A three wheeled car is an automobile having either one wheel in the front for steering and two at the rear for power, two in the front for steering and one in the rear for power, or any other combination of layouts.
Having one wheel in front and two in the rear for power reduces the cost of the steering mechanism, but greatly decreases stability. However, a configuration of two wheels in the front and one wheel at the back has many strong proponents among automotive designers and enthusiasts. Two advantages are its improved aerodynamics, and that it readily enables small lightweight motorcycle powerplants and rear wheels to be used.
Like four wheels cars, three wheels cars can have an electric engine and can be in the same time green cars.
A three-wheeler car from Venture
Venture develop a car for two passenger, three-wheeled vehicle powered by either a pure plug-in electric or plug-in hybrid petrol-electric powertrain. The name of the car is VentureOne, and the model is designed and built on the existing Carver three-wheeler already available in Europe.
Even if the car has a single front wheel, VentureOne has more in common with a conventional car than a motorcycle due to the fully enclosed cabin, upright seating position, steering wheel, foot pedals and gear stick.
The VentureOne will be available in three configurations including the Venture d50 Hybrid Drive which has a 50 kW powertrain, the faster Venture Q100 Hybrid Drive which has a 100 kW powertrain (giving the Q100 a 120 mph / 193 km/h top speed!) and the all-electric Venture EV which has a 40 kW powertrain and reduced range, but zero emissions. In addition to the low-emission, flex-fuel Hybrid model, a zero-emission all-electric version is also being developed that will have an all-electric range of nearly 200 miles.
Safety features being integrated into the design include a chrome-moly steel roll-cage, collapsible steering column, side impact rails, driver’s airbag and break-away engine mount. Three-point driver and passenger seatbelts, safety glass, digital traction control and ABS are all standard safety elements.
Brontes three-wheeled vehicle with zero emissions
This car is a concept car called Brontes, and it’s designed by Spanish car designer Marco Aurelio Galan Henriquez. Brontes runs on electric engine giving you a sustainable city driving. This environmentally friendly car seats two passengers and features amazing exterior looks. The concept car is powered by a lithium-ion battery that powers its electric engines. The car is not designed for speed performances, and in this case do not expect high speed or long-distance driving range as the car uses just 3 wheels.
According to its designer, the car measures 2, 7 meters in length, 1, 8 meters in width and 1, 34 meters in height. Thanks to its electric engine, the Brontes car features a silent cruising.
Circulus ecofriendly three-wheeler concept car
Designer Santosh Chawla’s Circulus Concept was intended to be a compact vehicle which pleases it’s occupants in every way. The concept, a result of innovation, creativity and futuristic thinking, will be made from recycled materials and would be powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
The car front is omni-directional, so the sphere can roll to any direction, where as the rear provides more stability and braking. If the driver wants, it can turn 360º on a dime. The sphere is controlled by an independent engine connected to an intelligent system that recognizes every movement. The engine is to be located toward the rear as well.
Marotti trike, a three-wheeler car
The Marotti is a radically styled trike developed in Poland. This aerodynamic monster looking like a jet is supposed to be a street legal model. The two vertical fins at the back of the Marotti are not just for show however, they are in fact constructed from heavy duty steel and designed to act as rollover protection in the event of a crash.
This super light bicycle weighs 970 pounds and runs on a Honda V4 750cc engine generating 100 horsepower at 11 000 revolutions per minute. The transmission consists of 6 sequential forward gears and an electric powered reverse gear.
Being a fusion between a bike and a car, this powerful trike is as much intuitive and safe as a car while as dynamic as a bike. This state of the art model features a low center of gravity while its light weight in tandem with its tires makes it possible for a trike to turn at high speeds. This single seat trike incorporates 2 vertical fins at the rear which are specifically constricted for rollover protection in case of a road accident.
Nanus three-wheeled car concept
Designed to be a small car, the Nanus appears to be a charming three wheeled car for a smooth city driving. Conferring a dynamic and reliable look to the three-wheeled cars, designer David Vega has come up with an electrical concept vehicle with sleek and polished silver colored body, specially designed keeping the busy traffic situation of urban areas in mind.
The vehicle is light, small and economic, can be used by two passengers, and have all the characteristics that may require to maximize the city mobility along with stimulating the green technology.
Stauro three-wheeled concept car
Engineered by seven design team members under the guidance of qualified industrial designer Taylor Welden also in tandem with engine inventor Harry Schoell, this three wheeled car called Stauro is a smart vehicle designed for a city driving.
Featuring an exoskeleton made from 100% recycled aluminum, the Stauro also includes 3form ecoresin body panels and an orange-oil powered steam engine, capable of producing up to 700HP, for brisk movement on the road. The 3-wheeled concept vehicle can accommodate two passengers comfortably within, while the compact size makes it an ideal vehicle for cramped urban parking spaces. In short, the Stauro is an ideal combo of form, function and sustainability.
Moby three-wheeled concept car
Moby concept car is a 3 wheeled battery powered modular car. This concept car is developed by designer WooJin Chung who demonstrates its sustainable electricity powered car.
The rear of the concept functions as a docking system and can be replaced by a high capacity battery or another passenger seat. It has a small footprint on the road, almost half of “ordinary” four wheelers.
Driving this car will resemble you mostly motorcycling with its small footprint to be left on the road. As you could have noticed, this concept car features no doors with just big circular entrances to make your entry more comfortable with more flexibility of your seating area.
