ith its T3 Series electric stand-up vehicle (ESV), California-based company T3 Motion took aim at the police, security and site management markets with a no-noise, no-pollution, fast-response, one-person vehicle that delivers long battery run time, short recharge time and operating costs of around 10 cents per day. It expanded its line up with the four-wheel CT Micro Car that is designed to service similar markets to the T3 Series. Now the company is taking aim at the wider consumer market for the first time with the GT3, a two-passenger, plug-in electric vehicle that features a single, wide-stance, rear wheel with two tires sharing one rim.
The latest electric vehicle to join the T3 Motion sable is the first aimed at the wider consumer market. The company’s new GT3 electric vehicle is a two-passenger, plug-in commuter vehicle that draws on the company’s experience gained from deploying over 2,000 electric vehicles and over 5,000 lithium-polymer batteries. It is powered by an 18 kwH lithium-polymer battery and an AC induction motor that can propel the vehicle to a top speed of 70 mph with a range of 80-100 miles per charge. A multi-link, dual-shock rear suspension in the GT3 is similar to suspension systems found in today’s Formula One race cars. Aside from its aerodynamic styling and sleek lines, the first thing you’ll probably notice about the GT3 is that, like the Triac we saw at NAIAS 2010, the GT3 sports two front wheels and one rear wheel. However, unlike the Triac, the GT3’s rear wheel design is built around a single, wide-stance wheel with two tires sharing the same wheel. T3 Motion says this two-tire design improves traction, stability and handling, while the low rolling resistance and rounded profile of the rear tires increase energy efficiency. Three-wheeled vehicles have traditionally been the domain of motorbikes, but three-wheeled configurations are gaining popularity with electric car manufacturers – whether it be the one wheel front/two wheels rear configuration found in vehicles such as the VentureOne and ZAP XEBRA or the two wheel front/one wheel rear configuration found on vehicles such as the ZAP Alias, Campagna T-REX, Higgins-Aube ENERGYA and VW GX3 – with the weight reduction by losing one wheel one of the major factors contributing to their newfound popularity. The GT3 also features an in-car, integrated “black box” video and data recording system that provides continuous recording of vehicle location, G-force and speed. T3 Motion says the car has proven its mettle in rigorous driving tests, (a small sample of which can be seen in the video below), and clay modelling of the exterior body is underway. T3 Motion is taking pre-orders for the GT3, which will be priced between US$35,000. For more information just visit their website below.
www.t3motion.com
