's also a nice chap, and I'm proud to have once shared a lift ("elevator") with him, Carol Vorderman and a dwarf whose name I didn't catch. Not many people can say that.

The C5 was better thought of as a much-improved recumbent bicycle rather than an alternative to a car, and if you consider it as a distant ancestor of modern e-bikes then you can see just how far ahead of its time it was.

 

[Sky-Knight]

I really like Elio but it's been a long time coming and still not there yet......

By the time it hits the shelf it'll be irrelevant. You can get several plugin hybrid full sized sedans now that beat that thing in range. The only real advantage that remains is price!

@Computer Bloke, forgive we Americans for mocking royalty... we're kinda founded to do that.

 

[Diggs]

Why the scare quotes around "Sir"?

Apologies for the disrespect. "Sir" anybody is a struggle to understand here as @Sky-Knight stated above. Sinclair received his share of eye-rolling and chuckles over there when his little three-wheeler was released. The reviews were pretty bad.

 

[Fred Claus]

There sure are some cool rides here. How about a 1970 Legrand?

 

[Moltuae]

The P50 was 'reviewed' and driven by Clarkson some years ago on (the original) Top Gear:

 

[Moltuae]

There sure are some cool rides here. How about a 1970 Legrand?

Jeez. I think that's the first car I've ever seen with an underbite.

It's like it was painstakingly designed such that there could be no angle from which it might be considered beautiful.