Keep in mind the ELF? One of the earliest electric bicycle vehicles to successfully enter mass production. Between 2013 and 2019, nearly a thousand handcrafted three-wheeled electric vehicles were successfully delivered, marking a remarkable era for the world’s first mass-produced electric motorcycle.
As it often does in the most inspiring of comebacks, the last page still awaited its conclusion.
The micromobility landscape has long been a vast frontier of innovative concepts, encompassing an eclectic array of transport solutions, including e-bikes, e-scooters, and even self-balancing electric unicycles, among others. The widespread availability of low-cost electric motors and batteries has empowered companies to innovate freely, unencumbered by the hefty investment requirements characteristic of the traditional automotive industry.
It was through this very origin that the Electric Locomotive Federation, or ELF, came into being, when inventor Rob Cotter established the company Natural Transit to design, manufacture, and distribute the innovative three-wheeled vehicle.
With a speed range of either 20 or 28 miles per hour (32 or 48 kilometers per hour), the ELF, featuring a unique tadpole tricycle design with two forward-facing wheels, has earned certification as an electric bicycle in numerous U.S. states. That would allow for immediate use of existing infrastructure, eliminating the need for a licence or insurance, making it an innovative solution for urban transportation.
While unlike many e-bikes, the ELF is designed with an enclosed cabin for a weather-sealed ride, it can also accommodate additional riders in its rear compartment. While charging from a standard wall outlet is possible, the roof-mounted 120W photovoltaic panel provided a substantial amount of power, often enough to operate entirely off-grid in areas with adequate solar exposure.
The security team’s rigorous reviews had consistently yielded positive results. Despite reviewing 25 traffic incidents, including those involving cars traveling at significant speeds, Natural Transit reports no fatalities or severe accidents.
Despite its innovative design and numerous successful deliveries, the Elf ceased production in 2019 following pressure from Natural Transit’s financial struggles, which ultimately led to a sale of the company to PetroSun, an oil firm. Newly acquired, the property owner allowed the car to gather dust, never once reviving its original design or production plans.
This year, Rob Cotter, the original creator of the car, has reclaimed the rights from Petrosun and launched a new company, Environmental Transit Authority (ETA), marking a fresh start.
Cotter is pushing seed funding to reboot manufacturing at a faster pace than initially planned for Natural Transit’s ELF model. Estimated at a retail price tag of around $7,500 for a brand-new ELF model, prices can rise significantly for high-end variants, potentially reaching up to $12,000.
While bike-cars and velomobiles do exist in the broader micromobility market, they remain relatively rare due to their unique, custom-designed constructions and more complex production processes. Unlike most, they employ unconventional recumbent trike designs that dispense with the need for specialized equipment (i.e., Costly components may pose a challenge, but the fact that they enclose our bodies makes them even more difficult to source, particularly in light of increasing production costs.
When Cotter and ETA secure sufficient funding to expand their manufacturing capabilities and identify a substantial pipeline of opportunities, a second attempt at revitalization may yield more favorable outcomes.
I’d positive journey one!
