Click above for more images of the Aptera Typ1 e

Gasoline prices in the United States are helping push along the development of many new vehicles such as the Volt from General Motors. Such game-changing vehicles as the Volt and the original Toyota Prius demand a huge amount of research and, even more importantly, money before they are able to get out of the most basic of planning stages. What's more, these hybrid or electric vehicles are often sold at a substantial loss for a number of years before they ever are able to turn any sort of profit. It's not surprising, then, that smaller manufacturers such as Aptera and Can-Am are beginning to appear on the scene which look to offer an alternative to run-of-the-mill hybrids by introducing three-wheeled vehicles.

We'll delve a bit into the three-wheelers which are already available and look into what makes them legal - or not - after the break. We'll also discuss what could take place in the near future as Washington takes notice of the three-wheeled trends.

Click above for more shots of the Can-Am Spyder

We are certain that there are quite a number of people on the roads who don't quite know what to make of the Can-Am Spyder. In case you've forgotten about this unique vehicle, it places two wheels at the front with one in back. Powered by a Rotax V-Twin engine which offers over one-hundred horsepower, the Spyder offers quite a thrill to its pilot. While this vehicle is surely not right for everyone, the fact that over three-hundred owners were scheduled to attend the Inaugural Spyder Homecoming Owner Event in Canada proves that there are certainly a few satisfied owners of the reverse-trike.

We recently got the chance to ride a three-wheeler in the form of Piaggio's MP3, in both 400cc and 500cc guises. We found that the extra contact patch up front did indeed provide some extra confidence and would likely be a very attractive feature to many new riders. Unlike the MP3, though, the Spyder does not lean into the turns. Instead, complex computers control the speed at which riders can corner and stability control combines with anti-lock braking to provide a surefooted ride.

Rex Roy from Winding Road says that the Can-Am Spyder looks like the end-result of a snowmobile crashing into a Caterham 7. Interesting analogy, we think, considering the single-track rear and the double-track fender-less front. BRP, makers of the Spyder, hope to bring the benefits of motorcycles to the masses by making the machine easier to master. Additionally, we think that the physical size and presence might help when it comes to making yourself seen on the roadways. The performance, while low by superbike standards, will be more than enough for the majority of riders with acceleration from a stop to sixty in under five seconds.

It is true, as the source article states, that the machine probably doesn't do anything better than either a car or motorcycle would do, but it does do its own thing... which will likely include returning very good fuel mileage.

As a bonus, Winding Road also takes a look at the Piaggio MP3 and the Campagna T-Rex.

[Source: Winding Road]

Are you intrigued by the Can-Am Spyder, a three-wheeled motorcycle/automobile/snowmobile/ATV/trike crossover? If so, be sure to check out our past coverage of this genre-bender, and follow this link over to Rider Magazine where you can read their ride report of the new model. As a refresher for those of us who have been following the vehicle since we first heard about it, over 100 horsepower with good tourque from a rotax V-Twin engine in a lightweight package should make for serious fun. And, the built-in safety features such as ABS, traction control and stability control work to keep all three wheels on the ground.

If you like the idea of traveling on three wheels, but are not convinced that this is the machine for you, or if you cannot imagine not having a roof over your head, consider the impending XR3 hybrid model from Robert Q. Riley enterprises. I have seen this vehicle first-hand and can say that it will indeed hit the market, probably this year. You can have a Can-Am Spyder for for just under $15 grand, so start saving now if you are interested in getting one. And, if you do, make sure to share your experiences with the rest of us here!

[Source: Rider Magazine]

We have been following the release of the Can-Am Spyder since we first heard about it, and now we have an online ride review to digest. If you have any interest in this 3-wheeled vehicle, it would be a good idea to click here and read their three page report, and then click here to watch the video that they have made, showing the Spyder in an obstacle course.

It remains to be seen what impact this vehicle will have on the motorcycle and automotive market. The good news is that it is backed by a very large company with a lot of experience manufacturing small and large market vehicles. The lessons that they have learned while building ATVs, snowmobiles and jet-skis is sure to come in handy as this street-legal vehicle rolls out.

The testers at MotorcycleUSA likened the riding dynamics to that of an ATV and a snowmobile more than a motorcycle. But, the controls operate much like a motorcycle's, minus the lack of a separate front brake lever. An automatic transmission is available in addition to the standard five-speed manual shifter. ABS, traction control and rollover stability control are standard. Still interested? I am... and when I check one out in person, you'll see the posting here.

Bonus Coverage: For more external reviews try: Car and Driver, Edmunds and the American Motorcyclist Association.

Related:

• A three-wheeled extravaganza! Piaggio MP3, VentureOne, KTM X-Bow and Can-Am Spyder
• More transportation alternatives, this time plucked from Kneeslider
• You too can ride like an animal after watching this Piaggio MP3 video. Scary!
• Can-Am Spyder official site is live, view our gallery
  

[Source: Motorcycle USA, Car and Driver, Edmunds and the AMA]

The Piaggio MP3 has been seen by only a handful of people in the U.S., however it already has quite a following. The excitement stems from the fact that the vehicle is radically different from almost everything else available. Or is it? That topic was brought up over at 2 Stroke Buzz. Despite their name, they cover anything scooter-related, whether powered by a 2-stroke or 4-stroke engine. All the older Vespa's used two strokes, hence the name.

Anyway, while at the Dealer Expo a few days ago, they noticed that the three-wheeled design is becoming quite popular. With vehicles such as the Can-Am Spyder, the T-Rex and it's electric sibling the Silence PT2, the KTM X-Bow, the Lazareth Triazuma and the VentureOne tilting vehicle based on the Carver, the MP3 will be facing stiff competition for your hard-earned dollars. One benefit that the MP3 will have over most of its competition is that it will undercut all of those vehicles in price. The next cheapest vehicle listed there will probably be the Can-Am Spyder which is expected to sell just south of $15 thousand or so. The MP3 also stands to have the best gas mileage, but along with that, probably the slowest performance.

Another tidbit that I pulled from the posting on 2SB was that Piaggio has announced that a 400cc 4-stroke version of the MP3 will be coming stateside in addition to the already announced 250cc 4-stroke version. Pricing remains to be announced, however.

Be sure to check out Piaggio's micro-site on the MP3.

Related:

• Can-Am Spyder official site is live, view our gallery
• More transportation alternatives, this time plucked from Kneeslider
• Venture Vehicles to design and build 100 mpg three-wheeled road-going jetfighter
• Video of Venture Vehicles playing around with a Carver three-wheeler
• KTM using carbon fibre to make their X-BOW roadster faster
• Need a three-wheeled all-electric speed machine? It's yours for $42,000

[Source: 2 Stroke Buzz, Piaggio and previous posts here on AutoblogGreen]

Being quite enamored by our recent posts regarding three-wheeled motorcycles as alternative transportation, and bolstered even further by our recent find of two-wheeled cars, I decided to check out the possibility of one-wheeled motorcycles. I don't have much information besides these pictures, but I thought that you'd like to see them anyway. I searched Google using all manner of terms, but, alas, I came up with nothing but these. Are these one-wheel motorcycles? I'm not sure. But, I do know that I would not ride one on the street! I like my two-wheeled motorcycle just fine... and, to be honest, I am not sure that it is possible to register something like this for the street. Now, off-road is another story, I'd give it a go there. Of course, if you knew me, you'd know that I have managed to injure myself in all sorts of ways on two wheels off-road. But, that's another story...

(see more after the jump)