A three-wheeled, all-electric roadster made by US-based Vanderhall will launch in Australia in the latter half of 2021.
The attention-getting, retro-styled Edison² is not your average vehicle: sitting somewhere between a trike and a small sportscar, it is uncommon in that it does not require a motorbike licence or for the driver to wear a helmet.
Speaking with The Driven, Merkle says that he thinks interest in the Edison² – which be priced above $60,000 depending on how the Australian dollar performs next year – will be strong.
“The product speaks for itself when you look at it,” Merkle says, adding that the feeling when driving it is, “amazing.”
With more than 300km estimated driving range, the Edison² has a 28.8kWh battery and can be charged on AC points in around 6 hours.
Built on an aluminium mono frame with an ABS composite body, it is fitted with two motors – both on the front axle – that each output 52kW power, and F1-inspired push rod suspension to give the vehicle its exciting handling (as you can see in the clip below).
“It has amazing handling,” says Merkle. “You cannot get one of those front wheels to come up no matter how hard you handle it, and believe me I’ve tried.”
In terms of technology, Merkle says for a retro-style vehicle the Edison² doesn’t disappoint.
It has a Bluetooth audio connection and sound system, offers cruise control and electric power steering, and even has heated seats (he assures us that it is still a lot of fun to drive even in cold conditions).
Old-school dials show power output and regen, battery status and temperature management (Vanderhall’s website says the battery is passively cooled).
Price-wise, Merkle thinks the Edison² will be worth every cent, and says that while pricing will be finalised in 2021 it will compare favourably next to other vehicles with “cool” pedigree like the Mini Cooper SE (which sells from just under $60,000) and the Harley Davidson Livewire motorbike (which sells for around $50,000).
While not a fully-fledged car per se, Merkle says it still has storage space behind the back seats and can be fitted with a luggage rack for more old-style cool.
The Edison² is currently undergoing compliance testing and will be launched after dealers open in mid-2021, says Adam Merkle, who runs importer and distributor Vanderhall Australia.
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.