THESE PEOPLE WERE INSANE TO BUILD THE 1982 UNIQUE MOBILITY ELECTREK IN COLORADO!

EV Channels Review

This video explores the 1982 Unique Mobility Electrek, a rare electric vehicle lovingly restored by Declan Kavanaugh. The Electrek, built in Colorado, was a product of the 1970s oil crisis, aiming to offer an efficient alternative. It features a brushed DC shunt-wound motor, 16 lead-acid golf cart batteries providing 96 volts, and a unique, albeit unreliable, analog motor controller. A notable innovation was its early adoption of regenerative braking. The car's construction utilizes fiberglass, contributing to its longevity and resistance to rust. While its advertised top speed was 75 mph, real-world performance is more modest, with speeds around 60 mph feeling precarious due to chassis shake. The interior, though basic, offers surprising comfort. The reviewer highlights the car's historical significance as one of the first commercially available EVs with advanced features for its time, despite its numerous quirks and reliability issues, particularly with the controller. The restoration effort, aided by former engineers, is commendable, preserving a piece of EV history.