With a driving vary of round 100 miles on a full cost, a physique smaller than the ill-fated Sensible ForTwo and simply three wheels, the ElectraMeccanica Solo EV was touted as the answer to boring commutes. The corporate’s CEO, Jerry Kroll, even went so far as saying that the diminutive battery-powered metropolis runabout can be “as ubiquitous because the iPhone inside a 12 months.”
That was in 2018. Now, The vast majority of Solo EVs are ending up in an Arizona scrapyard, as @startupslick on TikTok just lately found (and was then lined by The Autopian). However why?
Solo for those who select to maintain your Solo
ElectraMeccanica’s voluntary buyback program for the 429 Solo EVs affected by a difficulty that would result in a lack of motive energy is simply that: voluntary. Which means you possibly can nonetheless see third-gen Solos pop up on the market from individuals who needed to maintain them as an alternative of promoting them again to the producer. That mentioned, for those who plan on shopping for one, remember that there is no help in any respect from its maker.
12 Images
The quick reply is that the corporate began a voluntary buyback program for 429 items which may all of a sudden lose motive energy. Why didn’t they simply do a traditional recall, like automotive firms normally do? Effectively, ElectraMeccanica didn’t really know repair the problem, so that they selected to purchase again the affected three-wheelers from their homeowners.
And it’s these items that ended up the the Arizona junkyard you see within the TikTok video embedded under. In response to the uploader, who mentioned he talked to a scrapyard worker, the EVs can’t be parted out–aside from the seats–so their destiny will finally be the crusher.
ElectraMeccanica really constructed extra items than the 429 that have been a part of the voluntary buyback program and even acquired to the supply half, which is normally probably the most tough one to undertake for those who’re a startup.
The only-seaters which might be piling up within the junkyard have been in-built China by ElectaMeccanica’s strategic investor, Zongshen Industrial Group, which assembled one other 300 items previous to beginning U.S. deliveries, however these EVs have been reportedly scrapped, in response to Robert Dunn of Getting older Wheels, who owns two Solos.
The corporate unveiled the manufacturing mannequin in 2016 and a 12 months later, restricted (hand-built) manufacturing started in Vancouver, Canada. About 180 of those first-gen fashions have been assembled however nearly 40 or so reached prospects, in response to varied reviews on-line. Then, in 2019, manufacturing of the second-gen model started in China–these 300 or so items that weren’t really offered, with the third-gen mannequin lastly hitting the meeting line in 2021.
ElectraMeccanica Solo Ev 8
Deliveries within the U.S. began in the identical 12 months, however even when the problem that led to the recall and subsequent buyback had been fastened, the Solo EV was a troublesome tablet to swallow from the get-go. With a beginning worth of $18,500 and an inside that regarded just like the Fisher Value model of a Chevrolet Spark–to not point out it may solely seat one individual–it wasn’t a very engaging deal.
As for why didn’t ElectraMeccanica repair the automobiles as an alternative of scrapping them, it’s unclear, but it surely may need to do with the truth that the model was bought by electrical truck firm Xos, which seemingly doesn’t wish to have something to do with the ill-fated three-wheelers.
In a response to an e-mail despatched by The Drive, a Xos consultant mentioned: “Following the recall, buyback, and ElectraMeccanica’s cessation of gross sales, the automobiles have been disposed of partly by way of the ability in [the] linked video. Following the acquisition by Xos, ElectraMeccanica’s few remaining operations have been wound down.”
It’s price noting that you possibly can nonetheless see some third-gen Solo EVs pop up on the market now and again, seeing how the buyback was voluntary, however for those who’re making an attempt to persuade your self that it’s a very good deal, keep in mind that there’s completely no help from the manufacturing unit anymore.
In different phrases, you’d be solo in your journey.