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PEVs go BugE, a new personal electric vehicle was introduced by Harvey Coachworks. Three wheels and completely electric, this PEV looks like a jet fighter's canopy and seats one person.
Living in a densely-populated urban area can be pretty tough if you’re a driver. Constant traffic, noise, and limited places to park create headaches any driver. However, a new generation of personal electric vehicles could make getting around the neighbourhood little easier.
The BugE, from Harvey Coachworks, is one such personal electric vehicle. A completely electric three-wheeled vehicle, the BugE seats one person under an open fairing. The fairing looks vaguely like a fighter jet’s canopy and allows the owner to use the vehicle for 3-1/2 seasons out of the year. The lack of doors or other windows makes getting in and out of the vehicle fairly easy. The open concept also allows ease of access to things like mailboxes and drive-thru windows.
The Cyclecar stance (two wheels in front, one in back) makes the vehicle fairly stable. The steering mechanism is more akin to a motorcycle’s handlebars. All vehicles controls, like the throttle, brake and ignition are located on the handlebars and operated by hand. For this reason, the BugE is registers as a motorcycle in most US states.
What really makes the BugE a nifty little vehicle is its small footprint. At only 93 inches long and 46 inches wide, the BugETM is remarkably manoeuvrable. The small size would make it a cinch to park in tight spots. Getting through traffic would also be a breeze as you’d be able to move into smaller spaces between cars. That doesn’t mean the car is too diminutive though. The overall height of the BugE is 52 inches, driving on 16 inch wheels, allowing the driver to sit shoulder-to-shoulder with drivers around him.
What should get urban drivers interested in the BugE is it’s affordability and low cost to run. The basic model from Harvey Coachworks is $9,295. However, it is a completely electric vehicle, running on rechargeable lead acid batteries (lithium-ion batteries are offered for higher end models). Charging is a simple task; just plug it into any house current available. It takes about four hours for the battery to reach a full charge. With a full battery, it costs about 1 cent per mile to drive the BugE. The base model has a range of about 40 miles and a maximum speed of 45 miles per hour. The vehicle weighs a feather light 385 pounds.
Whether the BugE will change the way urban dwellers get around remains to be seen, but for those worried about the environment, it is a step in the right direction.