Why three wheels instead of four?
We are able to achieve a high level of efficiency by using a lightweight, yet strong, tubular steel chassis inspired by race cars, coupled with an aerodynamic body. Our unique three-wheel design guarantees less rolling resistance at all speeds and the aerodynamic body significantly reduces drag at higher speeds. The Defiant is a three-wheel vehicle as defined by the Highway and Transportation Board and as such it is included in the definition of a "Motorcycle"; Our roadster complies in every way with the safety requirements and regulations applicable to a motorcycle; and in fact, complies with many of the safety features of a standard car.

As a motorcycle do we have to wear helmets and get a motorcycle license?
In October 2013, the American Association of Motor Vehicles Administrators (AAMVA), a national authority on best policy for all state DMVs and Licensing Bureaus, recommended that fully enclosed, three-wheel vehicles, such as the Defiant, be driven with a standard driver’s license. Additionally, they defined this special class of motorcycle as an Autocycle. For additional details, please see the Best Practices for the Regulation of Three-Wheel Vehicles. California, Oregon and most other states exempt the driver of an enclosed tree-wheeled vehicle from the requirement of obtaining a motorcycle license. Additionally, California, Oregon and most other states also exempt the occupants of a three-wheeled vehicle from the requirement of wearing a helmet if the passengers are enclosed. The roll bar installed on our production vehicles will extend the exemption to our Roadsters even when the top is removed! Of course, check with your state to be sure.

Is stability as issue?
Three factors determine the stability of a three wheeled vehicle, regardless of the design (tadpole vs delta); weight distribution, center of gravity, and how wide is the track. The Defiant is not designed like a top-heavy ATV. The ultra-low center of gravity and wide track produces a stable ride with no more possibility of a rollover than you would find in a conventional car. Mr. Robert Q. Riley, a noted expert in three-wheel vehicles and designer of the Trimuter, had this to say about vehicle stability,  “A conventional, non-tilting three-wheel car can equal the rollover resistance of a four wheel car, provided the location of the center-of-gravity (cg) is low and near the side-by-side wheels.”   This is exactly how we have designed our roadsters – and our design was validated by the Québec Institute for Advanced Transportation (ITAQ).

What kind of battery system do you use?
The electric roadster is designed around a 144-volt system. The standard option is a Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) large format, prismatic battery system. This is not the same lithium battery in size or format that is used in the Tesla, Chevy Volt, or Nissan Leaf. Some electric vehicles use cells similar in design and size to laptop batteries. The larger size, LiFePO4, prismatic battery cells that we use do not suffer from the thermal instability issues that must be dealt with when thousands of smaller cells are combined to create a battery system. These batteries are able to deliver greater charge density while improving system reliability when compared to thousands of the smaller, cylindrical cell format. Our design also minimizes points of failure and increases serviceability by using fewer cells to achieve the desired system voltage. Since the Lithium battery weighs substantially less than the Lead-acid counterpart, rolling resistances and inertia is reduced and acceleration is improved. To better meet your driving needs, we are offering three different Lithium Iron Phosphate battery sizes. However, should you desire a conventional (Lead-Acid) battery system we will provide that as well. For additional details on the safety of LiFePO4 batteries, please see, “A General Discussion of Li Ion Battery Safety” by Dan Doughty and E. Peter Roth.

How fast will the electric roadster go?
Under typical driving conditions our high performance electric roadster will have a top speed of over 70 MPH. However, vehicle speed varies depending on temperature, terrain, driving style, road conditions, and vehicle payload.

How far will the electric car go?
The range of the electric car is a function of many factors. Driving habits, cruising speed, the terrain, temperature, how big the battery pack is, the overall weight of the car, all influence the range of an electric car. As our vehicle is lightweight (but very strong because of our tubular steel construction), even Lead-acid batteries, provide a range of about 50 miles per charge at 40 miles per hour. With the recommended Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries, the single charge range is 80 to 100 miles and the daily range is up to 200 miles. The roadster comes equipped with a standard Lithium Iron Phosphate battery system that provides a single charge range of up to 50 miles and a daily range of about 100 miles. The largest battery system provides an estimated 175 miles per charge and up to 250 miles per day. At modest speeds, the roadster requires just over 100 watts of electricity to travel one mile. The roadster can travel about 50 miles on the electricity needed to produce just one gallon of gasoline!

How long does it take to charge an electric vehicle?
Our electric cars are designed to plug into any conventional 120 volt outlet. Typically it takes about 8 hours for a full charge, and 4 to 6 hours for an 80% charge. Most of the time, charging is done at night when electrical loads are lowest (and off peak rates may apply). For long distance commutes, the car can also be charged during the day while the driver is at work.

How much does it cost to run?
Normally it costs about a dollar to charge the batteries ($1.75 to recharge our largest LiFePO4 battery); so at that rate, it costs a little over a penny a mile for electricity. Battery depreciation will add another three or four cents a mile to the operating costs. Research shows that maintenance and repair for the electric roadster will be less than 10% of the cost of a typical automobile. Under normal use, our roadster can pay for itself in less than 6 years!

How often do I have to replace the batteries?
Lead-acid batteries may be used and will last about 3 years depending upon how you drive and take care of your batteries. In typical driving, this equates to about 18,000 to 20,000 miles. The Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries (recomended) last two to three times longer than conventional batteries.

Is insurance an issue?
No, insurance is typically not a problem to obtain. Our roadsters register as a motorcycle.

Why electric vehicles over hybrids or fuel cells?
While Hybrids are leaps and bounds ahead of pure internal combustion vehicles they do still use fossil fuel and do still pollute a great deal. Fuel cells are still in the research and development phase and may be decades away from economical commercial production; electric vehicles are available now.

Why Alternating Current motors?
We knew we had to use either a brushless, direct current (BLDC) motor or an alternating current (AC) motor in order to achieve effective regenerative braking. Our goal is to keep the design simple and cost effective, so the preproduction version of the roadster is using an AC motor.

What equipment is standard on the roadsters?
An AM/FM Radio CD with MP3/USB port, cockpit heater, 12-volt power outlet, 144-volt lithium battery, adjustable driver seat, on-demand regenerative braking system, and defroster are standard equipment on the roadsters. Optional equipment includes removable hardtop, sunroof, air conditioning, sport rims, and certain high capacity battery combinations (three different battery capacities available).

Why drive our electric roadster?
Ecology, Economy, Excitement!™