Last year, Maverick Electric launched the inverted three-wheeled electric vehicle "Tumbler" TOI, with a price of 128,000 yuan and the function of automatic parking, which caused a shock in the industry. This new product, which combines disruptive design and intelligent technology, tries to open up a high-end segment track in the two-wheeler Red Sea market.
TOI adopts an inverted three-wheel structure (two in the front and one in the rear), equipped with a self-developed self-balancing system, which adjusts the center of gravity in real time through the front two-wheel equalizer bar to achieve automatic anti-rollover during riding, and the 723mm body width takes into account flexibility, which can be easily controlled by novices.
The dual-motor 15kW power brings acceleration to 80km/h in 6.8 seconds, and is equipped with L2 assisted driving (including ACC cruise control and pre-collision warning) and automotive-grade airbags as standard, pushing the intelligence of three-wheeled vehicles to a new level.
The fully enclosed carport solves the pain point of traditional two-wheeled vehicles. In terms of power configuration, the 72V120Ah battery pack supports an ultra-long range of 200 kilometers, which is far 3-5 times higher than that of ordinary electric tricycles; With the support of lidar, the car can realize automatic parking, which is a great blessing for many elderly people with poor driving skills.
Product disputes focus on three major pain points:
The first is the cost-effective dispute, the price is close to the entry-level fuel vehicle (such as Wuling Hongguang S about 45,000 yuan), and it is doubtful whether the user is willing to pay for the "three-round premium";
The second is the right of way restriction, as a three-wheeled motorcycle requires a D permit and is subject to the city's traffic restriction policy, the first and second tier urban areas where the core users are generally prohibited from motorcycles;
The third is the awkward positioning, compared with the comfort of micro electric vehicles, compared with the price of two-wheeled vehicles is not as flexible, if you can't reduce costs on a large scale (target 8-100,000 yuan) or policy icebreaking, it may be difficult to get rid of the "light luxury toys" label.
Although the price of 128,000 yuan (18,000 US dollars for the overseas version) far exceeds that of traditional three-wheeled electric vehicles (1-20,000 yuan), it accurately targets three types of people: white-collar workers in first- and second-tier cities with an average daily commute of 30 kilometers, and a range of 200 kilometers can cover 2 weeks of use; Geek users who pursue a technological experience pay for black technologies such as self-balancing systems and assisted driving.
For female users who are concerned about handling, the small body + intelligent assistance lowers the driving threshold. The essence is to upgrade the means of transportation to "exquisite commuting equipment" to meet the dual needs of comfort and technology.
Summary:
Whether this "thinking tumbler" can be transformed from a concept car on the stand to a commuter car on the street ultimately depends on whether it can find a balance between price, policy and user needs. After all, the ultimate value of travel tools is always hidden in the details of "down-to-earth".