Hot to Trotter: in the filter lane with electric three-wheeler
A THREE-WHEELED electric car that comes with a coffee machine sounds like one of Del Boy’s more eccentric schemes – but an entrepreneur hopes the idea will change attitudes towards a vehicle firmly associated with TV sitcom Only Fools and Horses.
Roman Muljar, an Estonian businessman, has designed a carbon-fibre threewheeled electric car that he plans to launch by next year.
The cheapest Nobe (pronounced Nobay) will have a range of 160 miles, a top speed of 90mph and a kerb weight of 850kg. It will seat two adults in the front and accommodate a child, dog or golf clubs in the back and can be driven by motorcycle licence holders.
Mr Muljar plans to make the cars next year in a Nottingham factory that will employ about 50 people. The UK factory will complement one in Tallinn and another in the US if the 59-yearold’s plan comes to fruition.
“The car is aimed at people who want to have something different in their life, somebody who loves our idea that finally there has been created a car that is not disposable,” said Mr Muljar. “As you drive it, people will smile at you. It’s a happy car we’re building.”
The car’s battery pack will be placed on its floor to improve stability over the original Reliant three-wheelers’.
Having three wheels makes the car more exciting to drive, said Mr Muljar. “When you’re doing 40, you feel like you’re doing 60, it corners way more aggressively than a four-wheel big box.”
Later versions are likely to include a coffee machine to provide espressos on the go. “I just love the idea of our customers enjoying a drive and then pulling over to make themselves a cup of coffee,” he said.