During the last two years' Santa Monica Alt Car Expo, we talked with representatives of Universal Electric Vehicle about their Spyder EV. There were scant updates from the company outside of those events, and now we can see that there won't be much news in the future, either. The one vehicle that UEV produced, a non-street legal prototype all-electric sportster called the Electrum Spyder, was recently up on eBay (it ended with a bid of $25,600 that wasn't high enough to beat the reserve price). According to the item description, a "Business partners [sic] recent illness put a stop to moving ahead," but there could have been a lot of reasons for the attempted sale. UEV was never a major player in the industry, and we're certainly not surprised to see them fail - everyone knows this is a tough business - but it is a somewhat ignoble end for Diana and Greg Lane's EV business.

In any case, we'll be headed back to the Alt Car Expo next week, and we look forward to talking to people who haven't had their dreams crushed quite yet. Thanks to Ryan for the tip!

[Source: eBay]

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.

The Alt Car Expo here in Santa Monica starts this morning. Last night, on the Santa Monica Pier, some of the organizers and exhibitors met for a swanky get-together. I'm not one to pass up a tasty event like that, so I went. And look what I found parked outside - the updated Electrum Spyder and the new Vectrix electric scooter. We'll have more on these vehicles before the weekend is out, but I thought you'd enjoy some pics before the more serious info-gathering begins. If you only have time for one click, make sure it's this one - to see what I'm pretty sure is the Spyder's, um, unusual spedometer.

For a good while there, we were obsessively relaying data to you regarding some of the new three-wheeled conveyances that have been hitting the American market lately. We cover these things because they are a great way to save on gas, and many people find that they really enjoy the experience after they get started. But, if your goal is to save the absolute most gasoline possible, your best choice remains the humble scooter. Many scooterists report over 100 miles per gallon, and I'm sure you'll agree that there aren't many better currently available and affordable machines that do better than that. So, with that said, I'll share with you a new patent from Can Am, the maker of the Spyder, for a new scooter. I found it at The Scooter Scoop, one of my favorite sites that cover scooters. One piece of engineering incorporated into the design is the CVT transmission. On most scooters, the transmission is part of an assembly which includes the rear wheel, and is suspended as a unit. This increases unsprung weight, and has a negative impact on handling and ride. On this patent application, Can Am describes the unit as a stressed member of the chassis, and separate from the rear swingarm and wheel, which is a much better design. For more details, check here and follow the link to the .pdf patent.

While we are on the topic of two wheels, continue after the break for a video from Motorcycle News in the U.K. The video shows how much faster it can be to get to work riding a motorcycle than a car.

[Source: The Scooter Scoop]

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]

Did you enjoy our latest look at three-wheeled oddities? If so, and you think you may be a candidate for such a machine, click here and check out the Can-Am Spyder. The slightly bug-eyed vehicle uses a three-wheeled design that we have seen in many concept vehicles lately, but not many production vehicles. This arrangement is inherently more stable than the old Honda ATC's from the '80s with its single front wheel.

One reason manufacturers are interesting in three wheels is that all vehicles sold in the U.S. with three wheels are considered motorcycles, which are much easier to get on the road than automobiles are. What this means is that in States where you need to wear a helmet on two wheels, you will also need one for three. Also, you are able to ride on the carpool lanes and park in motorcycle only spots. There are benefits and drawbacks to the design, but at least the industry is not afraid of trying new things.

Why is this being featured here on Autobloggreen? Simple: performance. How is that? Well, the power to weight ratio of this vehicle will be up there with supercars. Unfortunately for those who love high performance, their high power comes at the price of gas mileage. With the expected 1.0 liter V-Twin engine sourced from Rotax, and currently in use in Aprilia sportbikes, the vehicle should return over 30 miles per gallon. That makes this vehicle rather efficient in comparison to the performance vehicles it will be capable of hanging with.

Interested? Write a check for about $15 thousand and wait until April, when the first dealers will get their Spyders. Check out our gallery for high quality background capable images!



[Source: Can-Am]

I think all the news of the Tesla Roadster and the Chevy Volt that came out since last summer has reminded a lot of people that there are some serious contenders to the gasoline engine. The electric vehicle (EV) community certainly thinks 2006 was a good year for EVs. In fact, the past has seen some truly cool EVs, and the list of retired EVs is long and, for some, emotional: the EV1, the Ranger EV, the RAV4 EV and so on. But there should be no time for mourning and instead a look toward the future. Actually, we don't even need to guess what great EVs are coming down the pipe, there are already some wicked cool EVs available today. If you're ready to get off the gas in 2007, consider one of these, the Top Ten Electric Cars of 2007 (Aside from the Roadster, which certainly deserves the Number 1 spot, the list is in no real order).

Tesla Roadster - This car has reinvigorated the EV market like no other. While technically no one can buy it this year (all 100 vehicles that will be available later in 2007 have already been spoken for, I can't help but place it at No. 1. With a 0-60 time beneath four seconds and a look that makes you just want to hop in and drive, the Roadster (More)



UEV Spyder - Universal Electric Vehicle's Spyder made an impressive debut at the Santa Monica Alt Car Expo last December, even though I heard a lot of people ask, "Is this the Tesla?" This EV will be available with different battery configurations at different price levels (some comparable to the Roadster). You don't hear so many people talk the Spyder up, but it seems to share many of the same qualities that make the Roadster so exciting: speed, zero emissions, and sports-car styling. (More)



Phoenix SUT – Yeah, it's expensive ($45,000), but EVs aren't cheap. Heck, retired Toyota RAV4 EVs regularly go for more than $50,000 on eBay, and the batteries in those things are old. Phoenix has been working with Altairnano Technologies on new batteries and is bringing this sports utility truck to market with better range than the RAV4 (but, admittedly, not as much size). Phoenix says they hope to sell 500 SUTs by the end of the year. Perhaps a better name will pump up sales. (More)

Miles ZX40 – While the Spyder and the Roadster don't really ask the driver to make any sacrifices (aside from in the bank account), EVs like those from Miles are not a replacement for a "standard" car, but a solid contender for second vehicle for certain families or individuals, or as a main vehicle for those who don't have to go very far. The Miles ZX40 is like a lot of NEVs – limited to a top speed of 25 mph, a range of around 50 miles per charge and a price of about $12,000-$20,000. (We don't actually know the price of the ZX40, but other NEVs are priced in this range). Another Miles model, the OR70, can go 35 mph. (More)

ZENN – Another player in the NEV field, ZENN's cars are "zero emission, no noise." Get it? ZENN. These NEVs have a lower range than Miles' offerings (only about 35 miles) and are a bit smaller, too. When I drove one in D.C. last year the battery was on its last legs and in need of a charge, but still drove well. The various options can add up to $2,500 to the $12,500 base price. But the most exciting part about ZENN's offerings are yet to come: the EESTOR ultra capacitor is still shrouded in mystery, but the potential is great for this new EV power source (as is the disappointment if the EESTOR doesn't live up to the hype). (More)

GEM e2 – Yes, they look funny. No, they can't go very far or very fast. But GEM electric vehicles have been available for years and the company has a wide range of models available (two through six seats, with or without a flatbed) and prices ($7,000-$12,500). GEMs are used around the country on various campuses, but models like the e2 are obviously targeted to home users. (More)



Smart EV - Available in Switzerland and the UK, the tiny Smart EVs are zero-emission versions of their fossil-fuel drinking cousins. These cars share the easy-parking abilities and unique styling of the standard Smarts, but are only available in the fortwo configuration and only to "to blue chip companies who are happy to meet our requirements to power the cars using only renewable energy sources," says Smart UK. Conversions for your standard Smart are also available. (More)

Mullen L1X-75 – Some of our readers are skeptical of Hybrid Technologies, maker of the Mullen L1X-75, saying their press releases promise more than they can ever deliver. The L1X-75 certainly promises a lot - 100-mile range on a 4-6 hour charge - and this comes at a price ($125,000). Still, the sports car look will attract the eye of those you zip by, and I'd certainly give one a whirl. (More)

G-Wiz EV – available in the UK (and desired by Sir Elton John), the G-Wiz costs a little bit (£8,299 to £6,999) more than some of the short-range EVs in America, but you get something extra in England, too: exemption from certain taxes and London congestion charges and free parking in some areas. There are even free charging stations in some locations. (More)

Kurrent – A tiny and very distinctive-looking NEV, the Kurrent's price ($10,600) includes home delivery because, as American Electric Vehicle president Scott Thornton told AutoblogGreen, if AEV allowed the Kurrent to be sold at just any dealership, the customer might not be able to drive it home thanks to U.S. laws that restrict NEVs to roads with a posted speed limit of 35 mph or below. Lead-acid batteries deliver a range of about 40-mile range. (More)



For Number 10, I cannot ignore all of the homemade EVs and converted EVs. People have been creating their own electric vehicles for year, and the trend continues. For examples, read more here, here and here.

There are more EVs available today, and if you feel I should've included any in this Top Ten list, add it yourself in the comments. Also, there are a lot of upcoming EVs to get excited about - Tesla's WhiteStar sedan, Zap!'s Lotus APX - so if you're sick of gassing up your car, consider going all-electric. They're not for everyone, but they might be perfect for you.

You've seen the specs, seen the preview and now, here're the goods. The Electrum Spyder was the big unveiling at the Alt Car Expo, and I was able to speak with Greg Lane, Senior Vice President of Universal Electric Vehicle Corp. and designer of the Spyder, about the car and the attitude of UEV in today's market (hint: he doesn't like EVs that are just boxes on wheels). Lane said UEV is shooting to produce between 100 and 200 vehicles in the first year (they will start to be available in Summer 2007) from their California base. Like Tesla Motors, UEV is talking about a lower-priced sedan version of the EV in a few years. For now, we'll have to enjoy the sleek sights of the Spyder.

I heard there were an estimated 7,000 people at the Santa Monica Alt Car Expo on Saturday. That's a lot of people to chat up, but Paul Scott, the founding member of dontcrush.com and a driving force behind Plug-In America was still going strong in the afternoon. That's when I stopped by his booth and asked him a few questions about the way the major automakers have answered the call for PHEVs, whether neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) help or hurt the EV market, and what he thinks of the Electrum Spyder.

Scott said that GM's announcement that their plug-in hybrid might be a serial hybrid has excited the EV community more than Toyota's upcoming refinement of the hybrid Synergy drive into a parallel, but in general there is an cautious optimism about what GM and Toyota have said. The electric vehicles that are coming out in the near future are all creating a buzz, he said. And even though NEVs are limited, Scott says they help the EV cause overall. Tesla's Roadster is incredibly important, he said, because it changes people's perceptions of what an electric car is and can do.

Give Paul a listen (~6 min., 1.3 MB)

One note: Scott says in the interview that the number of soft orders collected in Plug-in Partners campaign is over 10,000. A representative for Plug-In Partners told me later that the actual number is 8,200.

I revealed one of Universal Electric's minor secrets in this post the other day, that the driver-side interior was less than finished. The good news is that the company has patched up the car, as evidenced by this photo. Diana Lane, president and CEO of UEV, didn't think me posting that picture was the best think I could have done, so here's a picture showing that someone at UEV patched up the prototype. Sorry, Diana, and that's some quick work you guys do.

Tomorrow Universal Electric Vehicle Corp. will unveil the Electrum Spyder. While we know a lot of the specs of this sleek electric vehicle, the pictures we've had on AutoblogGreen are not of the car that's being revealed tomorrow. I spoke with Diana Lane, the President and CEO of UEV, today about the unveiling. You can watch a minute-long video of Lane talking preview. Not included in the clip are a few more details of the start of production (July '07) and the fact that the first models will be delivered later that month or perhaps August. Lane said 17 Spyders have been reserved so far, even though Saturday will be the first day when UEV will officially take orders. 150-mile range Spyders with nickel zinc batteries will cost an estimated $70,000. Optional lithium-ion batteries will add about $30,000 to the cost and about double the range.

UPDATE: See the Spyder in its own video here.

While I certainly will be working out in Santa Monica this weekend at the Alt Car Expo, I must admit that I'm also going to enjoy a getting out of the Midwest cold for a few days. I known Santa Monica is no Honolulu, but it'll do.

For now, this post is a bit sparse, but as we report from the Expo this weekend, I will link to all my stories from here (and this introductory text might change). Feel free to bookmark this post (use the "permalink" below for the exact URL) and check back throughout the weekend for updates. We'll have pictures, audio interviews and lots of cool news. Also, if there is a vehicle or a company you'd like more information about (you can see the list of companies attending here), then say so in the comments and I'll do my best to track down that info for you.

Here's are the Alt Car Expo stories so far (updated Thursday, 12/14):

• Alt Car Expo: Video of the Electrum Spyder and interview with the designer, Greg Lane
• Alt Car Expo: Dr. Andy Frank on kicking the oil habit with "no sacrifice in lifestyle"
• Alt Car Expo: Katie Rogers is Carless in L.A.
• Alt Car Expo: Ex-CIA head James Woolsey says Saudi Arabia can't beat PHEVs
• Alt Car Expo: Photo Gallery (includes a bus crashing into a tree)
• Alt Car Expo: Ed Begley and Terry Tamminen on Ending our Addiction to Oil Now
• Alt Car Expo: Brad Hirsch says the Qui Moto not likely to be Myers Motors next car
• Alt Car Expo: More info on Solar Bug, the converted ATV EV
• Alt Car Expo: Feed 400 horsepower with hydrogen, and maybe a cover model will ride along
• Alt Car Expo: Q&A with Plug-In America's Paul Scott
• Alt Car Expo: EV racing in a kit car
• Alt Car Expo: Edwin Black's Internal Combustion LIVE!
• Alt Car Expo: 1980 VW truck becomes a biodiesel Eco Rat Rod
• Alt Car Expo: Electrum Spyder prototype gets mid-show upgrade
• Alt Car Expo: eBox makes public debut
• Alt Car Expo: Electrum Spyder electric roadster unveiled. We've got pictures
• Alt Car Expo: Lee Iacocca gets a present
• Alt Car Expo: Southern California Edison continues PHEV push
• Alt Car Expo: LA biodiesel group "wants" to go out of business
• Alt Car Expo: Solar Bug NEV ready for production
• Alt Car Expo: Movie stuntcar maker builds an electric sprint car for the street? Cool!
• Alt Car Expo: video of the homemade, 100+mpg Moonbeam
• Alt Car Expo: Q&A with Roy Graham on Altairnano batteries, Phoenix electric SUV
• Alt Car Expo: $70,000 Spyder EV teaser video
• Alt Car Expo: Pre-show set-up photos
• Electrum Spyder to be demoed at Santa Monica Alt Car Expo this weekend
• AltCar Expo coming to Santa Monica

If you're in Santa Monica, California this weekend, check out the AltCar Expo at the Santa Monica Air Center. if you're not, don't worry, as AutoblogGreen will be providing coverage from the show. Universal Electric Vehicle will be holding the world premier of their new Electrum Spyder during the show on Friday December 9. It looks like UEV is aiming this car at people who weren't able to snap up one of the first batch of Tesla Roadsters. This one is a battery powered roadster that in standard form will cost $70,000. The default configuration is equipped with nickel zinc batteries although lithium ion batteries are optional when they are available. The car also has an on-board charger that works with any standard 110V or 220V outlet.

While the Tesla is based on the chassis of the Lotus Elise, the Spyder appears to a ground up design. Top speed is regulated to 80 mph and UEV claims a range of 70-150 miles on the nickel zinc batteries. With the lithium batteries they are claiming a range of up to 300 miles. Acceleration is estimated at 7 seconds for the 0-60mph run. While the Tesla has an aluminum chassis, this one has a steel chassis and fiberglass body. The UEV website also has a video of the Spyder in action.

[Source: Universal Electric Vehicle with a tip from Fabrizio]