Perodua UK Limited, the importer of Piaggio Commercial Vehicles, has just announced that it's bringing the classic three-wheeled Ape back to the UK market. First introduced way back in 1948, the Ape (pronounced, ap-ey, FWIW, which is Italian for "bee." Vespa is Italian for "wasp") is based on the front end of a scooter but features an enclosed cabin for weather protection and two wheels out back.

Buyers can choose between a tiny 50cc engine, a larger 218cc gasoline unit and a big, 422cc diesel, mated up to a 5-speed manual gearbox. Panel Van, Pick Up, Cross or Tipper (tilting bed) models are all available along with a choice of a steering wheel or handlebars, making for a very versatile platform. Lastly, the Ape Calessino (seen above) is available as a limited edition for leisurely personal transportation.

As cool as it would be to see these vehicles in the States, we doubt it would ever happen. We'll just have to be content fulfilling our scooter fantasies with the MP3, Piaggio's other three-wheeler, which is available here in 125cc, 250cc or 500cc models.

[Source: Piaggio]

You may have noticed that a lot of new "green" cars not only lack a large carbon footprint but they also seem to be missing something else; a fourth wheel. Recently the three-wheel configuration has been appearing in various forms of vehicles, from the space-age Aptera to the a-bit-more-than-a-motorcycle Piaggio Mp3. With this seeming flood of tricycles sloshing about one question needs a clear answer: "Why do so many green cars only have three wheels?"

As you might imagine there are a variety of possible reasons why one would design a vehicle this way. Hit the jump to take a tricycular journey to find out why.

If you crave driving an electric car that looks like an angry locust and are tired of waiting for the new version of the SAM that we told you may be coming, this may be your lucky day. We have found one of the original 80 prototypes for sale and, though it may be a few years old, it has been much improved! Re-dubbed the "Cree SAM-Evolution II," this baby has had its Zebra batteries replaced by modern lithium iron phosphates (LiFePO4) that give it a much more practical range of 100 miles. Actually, it has two. One for propulsion up to speeds of 60 mph and one for heating and lights. With only 6,524 miles on it, the asking price is a negotiable €24,900 ($32,913.77) which doesn't include shipping from Switzerland Germany. Ouch! Kind of makes waiting an extra year for a $25,000 Aptera 2e seem worth it,no?

If you have your heart set on a SAM and this one is a little out of your budget then consider the adage, "Patience is a virtue." We expect to hear positive news about factory new vehicles sometime in the next couple months. Bonus video of someone cavorting in the snow with their SAM after the break.


[Source: Elektroauto Kleinanzeigen]

Perhaps you've noticed how many new three-wheeled vehicles have been sprouting up lately intended for the streets. It's no coincidence, as anything with fewer than four wheels is generally considered a motorcycle, though states are free to create their own take on the rules in the US. Alex Hodge, a designer based out of New Zealand, has thrown his hat into the ring with the Hawk concept, and it's a looker. The body would be molded from fiberglass to keep weight low and the all-glass canopy swings away to allow for entry and exit into the sleek vehicle. An alloy chassis holds it all together and a set of 19-inch alloy rims grab the tarmac.

Power would come from a 999cc V-Twin engine from a Honda RC51 motorcycle, and its 120-horsepower should be plenty to keep things interesting, while also offering relatively miserly fuel consumption. A single seat detracts from utility, though, and we might prefer the concept if it were electric. Regardless, it's a cool design.


[Source: Alex Hodge via Auto Express]

Photo by runneralan2004. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

What makes a motorcycle? We know that a lot of automakers have realized that by going down to three wheels in a "car," they can avoid a lot of the rules and regulations that apply to motorized four-wheelers: crash testing, NEV speed limits, etc. Now, a law being considered in Ontario that is trying to reduce motorcycle injuries could hamper people driving eco-trikes like a Xebra or an Aptera (like the U.S., Canada considers vehicles with three wheels to be motorcycles). Called the "Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Child Passengers on Motorcycles), 2008," the law would prevent anyone from driving or operating motorcycles with children under the age of 14 on board. Also known as M117, this bill had its first reading just over a week ago (October 27) and there is already a Facebook group opposed to the legislation. You can read the full text of the bill here. No word on rules regarding pugs on your bike, although the helmet is a good idea. Thanks to Ian D. for the tip!

[Source: Legislative Assembly of Ontario]

Trikes are pretty hot these days. Whether they lean or not, using three wheels instead of two is a concept that has been gaining traction in an effort to... gain traction. Three contact patches allows for more rubber on the road, ultimately leading to increased stability and rider confidence, or so they say. When we got the chance to hop on board a trio of Piaggio MP3s, we found that the technology worked exactly as promised, and that experience leaves us wanting to hitch a ride on the new Brudeli Leanster, now available in Europe.

Using a single-cylinder engine and platform from KTM, the Leanster adds a subframe and an entirely new front-end that's been designed to allow the rider to lean into the turns, as with the Piaggio. Harley-Davidson is also planning to enter the tilting-trike wars with a V-Twin powered street machine, but the Leanster is the only one of these machines that allows dirt riding. You'll pay dearly for the privilege of owning one, though, as the price is currently set at €21,000 ($30,677 at current exchange rates). That's a lot of coin for a cycle, but it sure does look like fun.


[Source: Brudeli via Hell For Leather / Pics: Rune Baashus]

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.

We recently reported on the unfortunate demise of the Bajaj 3-wheeler from the American market due to slow sales. Happily, a new brand of funky 3-wheelers is set to make its debut in the U.S. by way of Thailand. Tuk Tuk North America (TTNA) reports that its vehicles are currently undergoing EPA and NHTSA testing for road-use approval, though its line of trikes is reportedly already for sale for off-road use. Available in a number of passenger, cargo and truck body styles, the Tuk Tuk comes equipped with either a 200cc or 650cc version of a newly-designed, liquid-cooled four-stroke powerplant. This replaces the original two-stroker from which the vehicle received its funny-sounding name. TTNA also reports that its vehicles are available with both automatic and manual transmissions. Interestingly, the options page of the TTNA site shows an LPG kit which would convert the engine to run on dual fuels -- both liquefied petroleum and gasoline.

[Source: Tuk Tuk North America]

Recently we broke a story about a new electric "highway capable" three-wheeled car being prepared for the American market called the Triac. We promised to keep you posted and now that some interesting new details have emerged, behold the posting.

Apparently, many of you out there contacted Green Vehicles to seek out more information about the Triac for yourselves. It seems they might have been a little overwhelmed and it took a few days before a response was sent out en masse. The missive contained lots of interesting information which I will now share with you.

First of all, there were a couple of items from the video that were corrected. In the clip it states that the top speed of the vehicle is 70 mph. This is wrong. Green Vehicles is claiming that it can actually reach 80 mph. That's a speed that can come in handy when you're passing on the highway. The other metric to undergo revision was the range. This was lowered from 120 to 100 miles with the further explanation that the original figure was achieved at a relatively slow speed and that the new result was returned from a speed of 45 mph. Other Triac facts we learned were about the drivetrain. It will have a 5-speed transmission (we're guessing manual) matched to a 20kW AC motor with "one of the world's most sophisticated battery maintenance systems" to help you get the most out of your lithium ion battery pack. It's onboard charger will allow you to plug it in to either a 120V or 240V outlet. Now, what was that about a truck? Hit the jump for more news.

Is there a new three-wheeled highway-capable electric car about to emerge from "stealth mode"? We believe so and we have the video to prove it. As our faithful readers well know, we have been following the lengthy development of other three-wheeled vehicles like the Aptera and the VentureOne very closely as they are being prepared to enter the market. We haunt their forums, dig through their dumpsters monitor their websites and read their press releases. However, the Triac, like the mythical Planet X approaching the Earth from the South pole in time to wreak disaster on December 21st of the Mayan calender time-ending year of 2012, seems to be appearing out of nowhere and may be about to make a huge splash as it enters the orbit of the electric car-craving American public. At least it is if we are to believe the claims made in the commercial that we dug up on YouTube.

Here is what we know. Ehab Youssef got tired of choking on ZAP vapor, took matters into his own hands and is now about to show them how it's done. His company, Green Vehicles (which recently moved from their retail Los Gatos location to a larger San Jose space according to a report in the Los Gatos Observer), will be offering a 144V lithium ion-powered vehicle (most likely sourced from China but with some work done here) capable of 70 mph with a 120 mile range, with tandem seating starting at $19,995. Although the video states "Available now", there has not been an official announcement on their website yet but we expect one any day and will keep you posted. In the mean time, hit the jump to check out the slick commercial for this up-coming little beastie. As a bonus you can also see a video of a NEV that Green Vehicles will also be selling.

*Update: Thanks to reader, Bill, who pointed out that the seating isn't tandem.