The global auto market these days is driven by just two objectives – eco friendly and less noisy. You visit any auto show these days and you will find electric vehicles and clean energy powered concepts on display. The rising prices of gasoline had forced the companies to manufacture fuel efficient vehicles. The best way to increase fuel efficiency is to develop vehicles that can run on three wheels.
1. eVARO hybrid three-wheeler
Future Vehicles Technology has designed this low-emission hybrid car. The car was nominated for Progressive Automotive X-Prize in 2010. The developers claim that eVARO needs only five seconds to attain a speed of 60mph. The car is pretty fuel efficient as it can cover 275 miles on a single gallon. eVARO’s all-electric range is around 90 miles.
2. Transforming trike
WooJin Chung has designed a trike named The Moby, featuring a zero-emission electric engine. The best part of this concept vehicle is that its rear can be displaced and altered as need. The trike is slim and trim and is much smaller than the four-wheelers that we see on road these days.
3. Home-built trike
Minh Duong deserves credit for designing a NEV which is totally green and powered by electricity. The three-wheeled electric car designed by Minh is named Xe Điện, meaning “electric car” in Vietnamese. The electric car derives power from a 7.1KWh battery pack. The zero emission vehicle has a range of about 20 miles and it can touch a top speed of 40mph.
4. Solar-powered all-terrain trike
Gadi Dudler has designed a solar-powered trike which can work in harshest conditions. Gadi has designed this vehicle keeping in mind the features needed in vehicles that are used for rescue operations. The top of the cabin is fitted with solar panels that traps solar energy and then converts it into electrical energy. The energy is used to run an electric engine which is fitted on the front wheel. An electric engine is also fitted in the rear wheels to deliver the power needed by the vehicle in tough terrains.
5. E. Rex three-wheeled EV
OptaMotive had designed E. Rex in 2010. The developers claim that the three wheeled E.Rex with a top speed of 144mph is thrice more efficient than Toyota Prius. The E. Rex has a range of about 100 miles.
6. Bio Top three-wheeled car
This three wheeled electric car is designed by Luis Pinheiro de Lima. One of the wheels of the vehicle generates electricity. The car transfers electricity using the wireless electricity technology. The rear wheel of this zero emission car generates electricity. The Bio Top is different from other electric cars because its start and stop system is controlled by hand.
7. Sampdesign Neo
“Sampdesign Neo” is conceived by Brazilian designer Maurício Sampaio. The electric vehicle is powered by three engines, which are incorporated in its three wheels. The cabin of this zero-emission vehicle is isolated from the outer world due to the presence of rubber. The car has an air conditioner as well.
8. Peugeot RD concept
Colombian designer Carlos Arturo Torres has conceived the concept of Peugeot RD and was awarded 10,000 Euros and an Xbox 360 game console by the company. The single-seater Peugeot RD Concept will be powered by electric motors and will run on three wheels.
9. Three-wheeled Peugeot Q
The concept is designed to reduce parking woes. The emergence of fuel efficient cars has prompted the automakers and designers to come up with compact cars in order to reduce the overall weight of the car. The best way to do this was reduce one of the wheels and designer Juan Trillo has done the same to design his Peugeot Q. The two-seater hatchback is much smaller in size than the conventional cars that are available on the market these days.
10. ‘TransforMiss’ electric car
Thierry Dumaine-designed TransforMiss concept is a three-in-one thing: a bike, car and trike. The two-seater has electric motor in each rim. The user has the option to drive this zero emission vehicle with two or three wheels.
