The madly punk Morgan 3 Wheeler’s electric cousin, the equally bonkers yet zero-emission EV3, was an absolute favorite at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. Packing an army of brass conductive cooling fins instead of the traditional V-twin engine and an offset monocle headlight, the concept represented a brave step forward by the most traditional brand in the business, both in terms of design and technology. And as such, its development came with its ups and downs.
While we were hoping to see it on the road in 2017, that plan went out the window once Morgan decided to look for another powertrain supplier. They found it in none other than the British engineering firm Frazer-Nash, creators of the Metrocab, the electric London taxi challenging Geely’s EV.
With Frazer-Nash’s gizmos onboard, the Morgan EV3 will have a range of 120 miles while promising “the same exhilarating driving experience as the gasoline version.” Morgan also says that with the new drivetrain, the EV3 will have “greater performance with rapid charging technology, proven reliability, a lower center of gravity and greater acceleration over and above what was previously expected.”
The tech jammed into the 3 Wheeler’s tubular space frame includes a 21 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, and a liquid-cooled 46.5 horsepower (56 hp at peak) Frazer-Nash A010229 motor driving the rear wheel.
While 56 horsepower may not sound like a lot at first, Morgan has replaced the 3 Wheeler’s aluminum body panels with carbon fiber ones, pushing the EV3’s weight below 1100 lbs. Add instant peak torque to that picture, and start smiling.
Production of the EV3 will begin in Q3 of 2018 at Morgan’s Pickersleigh Road factory.
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