Low Cost Means Bypassing Traditional Channels (Sondors)Three-Wheeled Sondors Electric Car Costs Just $10,000
Low Cost Means Bypassing Traditional Channels (Sondors)
Electric vehicle company SONDORS (USA) first made waves in 2015 when it released its affordable electric bike with the help of plenty of creativity and a successful crowdfunding campaign. Now, the company is looking to disrupt the automotive industry by producing and selling a cheap electric car independently.
Low Cost Means Bypassing Traditional Channels
SONDORS says it isn’t cutting corners on technology or materials in order to keep prices low. In fact, the company claims that it’s willing to source ideas and tech globally so that it gets and delivers nothing but the best.
Getting an affordable, reliable electric car to the masses, says SONDORS, is a matter of online marketing, supplier-based warranties, and bypassing the auto dealerships which form part of conventional vehicle sales and supply.
The Car Itself
The three-seater, three-wheeled car looks perfectly conventional from the front, with only the single wide back wheel to indicate that there’s anything unusual about the car.
SONDORS CEO, Storm Sondors, says he wants the interior to be fully customizable – the prototype boasts a sporty-looking black interior with red trim. It doesn’t yet have much in the way of electronics, but he envisions a centralized touchscreen dashboard control that synchs with smartphones and the SONDORS app.
The vehicle was unveiled for public viewing at the LA Auto Show where members of the public and motoring journalists were complimentary in their opinions on the car’s distinctive looks.
From a practical perspective, the little roadster is expected to come with 75, 150, and 200 mile battery pack options and is reported to accelerate from 0 to 60 in 5 to 8 seconds. Safety features like traction control and airbags will come as standard.
Electric is coming⚡️ There are now more than 3 million electric vehicles on the road globally, up from only 100,000 a few years ago. #ElectricCar #ElectricForEveryone
Source: International Energy Agency pic.twitter.com/Hn9NZsXWCF
— SONDORS Electric Car (@SONDORSeCar) 30 August 2018
On the downside, some commentators worry about both the aesthetics and safety of a three-wheeler with some expressing the concern that SONDORS chose this configuration because safety requirements for 3-wheelers may be less stringent than they are for regular cars. However, SONDORS says that it plans to “meet and exceed” the safety standards that are applied to four-wheeled vehicles.
Sondors Electric Car Almost Ready to Roll
SONDORS says it hopes that the first of its cars will be delivered during 2019 and has opened pre-ordering for members of the public who’d like to be among the first to get one. The company says that deposits paid are fully refundable and will not be used as operating capital.