reports, the Vancouver, BC-based EV maker designed the SOLO with single-rider commuting and local deliveries in mind, but don’t let its small size fool you; the single-seater, three-wheeled mini-EV can hit up to 80 mph and has a range of up to 100 miles on a single charge.

These specs make it extremely capable for most Americans, at least—according to data analyzed by Jerry, the average round trip to and from work in the U.S. is over 41 miles a day. And with its 80 mph top speed, it’s more than capable of overtaking slower-moving vehicles hogging the left lane on the freeway.

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Will America like it?

Bloomberg’s

Tim Stenovec

said the vehicle turned heads as he took it for a spin around New York. But it raised a big question: How well will it resonate in a market dominated by large SUVs and trucks?

ElectraMeccanica CEO Kevin Pavlov said there are 120 million drivers that drive alone and roughly 20 million that carpool. The reason they carpool is to be more efficient and save money. If 20% of those drivers adopted the SOLO, he said it would reduce freeway congestion and make parking easier in high-traffic areas.

Pavlov believes the ElectraMeccanica SOLO will take off if it can appeal to the sensibilities of Americans who are already trying to be more efficient in how they commute to work.

Driving the SOLO EV

Deliveries of the SOLO EV began in October 2021, and Electrek’s Scooter Doll had a chance to take one for a spin in Los Angeles. He noted some unique quirks of the vehicle, including two doors—unusual for a single-seater—as well as each window’s individual controls and the seat belt located on the right side. It also takes three seconds to start the thing.

One thing he immediately noted was the lack of cargo space; you can fit a handful of grocery bags in it, which shouldn’t be an issue if it’s primarily a commuter vehicle. For the EV’s intended purpose as a local delivery vehicle, ElectraMeccanica has announced a cargo variant for the future.

Upon starting his drive, the reviewer found that it has a low center of gravity and enough torque to provide quick acceleration and sharp maneuvering through city streets, making it perfect to zip around the city. Just like Bloomberg’s Stenovec, Doll noted that the little red EV was quick to garner attention due to its unique appearance.

Its lack of safety features that are standard on four-wheel vehicles—air bags, anti-lock breaks and the like—were a little daunting for the reviewer, but shouldn’t discourage local driving. Highways might not feel as safe, he noted.

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Great for single commuters

Electrek’s Scooter Doll said that overall, he had a great time driving the little single-seater EV. While its small size makes it perfect for one person’s daily commute or runs to the grocery store, the future cargo version might be more useful.

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