The SARIT battery operated micro car is being tested and may be on the road soon.
Testing will soon begin at Exhibition Place for tiny three-wheel electric ‘micro-vehicles’ that will be taking to our roadways to ease traffic congestion.
The new affordable vehicles, with a range of 100 kms a charge, is being hailed as a next-generation electric vehicles that will also solve parking problems and reduce pollution.
The two seaters are called SARIT, which means safe, affordable, reliable, innovative transit, is the brainchild of auto magnate Frank Stronach, who has entered an agreement to test the vehicles at the 192-acre Exhibition Place.
The Board of Governors of Exhibition Place was told on April 11 that a no-cost agreement has been reached for York University to test four of the micro battery operated vehicles.
The three-wheeler can travel for 100 kms with a single charge and will reduce pollution and parking issues.
The testing “will serve as a testbed for the SARIT Prototype, a three-wheeled micro mobility battery operated vehicle boasting a 100-kilometer range,” according to a report.
The partnership ‘aims to demonstrate how the integration of micromobility electric vehicles can contribute towards achieving the city’s greenhouse gas reduction targets, of a 45 percent reduction by 2025, 65 percent reduction by 2030, and net zero by 2040 from 1990 levels.’
“This collaboration aligns with the shared vision of both Exhibition Place and York University to diminish environmental impact and operational costs associated with fleet vehicles,” according to the report.
The SARIT micro car has a motorcycle type handlebar and throttle and carry two people.
It said the micro vehicles will not only diminish the environmental footprint, but also curtail the operational expenses associated with fleet vehicles.
The vehicles will be used by Exhibition Place’s staff to navigate the grounds, with the ability to drive between indoor and outdoor spaces and improve work efficiency thanks to their emission-free engines, the report Exhibition Place’s CEO Don Boyle stated.
The SARIT venture is backed by Stronach, a former politician who headed Magna International and Multimatic, whose team will refine the technology and tackle solutions for ride-sharing and accessibility.
The goal is to make the tiny vehicles accessible to the masses, and if approved we may see them on the roads soon.
Workers with the SARIT micro car that will be tested by workers at Exhibition Place before it hits the road.
The vehicle’s designers said they will not replace the car or SUV due to our winters but it will be great for short inner-city hops, where a bike would be too exposed.
“When you have a lot of traffic, most of the time you can get somewhere on a bike faster than you can in a car if you’re downtown Toronto,” designers said.
“The way I see it, gasoline will triple in price in three years. In eight years, gasoline will be rationed. That to me, it’s amazing that we have not heard the alarm bells,” Stronach said in an interview.
The micro-car is being hailed as being faster and cheaper to operate in downtown Toronto and will ease pollution, traffic congestion and parking issues.
The SARIT is three feet wide, 7.5 feet long and 5.5 feet high. It seats one comfortably, but if a passenger needs a ride the seatback can be slid rearward for cozy, motorcycle-style two-up seating.
There is a small ‘trunk’ behind the seatback that can fit a few grocery bags or a backpack, though that space compresses with two passengers.
The three-wheeler sports handlebar controls, with a twist throttle and brake handles; there are no pedals in here. A three-speed selector and forward/reverse selector are also on the bars.
There has been mixed reaction from motorists on social media.
“These vehicles will be no more road worthy than golf carts and there is no room on sidewalks, which is where they will end up traversing,” wrote Edward Rudnicki.
“It needs at least four doors, be 30 feet long and weigh 6 000-pounds to compete with the monster vehicles out there,” said Greg Speers.
Speers said drivers of the SARITS face serious injuries if hit by larger vehicles on the road.