Spira4U: electric three wheeler built from foam and honeycomb composite

[@loungelizard836]

Great idea, good plan, could have "legs" if not for the price. Guaranteed they won't sell for more than $3K in China, and in the U.S. you can buy a used Leaf for the same price.

[@80hitultracombo]

This makes me think of that Top Gear episode where Jeremy Clarkson kept rolling that Reliant Robin. It was a funny episode.

[@danmar007]

80hitultracombo That and driving the Peel 50 through the BBC offices are probably the funniest things he's done. Just thinking about him now rolling over when turning makes me smile.

[@cartmanrlsusall]

80hitultracombo they are using a trailing arm front wheel so it doesn't tip like a Robin

[@thomasleemullins4372]

I think that is a neat little car. It looks like a lot of fun to drive. I think a more scooter or motorcycle style steering would be better than the tiller steering that it uses. I think that they could use an electric motor to give the gas engine version a way to go in reverse? It seems like an updated / modernized version of the P50 which also did not have a reverse (the Spira4u is a lot safer than the Peel P50).

[@milliamp]

This thing would roll over the first time you cornered at speed or stepped on the brakes in a turn. It's a foam reliant robin that's missing reverse.

[@gizmag]

***** Reliant and Robin were two of the first two words that came into my head when I saw it... But I did try throwing it into a few corners - not full lock hard but still pretty hard, and it didn't feel like it was even beginning to tip over... For what it's worth!

[@ronarmstrong835]

+milliamp The Reliant Robin's problem is suspension geometry. I imagine this has a better rake for the front steering.

[@steviewonder65]

+Ron Armstrong the one in front steering, two in back driving design is prone to rolling over when braking going into a turn and spinning out. two in front driving and steering, one in back just chilling is pretty stable in all forward travel.

[@ronarmstrong835]

+Stevie Wonder I agree 100 percent. Always better to go with the tadpole configuration. However, like everything else, design can be optimized to eliminate problems.

[@darasarveswaraguptanam823]

Respected sir , i appreciate for this invansion , i hope some aero dynamis model might be more efficient

[@Gigaguenther]

i love that it can be parked on its back

[@CharlieTribbey]

Needs a place to plug in your ipod! As for the EPO foam, i can attest from an R/C flier standpoint, that stuff is tough! (many crashes at first) and if you do break it, you can glue it back together with a 5 sec epoxy!! Sure it wouldn't stand up to a crash with a semi, that is simply basic physics. However, being in a place where traffic congestion is a severe issue, it really could change things.

[@04dram04]

This is for sale on Dallas Facebook marketplace right now

[@DexterMorgan]

"We've made it so you can run over pedestrians all day long!" - Spira4u Spokesperson.

[@BudahOfBirmingham]

Great thinking outside the box

[@MichaelJohnBattista]

great little article onwards #Spira4U

[@chris77777777ify]

That's cool. Looks fun.

[@chrisgreen8539]

I'd buy one.

[@kenbob1071]

Wow...so cool!

[@ronisworld2916]

Nice idea and concern for others. But foam? rain resistant?.... right...

[@skygirl341]

the two wheels should be in the front not back bad move on their design it will roll if you go more than 20mph

[@scg13803]

Keep people out of the roads saves lives. A foam car is no match to a 80k lb truck no matter how slow you go . And that plastic honeycomb ... Its called chloroplast , commonly used in polictical signs .. My modified freeway is a composition of fiberglass and corrugated paperboard steel subframe . Oh and 100 mpg ..

[@jangofet555]

half vehicle injury are of people outside the vehicle? why don't vehicle have foam on the outside right now? is it because it doesn't look good?

[@04dram04]

Im concerned how that foam body will stand up to summer sun

[@npr-sgtrangerrickringlemin3207]

only if this thing went 85mph we could go back to the future

[@DavidGame007]

Turn left to turn right ! right ?

[@noodlejoos]

I need it

[@NowAndThenEH89JW]

Really nice idea. If you can't lock it to some sort of anchoring point, then stupid drunk people will lift it and move it into say a nearby garden just for a laugh.

[@iBOOM]

It is a Renault Twizy without the Renault and without the Twizy

[@georgefenrich4119]

GREED, $7,000 to $9,000 is too much. IT IS MADE OF FOAM ! ! ! the Eilo is less than $8,000 and comes with a payment plan.

[@FoxEarGaming]

+George Fenrich My sentiments exactly... I would buy 50 elio cars before i bought one of these.

[@theshapeexists]

+George Fenrich Yea, not to mention you need to anchor it wherever you park it, otherwise someone could just pick it up and walk away with your $8000 foam mobile.

[@FoxEarGaming]

+theshapeexists or the wind would blow it away

[@FoxEarGaming]

+theshapeexists or the wind would blow it away

[@ProfessorFickle]

+George Fenrich and elio is closer to actual mass produciton

[@cartmanrlsusall]

a simple reverse trike would be easier for these people to develop

[@danmar007]

That's kind of cool. Great little car to drive around town doing the shopping especially considering how stupid and inconsiderate most motorists are in parking lots. Last time I saw Ballard he was standing next to a huge prototype bus powered by fuel cells. Talk about going from one extreme to another!

[@theloseph]

This thing is amateur hour compared to the Elio. No reserve? $9,000?

[@yulog]

Smelio is never going to happen, its a scam, not 1 fully functional tested car yet in 9 years and they are broke

[@sajinshakya5735]

wow they wanna save lives and make three wheel vehicle with single wheel in the front. oh the irony

[@6Twisted]

If you want it to be economical, it needs to be cheap..

[@Thepedell]

+6Twisted Are you like stupid? 6k for a car is cheap, 10k that is very cheap, so you're wrong, it is cheap, so it doesn't need to be cheaper, most motorcycles cost around 6k and cars typicalyl start at 15k-20k and then go up to 45k (average car).

[@6Twisted]

This is a glorified motorcycle made out of foam. You're comparing it to full sized vehicles made of out metal. And FYI, budget motorcycles, which I say this is, start at around 2k. Just look at some numbers. Spira4u (gas): $5000, 53mph, 200kg, 80mpg. Spira4u (electric): $9000, 62mph, 190kg. CB125F: $3000, 65mph, 130kg, 150mpg. Sinnis Apache 125: $2200, 75mph, 120kg, 115mpg.

[@muratduman5067]

süper ..

[@johnathansmith3819]

+Murat DUMAN - No room for your Eagle feathers, though.

[@muratduman5067]

+johnathan smith No room for what was not understood?

[@muratduman5067]

+johnathan smith Im TÜRK

[@THOMASTHESAILOR]

That would be illegal in Connecticut. A three wheeled vehicle can not be enclosed, Seats need to be 26 inches, and no more than 5 hp..

[@ronarmstrong835]

Intelligent people disregard legality as bullshit.

[@THOMASTHESAILOR]

LOL, It is Bullshit, but the Lawyer fee to get you out a Jail are very real..

[@BrunoGarcia79]

demasiado caro

[@jasonahbh4880]

Very very stupid design specially the hand bars.. Not comfy!!

[@holyshit2709]

Hopefully the chinese Will make a cheaper one.

[@rusdirus9242]

Spira oke

[@mikepict9011]

I mean honestly I don't wash my car anyway, so just worry about smell

[@sean8081a]

Machine gun steering lol

[@RidingJapan]

I don't buy the audio argument.

[@bsfibers]

Is this a fucking joke?

[@ebuff57]

junk