Defiant EV3 Roadster review

Young company from the state of Tennessee developed indigenous three-wheeler that comprises retro design and modern technologies.

12/14/15 4:00 am chumakdenis 1

Three-wheelers that run on electric power alone are quite rare.

And retro-looking all-electric three-wheelers are so rare, that chances of you meeting someone driving three-wheeled electric vehicle like Defiant EV3 Roadster on the road are so slim, that it’s almost impossible.

Therefore, I do feel honored writing an article about such a rare guest as Defiant EV3 Roadster.

Let’s not waste any more time and delve into the details.

Defiant EV3 Roadster

The Defiant EV3 Roadster is the child of the Shockwave Motors Company.

The vehicle resembles racing car DeltaWing produced by Nissan and its sporty look do tell us about it.

However, unlike the DeltaWing, it relies completely on electric power—20+ kW motor combined with manual transmission— and has completely different look—it’s quite hard not to notice, is it?

Three-wheeler has a range of 80(130 miles) to 100 miles (160 kilometers) and a top speed of 75 miles per hour (120km/h).

Charging

In terms of charging, everything is quite easy.

Just plug it into any standard 120-volt outlet for about 8 or 9 hours for a complete recharge and the Defiant EV3 rRoadste will be ready to drive another 100 miles (160 kilometers).

Also, there are available two levels of charging:

*Level 1 – 8-9 hours (full cycle charge);

*Level 2- 3-4 hours (not full cycle charge). 

*Level 2 charging is not recommended to use very often.

On the road

The Defiant EV3 Roadster is not a racing car.

It has only 30 horsepower and in the contemporary world – it’s really nothing.

However, we decided not to be way too prejudiced and decided to give three-wheeler a shot.

As it turned out, everything is not about horsepower.

The electric roadster is lightweight, aerodynamic, herewith, rolling resistance is smaller.

Much power is not needed to get down the road.

The vehicle can do the same ‘tricks ‘with a smaller battery pack.

We’re kind of strongly impressed by that, really.

Drivers that like to hit the pedal to the metal won’t be disappointed.

That’s for sure.

Specifications

Range

Depending on the battery option selected, the single charge commuting range of the roadster is up to 200 miles (321 kilometers), and the daily range is up to 325 miles (523 kilometers). Actual range depends on driving habits, cruising speed, the terrain, and temperature.

Carrying Capacity

The electric commuter is designed to comfortably carry a driver and two passengers; plus has plenty of room for cargo in the spacious trunk.

Chassis

Ground-up design and tubular steel construction gives us a lightweight and strong chassis with racecar like passenger protection. The low center of gravity provides a smooth and stable ride, even under adverse weather conditions.

Top Speed

Electric roadster has a top speed of over 75 miles per hour (120km/h) and can accelerate from 0 to 60 in about 10 seconds.

Suspension

 *dual A arm suspension ;

*coil over shocks ;

*2 rear 250 pound springs;

* 2 front 150 pound spring.

Transmission

Two speed, clutch-less Transaxle, with electrical reverse. On demand, regenerative braking.

Price

As you might know, uniqueness is the thing that must be paid for.

Shockwave Motors wants $24,950 (tax incentives included) for this vehicle – price will be higher if you’ll want air conditioning system pre-installed and battery with higher capacity.

For the same price you can buy, for instance, brand-new Nissan Leaf or two Twizys.

Nonetheless, we reckon that the Shockwave Motors focuses on a little bit different category of buyers.

Additionally, the vehicle has its own aces in the hole –vehicle is classified as a motorcycle, thus, you don’t need driving license to ride it. Besides, three-wheeler has such gizmos a stereo system, heater, and defroster in a standard model.

Cool, isn’t it?

 

“Our solution is to provide a high performance, yet relatively low cost, electric car that the average consumer can afford. We are designing into the roadster key safety features including: seatbelts, roll cage protection, extra spacing between the front occupant and the sides of the car, and front and rear crumple zones. Our full sized, pure electric car, is roadworthy and very stable. The Canadian Institute for Advanced Transportation (ITAQ), working in association with three Canadian universities, validated the design of our electric roadster. An electric vehicle offering high speed, superior efficiency, and long range, all at an affordable price, will have a disruptive impact on today’s market.”