Meet the Higgins-Aubé Energya, your next EV lust

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Daily, Lightweight

click for more images of the Energya

From the people who brought you the Hinterland 1, that clone trooper eco-tank, comes something with a little less armor: the Energya three-wheeled vehicle. The tadpole-style Energya weighs just 350kg, with particular attention paid in the design period to reducing the weight of non-suspended components (its got an aluminum frame, for example) while “centralizing most of the mass closer to the vehicle center of gravity for enhancing dynamic performances.” Thanks to the three wheels of the Energya, Canadian company Higgins-Aubé Inc. wants to power the vehicle with a motorcycle engine connected to a six-speed manual tranny. Higgins-Aubé is without a doubt playing the it’s-not-a-car regs with the three-wheeled design. From today’s statement announcing the Energya, “Since the vehicle may do without many of the mandatory systems and components required on an automobile, the motomobile may consequently be made lighter, advantageously influencing its performances” (full statement after the jump).

Should the money from venture capitalists or others come flowing in, the Energya could be available within 18 months and, should everything go well “it is envisioned that the Energya[TM] motomobile will be offered as an electric vehicle. This will turn the electric-car stereotype on its head, as the same performance objectives will be maintained.” Bears watching, but what’s with the promo shots with the Energya digitally inserted into real photos?

Gallery: Higgins-Aube Energya