The brand’s third vehicle, it joins the carbon-fiber
bodied Laguna and the retro-oriented Venice. While the former was launched in
2012, the latter was rolled out in 2017. The Edison is Vanderhall’s first EV,
using two electric motors and a battery instead of the GM-sourced, 1.4-liter
gasoline engine found in the Venice. Like the existing Vanderhall models, the
Edison is hand-built at the company’s Utah factory using almost entirely
American-sourced components.
The Edison is heavily based on Vanderhall’s previous
three-wheeled cars, so it has the same simple design on the outside. Just like
the Morgan 3-Wheeler, the front wheels aren’t hidden under proper fenders and
it doesn’t have conventional bumpers. The front fascia is actually much
simpler, with the headlamps mounted in a big, almost square opening that’s
covered by an equally large grille. There is a small bulge on the hood though.
The side panels are almost featureless, but they’re small too since the car
doesn’t have actual doors. A small, angled windshield will prevent the wind
from ruining your hairdo.
The Edison is equipped with LED headlamps, turn
signals, and brake lights, and it’s available in just one color, metallic
black. According to Vanderhall, this is "a tribute to the seminal Thomas
Edison-Henry Ford electric car project more than 100 years ago. Yes, you can
have it in any color as long as it is black. The dark paint is complemented by
gold stripes on the sides though. Hopefully these can be ordered in more
colors.
The interior is equally simple, but that’s to be
expected from a small, no-nonsense car like this. And it definitely has a
vintage vibe to it thanks to the flat, veneer-like dashboard with analog clocks
and the plain, three-spoke steering wheels. It also has classic knobs and
switches on the center stack, features you rarely see nowadays outside Morgans
and Caterhams or race cars. While it doesn’t have an infotainment system, it’s
equipped with heating and cooling. However, the system is very simple with just
two vents under the dashboard. Granted, it’s not the most comfortable car out
there.
This is where the Edison stands out compared to
other Vanderhall vehicles. Named after Thomas Edison, the man who invented the
electric light bulb and patented electricity distribution, the Vanderhall
Edison replaces the turbocharged, 1.4-liter, four-cylinder gas engine in the
Venice model with two electric motors and a 30-kWh, lithium-ion battery pack.
The combo delivers 180 horsepower, which is comparable to the Venice, and 240
pound-feet of torque, about 30 percent more than the gas version. That’s also
significantly more than the Morgan EV3, which will have around 100 horsepower
in production form. On the other hand, the Edison tips the scales at 1,400
pounds, while the Morgan EV3 weighs a bit less than 1,000.
But despite being heavier, the Edison is the quicker
car, needing only four seconds to sprint from 0 to 60 mph. Top speed is rated
at 105 mph, a solid figure for a small electric car. Surprisingly enough,
Vanderhall says that the Edison can return more than 200 miles per single
charge. Of course, this depends on driving conditions.
Pricing for the Edison is set at US$ 34,950, which is
somewhat affordable compared to other three-wheelers on the market, including
the upcoming Morgan EV3.
