A tiny automaker from Malta has revealed the Valene Black Mamba, a prototype electric three-wheeler packing up to 600 kW.
Silex Power has created a new company called Valene Motors, which says it hopes to put the vehicle – measuring 3,71 metres in length – into production soon, with the aim of starting deliveries in 2017.
The company says it will offer the Black Mamba with in-hub rear wheel electric motors with outputs ranging from 80 kW to 600 kW.
The least powerful version, it says, will be able to hit 100 km/h from zero in just 4,2 seconds. And with the 50 kWh battery pack fitted (there will also be 15 kWh and 30 kWh versions available), the trike will offer “up to 500 km” on a single charge. Two rather optimistic claims, if you ask us…
Still, the company says this is possible thanks to the Black Mamba’s lightweight construction. The chassis is formed from steel and aerospace aluminium, with the option of titanium alloy elements. The body, meanwhile, is fashioned from seamless steel tubing and composites.
Valene Motors says it is accepting pre-orders for the vehicles, with “no commitment and no deposit at this time”. Placing a pre-order puts the potential buyer in line to receive a unit once it is commercially available in 2017.
And pricing? Well, Valene Motors says the Black Mamba will start from €35 000 (around R545 000)…
