Forget the Persu, check out the new kid on the block, the SMERA by Lumeneo!

[MikeL]

Hi Guys,

Its been a while since I visited but I saw the 'writing on the wall' for some time. Its a great pity the Venture One / Persu did not make it but thats life and we have to move on.

Ever since I first saw the Carver One I was fascinated. I became even more when I test drove one in the UK (see pic 01), but the price was just to high for me and I really wanted the 'tilting' experience combined with an electric vehicle! The Venture One / Persu kept the dream alive for quite some time but I had been getting very disheartened over the past 18 months.

NOT ANY LONGER! While checking out various electric options here in Ireland I came across the SMERA by Lumeneo a French company. I immediately followed the link and discovered what appears to be nearly EXACTLY what I have been looking for, an electric tilting vehicle capable of taking a passenger and within by €25K budget!!! BTW, in Ireland we will have a €5K subsidy:)

While I would have liked a larger range than the 90 miles available, I would be happy with this as Ireland is soon to be covered with 3,500 plug-in points! The 0-60mph of 7.7 sec is also very respectable when combined with the 'tilt' (far less breaking in corners)! Yep, the SMERA is for me as soon as I can get one organised.

I have over the past few hours compiled a collection of reviews and have emailed the Lumeneo people in France and have just received a nice informative return email from them advising that the Smera can be test driven in Paris. I will be taking them up on this offer VERY SOON.

Okay, I wont drag this out any longer, here are the links to the SMERA, some reviews and pictures.

http://www.lumeneo.fr/welcome.php

http://www.zoomilife.com/2009/06/15/lumeneo-smera-ev-now-on-sale-in-france/

http://green.autoblog.com/2009/05/17/lomeneo-smera-new-french-electric-car-on-sale-for-24-500-euros/


Mike

PS: I think there might be a case to change the 'Fly The Road' slogan to SMERA Electric Enthusiasts

[bird2brain]

A very nice concept. Not nearly what the Persu might have been, but real beats vapor anytime. I'm a little concerned about safety as there does not appear to be any energy absorption built in to the structure. I may not be able to tour the country in this, but it would be great as a daily commuter.

[rickb]

I have been watching for the availability of this vehicle too. Would be a great little commuter/city car and the styling looks as good as the K-Way Motus. I don't think we can assume that class of vehicle to be much safer than a cycle for that price point.

[rickb]

johnlaity..............is the Smera anything like the "granny car" you mentioned..........................if not maybe we could fly to Paris for a test drive. Please pick me up at the Coeur D'Alene, Idaho USA Airport. LOL

[johnlaity]

I like it, but 90 miles range seems pretty average for a vehicle of this size/newness doesn't it?

Price is good...

Rickb, I will stick with the Sub G1, so you can pick me up a the airport LOL

[MikeL]

I agree that safety is a factor. The company says this,

'The SMERA has an aluminium protective 3D frame and a closed body. Seat belts and crash box complete the passive safety.'

As a matter of interest here is the email received from Xavier Doublet of Lumeneo.


Monsieur Lucey,

Thank you for your interest in our SMERA electrical car.

For this first year, we are only selling in France. Production is now started and we will start to deliver our first customers in october.
(Actually we are only delivering test-cars to partners.)

The SMERA in UE approved, we are street legal all over Europe but we really want to open shops and service-centers before to deliver in a new country.

Next year we plan to open in London and Milano, then Belgium and Germany.
Until 2015 we will focus on Europe including Ireland, then we will consider Japan, California, Singapour...

Of course, i will send you some more detailled informations as soon as possibe.

I hope you will have soon the opportunity to come in Paris to see a SMERA car.

Best regards,

Xavier Doublet, Lumeneo.
Tél : +33 1 83 06 27 49.

Show-room – by appointment :
126 Avenue de Malakoff, 75116 PARIS, Metro Argentine or Porte Maillot, Parking Foch-Etoile.

[johnlaity]

Ahh, there you go rickb it is safe enough for my Granny to drive too!

Definitely sticking to the monotracer now LOL

[bmwgc1946]

I apologize, but I cannot get excited by this. I am a three wheel tilter die hard. This is just right for Granny ( I have two grandsons ) but I am not ready for a "Scooter" on Steroids. Beside not in California until 2015. Come on USA we can do better. Sorry about the American Ego but I think we can do better. Derwin I hope you news flash isn't another lead balloon.

[Derwin]

I apologize, but I cannot get excited by this. I am a three wheel tilter die hard. This is just right for Granny ( I have two grandsons ) but I am not ready for a "Scooter" on Steroids. Beside not in California until 2015. Come on USA we can do better. Sorry about the American Ego but I think we can do better.

Amen, brother! I am 100% with you about the three wheel tilting aspects of a vehicle. That is what the "FlyTheRoad" aspect is all about, and nothing less than that will suffice in my opinion.


Derwin I hope you news flash isn't another lead balloon.

You and I both! lol

[rickb]

Thanks MikeL for the Smera update.

Johnlaity.................The E-Tracer is safer but just to cool for Granny. I am sticking with the MonoTracer/E-Tracer too.

I"m not sure it matters if my dream FTR vehicle has one two three or four wheels as long as it has style, stability, safety, fast 0-60 performance, range, is narrow, has one seat/storage for a small dog, tilts a min of 45 degrees, is real, and carves up the road.

[chaster]

I've admired the SMERA for several years now... It's a shame that we won't see it here in the States anytime soon (because it has 4 wheels, and so will be subject to automotive crash testing, etc.)...

[MikeL]

Guys,

You really don't need a 45 degree tilt! I have tested the Carver on a double roundabout (figure of eight) at good speed and while I am not sure of the angle, I am sure it was nowhere near 45 degrees. I imagine it was somewhere in the region of 20 degrees and for me tilting at 20 degree is scary enough. Think of it this way, how many high power bikers on the open road ever tilt more than 20 degrees!

As regards one wheel up front as against two wheels, two wheels will win out every time on the road holding. Consider what happens when one wheel hits a pothole or slippery manhole cover going around a corner ..... not nice! At least with a second wheel you have a chance to come out of the slide.

Okay, now if you are thinking of track event, that's a different matter. I will admit that the one wheel configuration DOES LOOK sharper BUT I will go for performance stability over looks any time. This is what I enjoyed about the Fuoco!

[rickb]

I prefer a 2f1r TTW configuration but don't care which one hits the market first. I'm thinking scary track event but a 15 degree tilt would be fine with me. I want a tilting vehicle on the market before I have to give up my car keys. Actually, I would prefer the MonoTracer in a track event.

[WarpedOne]

Tilt angle is mandated by stability not by what you are scared or not.

[rickb]

Let me rephrase that. I want a stable 45 degree tilt angle that may scare the crap out of me or not in a track event.............or 15 degrees would be fine too if that's what hits the market at an affordable price point. I believe the MonoTracer leans 52 degrees right down onto the stabilizer wheel that would be fun too on a high speed track (controlled environment). I truly want an enclosed ride that is as close to an actual motorcycling experience as possible.....................ftr.

[johnlaity]

mmmm.....monotracer.....tasty, tasty, drool

I wonder what would happen if you fitted retractable (vertical) diffusers / fletner strips to the side of a monotracer. You could actually lift it out of a turn...something you cant do on a lumpy motorcycle and rider...I wonder if that was the idea of the rudder on the ecomobile Turbo...

Time for a FF post ;0)

[rickb]

There is a part time engineering project for you. The MonoTracers are to cool to mess with. Did you see the video where the pilot circled the mono right down onto the stabilizer wheel...............came to a complete stop....................slowly accelerated...............popped it back upright and drove off? A very agile vehicle as is.

[johnlaity]

I did indeed...I am becoming a believer that single track...(monotrace)...is the only way forward. DVC is stuck in patent hell and trikes are just too wide...

Length is the trick...Monotracer/Eco's are nicely short...despite taking two...Which is why the A-Symetrical layout of the SUB G1 is so interesting...

My layout work continues ;0)

[rickb]

I hadn't seen this Smera M6 Turbo video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OJjstqkp9c It looks like a fun little commuter. Also, the Smera making it to production may provide incentive for some US TTW small start ups to get busy. Does anyone know if the Smera would be US approved if one happened to find it's way here?

[MikeL]

Thanks for the link Rick. I had not seen the this one before. I must now try and see if there is some way of translating the French commentary. I think its possible on You Tube, just need to search for it.

As you say the SMERA is in production and this is a great start. It may not be everyone's 'cup of tea' but I think it will have a broad appeal and they may even spec it up more as time goes on. Hey.....it does grow on you!

Mike

[rickb]

It does grow on you. I like the basic feel of this vehicle and they don't have to spec it up to much for me unless it's to extend it's 90 mile range. I would like to know if we smuggle one into the US.................does it meet the US DOT Standards and licensing requirements. It certainly will exceed our emission standards.

[MikeL]

Rick,

Xavier Doublet says 'Next year we plan to open in London and Milano, then Belgium and Germany. Until 2015 we will focus on Europe including Ireland, then we will consider Japan, California, Singapour...'

The video you linked to shows that the SMERA in being built by a small but very professional looking company. I imagine they are doing their homework and if they can meet EU standards I would imagine there would be no problem with USA standards.

For me the 90 Mile range would not be a huge problems. I have to make a 100 x 2 mile trip once every 6 weeks or so. However I stop for a coffee and sandwich at a MacDs about 75 miles along the route. If there was a charging station installed and I imagine there will be! It would get me out of trouble. Driving EVs will involve a bit of planning to make them work.

Did you notice the EU standard electrical plug in the video? If the worst came to the worst I could always pull into a local Cop Shop and ask for juice ..... they operate a 24 hour business Hahaha

The other upside to the SMERA is that it might even appeal to 'Grannies'. This may not be a bad thing when one is selling it on for the next model to come on the market. Having something that is highly specialized has limited appeal which diminishes the and resell possibilities!

Hey! shipping one to the USA would not be that expensive!

Mike

[rickb]

I think it would be relatively easy to ship, however, I would like assurance that we could license and drive it in the States. I have a local mechanic that will work on any vehicle so long as there is factory phone support, parts, and no required expensive specialized tools for service. I have no mechanical abilities. Also, plug ins should simply be universal.

[rickb]

Cool Smera video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RA9wfM_nog0&feature=related at least I think.

[Mike kZ]

Another informative video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXKa4xyFHPY&feature=related