Dragonfly Three Wheeler Autocycle

Why? Missing from our road going vehicle choices is something halfway between a motorcycle and a car... something that can provide the fun and thrill of a motorcycle, with the all-weather capability and usability of a car.

Could this be Electric?

Yes, this design is ideal for Electric. Wind drag increases exponentially with speed, and plays a large role in EV Range on the highway. The natural tear drop shape of the forward seating and rear engine can minimize wind drag and increase range on the highway, thus reducing required battery size/weight. The weight savings then contribute to city efficiency. So it makes perfect sense as an alternative to the big heavy four wheel EVs on the road today.

What does "100% fun" mean ?

The forward seating provides an entirely new level of excitement. The connection with the road is akin to driving a motorcycle. Some people have said it’s like flying. Others have said it’s the best thing since a rollercoaster. One thing for sure… it’s entirely unique and 100% fun!

Our Patented Design

What's the secret sauce ? We have designed the world's first mid/rear engine, front wheel drive three wheel vehicles... what we consider to be the optimum approach for a three wheeler.

Why two wheels in front ?

It’s more stable. Most modern three wheel vehicle designs have recognized the advantages and adopted this approach.

Why front wheel drive ?

Two driven front wheels provide double the traction (instead of one rear wheel).

Why place the engine in the rear or mid section ?

It puts the variable weight of the passengers at the widest part of the vehicle (between the front wheels). That provides the best center of gravity for performance, which is very important for a three wheeler. A side benefit is that it allows for more interesting vehicle shapes.

Why do others have rear, single wheel drive?

It is cheaper to produce and requires the least engineering. But the stability and traction issues give three wheelers a bad reputation.

Why the Excitement about Electric ?

Dragonfly's teardrop shape is naturally aerodynamic, which is important since wind drag and weight are the primary issues with getting good highway range. Wind drag is an exponential function, meaning that smaller increases in speed (say between 55 and 70 mph) require much more power, which hurts your range. Thus the goal is to have aerodynamic vehicle shapes, which in turn require fewer batteries to achieve the same range. Batteries are really heavy... a 60 KWH pack can be upward of 900 lbs. Reducing this weight really helps reduce the required power on inclines (especially at highway speeds) , and also saves around town with starting and stopping less weight.

Thus, the natural shape and lower power/battery requirements make the Dragonfly ideal for electric and can add interesting options in the EV space.

What about Solar or "Solar Electric Vehicle" ?

Adding solar panels will provide a 'trickle' charge to the batteries. Whether this 'trickle' charge is enough to be realistically useful depends on the number and size of the panels, as well as the aero and electric efficiency of the vehicle. In other words, does the actual charge provided by the panels translate into enough vehicle miles to be useful? Or are you going to need a 110V outlet to fully charge each night in addition to the solar? And if you need 110V charger each night to get to work in the morning, are the solar panels actually useful or just added cost and weight? And is parking in the sun simply baking the interior and requiring more Air Conditioning which reduces range? These are great questions, and we are evaluating options and approaches as we design the E series. Stay tuned as we progress !