By Ben Coxworth, GizMag
The Morgan Threewheeler is definitely a unique vehicle, although with prices starting just shy of £30,000 (about US$47,000) … well, it ain’t cheap. That said, if it’s mainly just the look of the thing that you like, you might consider saving quite a few bucks and going with the human/electric hybrid replica now being offered by Minsk-based Ekomobil.
According to Ekomobil, the design of its vehicle is based on technical drawings of the original gas-powered Morgan Threewheeler.
It has a lacquered composite body shell and 24-inch wheels on the outside, combined with wood veneer and leather trim on the interior. The seat is made from a combination of genuine and synthetic leather. Available extras include a lighting system, an in-dash quartz clock, and a built-in MP3 player.
When used in human-power mode, the rider’s pedaling power is transferred via a chain drive to a Shimano Nexus 3-speed planetary hub transmission in the rear wheel. The optional 48-volt hub motor is powered by an onboard battery, and it can reportedly take the vehicle to a top speed of 40 km/h (25 mph) while offering a non-pedal-assisted range of 30 to 40 km (19 to 25 miles).
Pricing of the Ekomobil Morgan replica ranges from €2,500 to €3,000 (about US$2,800 to $3,370) depending on options, plus shipping from Belarus. A smaller model for children is reportedly on the way, too. See more photo here!
Should you like the idea of a human/electric version of a classic weird little car, but the Morgan isn’t your favorite, you might also want to check out Veloschmitt’s Messerschmitt KR200 velomobile.
Source: Ekomobil/Picar (Russian)