Vanderhall electric 3-wheeler “on sale in Australia next year”
Question: what electric vehicle helps you stand out more than a Porsche Taycan or even a Lotus Evija?
Answer: an electric three-wheeler, specifically the Vanderhall Edison 2. For attracting most attention at (silent) school drop off or in the office carpark, it really has no equal. Best of all, it’s set to go on sale in Australia next year.
The Edison 2 is an American-made electric two-seater roadster, based on Vanderhall’s GM petrol-powered Venice version, which is something of an Instagram hero for the beautiful people.
The electric extrovert has been on sale in America since 2018 at US$34,950 ($50,000), featuring twin 52kW electric motors (one driving each front wheel) with a 28kWh battery pack. Output is 104kW and 315Nm giving a 0-100km/h time in under five seconds, while range is quoted at around 320 kilometres.
In Henry Ford tradition it seems your only body colour option is black; same for the interior and 10-spoke glossy 19-inch wheels. Heated seats come standard – helpful as there’s no roof or doors.
Vanderhall Australia has been established in Sunshine West on Melbourne’s fringes, and its director, Adam Merkle, said the brand’s three-wheelers are currently undergoing compliance to meet Australian Design Rules.
Mr Merkle confirmed three factory-produced right-hand-drive Vanderhalls were in the country for compliance, one of these an Edison 2 electric version.
“They’re still 12 months from release (in Australia) but we plan to have dealers in place by June 2021 in most states,” he said.
Regarding price, Mr Merkle said it would depend on the US dollar exchange rate at time of Australian release, and how much work was needed for compliance. A ballpark figure between $60-65,000 was suggested.
Mr Merkle reports strong local interest in the three-wheelers, and expects the Edison 2 to be our strongest seller. Exactly who’ll sell them is still being determined, but he hopes they’ll be in standalone showrooms, either independent or separately attached to an existing motorcycle dealer.
Coronavirus restrictions mean Mr Merkle hasn’t been able to visit potential dealers or welcome people to view the Vanderhalls. As much as EVcentral would love a test, for now we have to rely on Mr Merkle’s assessments.
“I’m in my early 50s and have always been into bikes, but of everything I’ve ridden, the excitement of these is way out there,” he said. “Especially the Edison 2. It’s just one hell of a blast. It’s something completely different and the acceleration’s amazing.”
His thoughts are echoed by one Jay Leno, who has done a little video review, claiming the Edison 2 is “like a sports car, fun to drive, reasonably lightweight and handles terrifically. This one (the electric) is more fun because it’s guilt-free and just about as fast as the gas one.”
Vanderhall is currently expanding its Utah factory for increased model production, including the recently-teased – and arguably outdoing the Edison 2 on the coolness scale – Navarro all-electric off-road buggy.
