Like many guys, when I was about 13 or 14 I was into drawing the cars of the future. To my hormonal and inexperienced cauldron of a prepubescent brain, the cars I drew were clearly superior to the dull people-movers that adults seemed to appreciate. But in reality, the cars I imagined we’d all be driving when I got to be 30 looked more like they plopped right out of an episode of Robotech than something anyone other than a prepubescent teenager could take seriously.
Which is why, when I saw the pics for Honda’s newly unveiled 3R-C EV, I thought, “Wow! That is something my 13 year old self would have thought was totally wicked!”
The 3R-C, set to debut at the Geneva Auto Show, is a three-wheeled electric concept car that represents Honda’s vision of the future for small EVs–fitting somewhere in the nether land between a motorcycle and a car.
Although there are scant few details right now, Honda says the concept’s batteries and electric drivetrain would be mounted low between the 3 wheels to keep the center of gravity low and improve stability. The vehicle has a clear canopy that folds down to cover the cockpit while it’s parked; and when the three-wheeler is moving, the canopy transforms into a windshield.
Honda says the driver is afforded significantly more protection in the 3R-C than in a motorcycle due to the “enveloping” canopy, bodywork and doors, which “reduce the threat from side impacts and improve weather protection.” The 3R-C also has some lockable trunk space on the front, which Honda claims provides “significant” storage for luggage and cargo.
Granted, the 3R-C is only a concept, but it represents what I see as a strange emerging design theme among many major auto manufacturers to present ultra-skinny green-mobiles that look weird. We also saw it last year with Nissan’s Land Glider concept and VW’s L1. Honestly, I don’t have anything against ultra-skinny ecocars… far from it actually… I might even buy one myself. But I just wonder why the manufacturers have to present them in such an abnormal package? If the goal is to spur acceptance, why make them look strange?
Autocar UK speculates that “The trend for this type of vehicle is thought to be related to potential legislation in the US that could split lanes on multi-lane roads in two for use by these narrow single seaters.” What potential legislation that is, I don’t know. Even if that’s true, and three-wheelers are the trend of the future, let’s make some that the average person could drive around without feeling foolish.
In the meantime, let your 13 year old self revel in the Robotech coolness that is the 3R-C.
Source: Honda
Check out the full press release on the next page
PDF Pages: 1 2
Umm, let me guess. It costs about $100,000 and doesn’t protect you from the rain. It goes about 30 miles before needing a recharge and it needs 27 hours to accomplish that. The “concept” behind this one-man traffic-accident-waiting-to-happen is to turn people off electric vehicles by making them seem cartoonish, un-family-friendly, and a weekend toy for rich yuppies and their Starbucks.
Am I in the ballpark here?
Doug,
IF it ever makes it to production, you mean? I agree totally about the traffic accident and making EVs out to be the odd play toys of rich yuppies… which is exactly the opposite image of what we need to get things done.
Umm, let me guess. It costs about $100,000 and doesn’t protect you from the rain. It goes about 30 miles before needing a recharge and it needs 27 hours to accomplish that. The “concept” behind this one-man traffic-accident-waiting-to-happen is to turn people off electric vehicles by making them seem cartoonish, un-family-friendly, and a weekend toy for rich yuppies and their Starbucks.
Am I in the ballpark here?
Doug,
IF it ever makes it to production, you mean? I agree totally about the traffic accident and making EVs out to be the odd play toys of rich yuppies… which is exactly the opposite image of what we need to get things done.
Regarding public perception, car advertisers will infer the idea that commuter cars taking up an entire lane look fat, wasteful, and slow – something like PCs on the PC/Mac commercials. Once the idea takes hold, it will be like shooting fish in a barrel; the wide cars of today will be viewed as the bloated station wagons of the past.
People will get used to the look once they start to realize all of the benefits associated with driving ultra-narrow cars. Jay Leno talks about this in his interview with Rick Woodbury, the inventor of the Tango:
http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/at-the-garage/electric/tango-electric/
Let’s hope the linked article’s speculation about legislation promoting special lanes for narrow cars is accurate.
Regarding public perception, car advertisers will infer the idea that commuter cars taking up an entire lane look fat, wasteful, and slow – something like PCs on the PC/Mac commercials. Once the idea takes hold, it will be like shooting fish in a barrel; the wide cars of today will be viewed as the bloated station wagons of the past.
People will get used to the look once they start to realize all of the benefits associated with driving ultra-narrow cars. Jay Leno talks about this in his interview with Rick Woodbury, the inventor of the Tango:
http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/at-the-garage/electric/tango-electric/
Let’s hope the linked article’s speculation about legislation promoting special lanes for narrow cars is accurate.
Pretty, but impractical. I agree with no rain protection, and I can hardly see someone driving this thing out to go get the groceries (no space, and there’s no way you could take a friend with you. So I guess this would be great for single anti-social rich people who just want to drive around looking cool and have someone else driving a normal car to do their errands for them?
Pretty, but impractical. I agree with no rain protection, and I can hardly see someone driving this thing out to go get the groceries (no space, and there’s no way you could take a friend with you. So I guess this would be great for single anti-social rich people who just want to drive around looking cool and have someone else driving a normal car to do their errands for them?
As well take into consideration the fact that if you get in a wreck and have to get cut/pulled out by the Fire Dept, it is very hazardous to Firefighters to cut into electric cars due to the high voltage lines that are in the car, which make it very hard to save people.
As well take into consideration the fact that if you get in a wreck and have to get cut/pulled out by the Fire Dept, it is very hazardous to Firefighters to cut into electric cars due to the high voltage lines that are in the car, which make it very hard to save people.
I totally disagree with most of the comments here. First of all, discussions about the future prize is purely speculative. If these types of vehicles become popular, the produces will find ways to lower to prize. Then, most of the time (90% more) only one person uses a car leaving 3-4 empty seats which is quite uneconomical. So cars with more than 2 seats wont be the vehicley of the future. For situations where more space is needed (for example for the weekend holidys with the family or when moving to a knew house), people will just rent a car or buy a ticket for public transport. Alternatively one can imagine that each family/household will have 1 “normal car” and multiple of these oneseaters. For my part, i am really amazed by this concept and i am eagerly waiting for new pictures and informations.
I totally disagree with most of the comments here. First of all, discussions about the future prize is purely speculative. If these types of vehicles become popular, the produces will find ways to lower to prize. Then, most of the time (90% more) only one person uses a car leaving 3-4 empty seats which is quite uneconomical. So cars with more than 2 seats wont be the vehicley of the future. For situations where more space is needed (for example for the weekend holidys with the family or when moving to a knew house), people will just rent a car or buy a ticket for public transport. Alternatively one can imagine that each family/household will have 1 “normal car” and multiple of these oneseaters. For my part, i am really amazed by this concept and i am eagerly waiting for new pictures and informations.
Um.. winter? Snow? Cold? Fail….
I agree with most of the comments here, Douglas and Dave have made some valid comments. It is frustrating to see the motor industry taking it’s time to adapt to these new ideas, but the demand is driving by the consumers and legislation. Currently we don’t have the technology to make these vehicles viable and affordable, but Look at the variety of electric cars available in China now. They may be crap but at least the manufacturers are making an effort to change people reliance on gas vehicles and as battery technology improves so would demand for the EVs. The 3R-C should be called a trike rather than a car.