Three-wheeled car - Revision history

Red marquis: /* Registration */

2010-09-20T09:34:19Z

Registration

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:34, 20 September 2010
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	==Registration==		==Registration==
	In the U.S. the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines and regulates three-wheeled vehicles as ~~[[motorcycle]]s~~.<ref name=Related Highway Safety Provisions>{{cite web \|url=http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/nhtsa/Cfc_title49/HighwaySafety.pdf\|title=Related Highway Safety Provisions}}</ref> [[Driver's license\|		In the U.S. the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines and regulates three-wheeled vehicles as motorcycles.<ref> name=Related Highway Safety Provisions>{{cite web \|url=http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/nhtsa/Cfc_title49/HighwaySafety.pdf\|title=Related Highway Safety Provisions}}</ref> [[Driver's license\|
	Licensing]] requirements vary on a state-by-state basis. In other jurisdictions, such as British Columbia, Canada, a three-wheeled vehicle with an enclosed passenger compartment is considered an automobile.		Licensing]] requirements vary on a state-by-state basis. In other jurisdictions, such as British Columbia, Canada, a three-wheeled vehicle with an enclosed passenger compartment is considered an automobile.



	== External links ==		== External links ==

Red marquis: /* Examples */

2010-09-20T09:33:46Z

Examples

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:33, 20 September 2010
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	\| 50-100 believed built		\| 50-100 believed built
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[~~Anglian automobile\|~~Anglian]]		\| [[Anglian]]
	\| England		\| England
	\| 1905-07		\| 1905-07
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	\|		\|
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[~~Armadale (automobile)\|~~Armadale]]		\| [[Armadale]]
	\| England		\| England
	\| 1906-07		\| 1906-07
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	\|		\|
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[~~Morgan Motor Company\|~~Morgan]] V-Twin and F-Series		\| [[Morgan]] V-Twin and F-Series
	\| England		\| England
	\| 1911-39, 1932-52		\| 1911-39, 1932-52

Red marquis: /* Examples */

2010-09-20T09:31:52Z

Examples

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:31, 20 September 2010
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	\|		\|
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[~~Advance (automobile)\|~~Advance]] 6 hp air-cooled Tri Car and 9 hp water-cooled Tri Car<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.oakingtonplane.co.uk/advance/advance_tri-cars.php \|title=Advance Fore-Cars and Tri-Cars \|publisher=oakingtonplane.co.uk \|accessdate=2008-01-23}}</ref>		\| [[Advance]] 6 hp air-cooled Tri Car and 9 hp water-cooled Tri Car<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.oakingtonplane.co.uk/advance/advance_tri-cars.php \|title=Advance Fore-Cars and Tri-Cars \|publisher=oakingtonplane.co.uk \|accessdate=2008-01-23}}</ref>
	\| England		\| England
	\| 1902-12		\| 1902-12
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	\|		\|
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Riley ~~(car)~~\|~~Riley~~]] ~~Olympia~~ Tricar<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://web.ukonline.co.uk/rileyrob/history/1896-14.htm \|title=Rileys 1896 - 1939 The Pre-Nuffield Years. \|publisher=Rob's Riley Pages (ukonline.co.uk/rileyrob) \|accessdate=2008-01-20}}</ref>		\| [[Riley]] [[Riley Olympia\|Olympia]] Tricar<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://web.ukonline.co.uk/rileyrob/history/1896-14.htm \|title=Rileys 1896 - 1939 The Pre-Nuffield Years. \|publisher=Rob's Riley Pages (ukonline.co.uk/rileyrob) \|accessdate=2008-01-20}}</ref>
	\| England		\| England
	\| 1904		\| 1904
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	\| 1911-39, 1932-52		\| 1911-39, 1932-52
	\| 2 front		\| 2 front
	\| ~~[[:Image:Morgan Super Sports 1937.jpg\|Morgan Super Sports 2-Seater 1937]]~~		\|
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[American Tri-Car]]		\| [[American Tri-Car]]
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	\|		\|
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Birmingham Small Arms Company]] Three Wheeler		\| Birmingham Small Arms Company Three Wheeler
	\| England		\| England
	\| 1929-36		\| 1929-36
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	\| 1929		\| 1929
	\| 2 front		\| 2 front
	\| Folding three wheeler~~: [[:Image:Zaschka Threewheeler (1929).jpg\|Zaschka Three-wheeler 1929]]~~		\| Folding three wheeler
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Autoette]]		\| [[Autoette]]
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	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Velorex]] Oskar and other models		\| [[Velorex]] Oskar and other models
	\| [[Czechoslovakia]]		\| Czechoslovakia
	\| 1951-71		\| 1951-71
	\| 2 front		\| 2 front
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	\| 1957-74		\| 1957-74
	\| 2 rear		\| 2 rear
	~~\| [[:File:Mazda t2000.jpg\|image]]~~
	\|		\|
	\|-		\|-
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	\| 1959-69		\| 1959-69
	\| 2 rear		\| 2 rear
	~~\| [[:File:Mazda k360.jpg\|image]]~~
	\|		\|
	\|-		\|-
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	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Peel P50]]		\| [[Peel P50]]
	\| [[Isle of Man]]		\| Isle of Man
	\| 1963-64		\| 1963-64
	\| 2 front		\| 2 front
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	\| Tilt, concept car only, conceived by Frank Winchell, [http://www.schultzengineering.us/ptv-rnd/gmlean.jpg illustration]		\| Tilt, concept car only, conceived by Frank Winchell, [http://www.schultzengineering.us/ptv-rnd/gmlean.jpg illustration]
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Campagna ~~Corporation\|Campagna]] [[T-Rex (automobile)\|~~T-Rex]]		\| [[Campagna T-Rex]]
	\| [[Quebec]], [[Canada]]		\| Quebec, Canada
	\| 1996-present		\| 1996-present
	\|2 front		\|2 front
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	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Cree SAM]]		\| [[Cree SAM]]
	\| [[Switzerland]]		\| Switzerland
	\| 2001		\| 2001
	\| 2 front		\| 2 front
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	\| electric power		\| electric power
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Carver\|Carver]]		\| [[Vandenbrink Carver\|Carver]]
	\| Netherlands		\| Netherlands
	\| 2007-2009		\| 2007-2009
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	\| 2010?		\| 2010?
	\| 2 rear		\| 2 rear
	\| Tilt, hybrid and electric models, technology licensed from [[Carver\|Carver]]		\| Tilt, hybrid and electric models, technology licensed from [[Vandenbrink Carver\|Carver]]
	\|}		\|}

Red marquis: /* See also */

2010-09-20T09:27:47Z

Red marquis at 09:27, 20 September 2010

2010-09-20T09:27:04Z

New page

A '''three wheeled car''', also known as a '''tricar''' or '''tri-car''', is an [[automobile]] having either one [[wheel]] in the front for steering and two at the rear for power, two in the front for steering and one in the rear for power, or any other combination of layouts. Due to its handling superiority, an increasingly popular form is the front-steering "tadpole" or [http://reversetrike.com/design-database.html "reverse trike"] sometimes with [[FWD|front drive]] but usually with rear drive. A variant on the 'one at the front' layout was the [[Scott Sociable]], which resembled a four-wheeler with a front wheel missing<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.motorbase.com/manufacturer/by-id/1723096431 |title=Scott Sociable |accessdate=2010-03-27}}</ref>

==History==
Early car pioneer [[Karl Benz]] developed a number of three-wheeled models.<ref name=Elvis>{{cite web |url=http://pages.zoom.co.uk/elvis/history2.html |title=The History of the 3-Wheeled Vehicle |author=Elvis Payne |date=2001 |publisher=pages.zoom.co.uk |accessdate=2008-01-20}}</ref> One of these, the [[Benz Patent Motorwagen]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://star-motoring.com/news/story.asp?file=/2006/7/2/ms_features/14249260&sec=ms_features |title=History in its magnificence |author=Chris Chong |publisher=star-motoring.com |date=July 2, 2006 |accessdate=2008-01-20}}</ref> is widely regarded as the first purpose-built automobile,{{Fact|date=January 2008}} and may be the first petrol car driven on British soil, in 1894.<ref name=Elvis/> In 1896, John Henry Knight showed a tri-car, recognized as the first British-made motorcar, at The Great Exhibition.<ref name=Elvis/> A Conti 6 [[horsepower|hp]] Tri-car competed in (but did not complete) a 1907 [[Peking-to-Paris]] race sponsored by a French newspaper, ''Le Matin''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pekingparisraid.co.uk/History/index.asp |title=History |publisher=pekingparisraid.co.uk |accessdate=2008-01-20}}</ref>

==Strengths and weaknesses==
Having one wheel in front and two in the rear for power reduces the cost of the steering mechanism, but greatly decreases stability. However, a configuration of two wheels in the front and one wheel at the back has many strong proponents among automotive designers and enthusiasts. Two advantages are its improved aerodynamics, and that it readily enables small lightweight motorcycle powerplants and rear wheels to be used. This approach was used by the BMW [[Isetta]]. Alternatively, a more conventional front-engine, front wheel drive layout as is common in four-wheeled cars can be used, with subsequent advantages for stability and traction.

For the lowest wind resistance (which increases [[fuel efficiency]]), a teardrop shape is desirable. A tear drop is wide and round at the front, tapering to a point at the back. The three wheel configuration allows the two front wheels to create the wide round surface of the vehicle. The single rear wheel allows the vehicle to taper at the back. This approach is used by the [[Aptera 2 Series]]. It is also used by [[Myers Motors]] for both its single passenger NmG and upcoming 2-passenger Duo.

The disadvantage of a rear drive, non-tilting three wheel configuration is instability - the car will tip over in a turn before it will slide, unless the centre of mass is much closer to the ground or the wheelbase is much wider than a similar four wheel vehicle. To improve stability some three wheelers are designed as [[tilting three wheeler]]s so that they lean while cornering like a motorcyclist would do. The tilt may be controlled manually or by computer. Electric three-wheelers often lower the center of gravity by placing the heavy battery pack at the base of the vehicle.

==Examples==
{|Class="wikitable"
! Name
! Country
! Years manufactured
! Wheel configuration
! Comments (see fuller list at [[:Category:Three-wheeled motor vehicles|Category]])
|-
| [[Benz Patent Motorwagen]]
| Germany
| 1886-93
| 2 rear
|
|-
| [[Léon Bollée]] Voiturette
| France
| 1895-?
| 2 front
|
|-
| [[Egg (car)|Egg]]
| Switzerland
| 1896-99
|
|
|-
| [[Advance (automobile)|Advance]] 6 hp air-cooled Tri Car and 9 hp water-cooled Tri Car<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oakingtonplane.co.uk/advance/advance_tri-cars.php |title=Advance Fore-Cars and Tri-Cars |publisher=oakingtonplane.co.uk |accessdate=2008-01-23}}</ref>
| England
| 1902-12
| 2 front
|
|-
| Humber Tricar<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britishmm.co.uk/history.asp?id=465 |title=British Motor Manufacturers (1894-1960) Humber |publisher=britishmm.co.uk |accessdate=2008-01-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.histomobile.com/histomob/internet/289/histo02.htm |title=Humber - The 1900 's |publisher=histomobile.com |accessdate=2008-01-20}}</ref>
| England
| 1904
| 2 front
|
|-
| [[Riley (car)|Riley]] Olympia Tricar<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.ukonline.co.uk/rileyrob/history/1896-14.htm |title=Rileys 1896 - 1939 The Pre-Nuffield Years. |publisher=Rob's Riley Pages (ukonline.co.uk/rileyrob) |accessdate=2008-01-20}}</ref>
| England
| 1904
| 2 front
| [http://web.ukonline.co.uk/rileyrob/ illustration]
|-
| [[Lagonda]] Tricar<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.autoclassic.com/features/classic_car_history/lagonda_tricar.html |title=The History of Classic Cars: 1905 Lagonda Tricar |publisher=autoclassic.com |accessdate=2008-01-20}}</ref>
| England
| 1904-07
| 2 front
| total production: 69 cars
|-
| [[La Va Bon Train]]
| France
| 1904-10
| 2 rear
| 50-100 believed built
|-
| [[Anglian automobile|Anglian]]
| England
| 1905-07
|
|
|-
| [[Armadale (automobile)|Armadale]]
| England
| 1906-07
|
|
|-
| [[Morgan Motor Company|Morgan]] V-Twin and F-Series
| England
| 1911-39, 1932-52
| 2 front
| [[:Image:Morgan Super Sports 1937.jpg|Morgan Super Sports 2-Seater 1937]]
|-
| [[American Tri-Car]]
| United States
| 1912
|
|
|-
| [[Birmingham Small Arms Company]] Three Wheeler
| England
| 1929-36
| 2 front
| 1100cc engine; [http://www.bsafwdc.co.uk/page11.php image and description]
|-
| [[Engelbert Zaschka|Zaschka]]
| Germany
| 1929
| 2 front
| Folding three wheeler: [[:Image:Zaschka Threewheeler (1929).jpg|Zaschka Three-wheeler 1929]]
|-
| [[Autoette]]
| United States
| 1948-70
| 2 rear
|
|-
| [[Scammell Scarab]]
| England
| 1948-67
| 2 rear
|
|-
| [[Velorex]] Oskar and other models
| [[Czechoslovakia]]
| 1951-71
| 2 front
| Originally with leather bodies
|-
| [[Daihatsu Bee]]
| Japan
| 1951-?
| 2 rear
|
|-
| [[Isetta|Iso Isetta]]
| Italy
| 1953
| 2 front
|
|-
| [[Messerschmitt KR175]]
| Germany
| 1953-55
| 2 front
|
|-
| [[Messerschmitt KR200]]
| Germany
| 1955-64
| 2 front
|
|-
| [[Daihatsu Midget]]
| Japan
| 1957-72
| 2 rear
|
|-
| [[Mazda T-2000]]
| Japan
| 1957-74
| 2 rear
| [[:File:Mazda t2000.jpg|image]]
|
|-
| [[Mazda K360]]
| Japan
| 1959-69
| 2 rear
| [[:File:Mazda k360.jpg|image]]
|
|-
| [[Mazda T600]]
| Japan
| 1959-71
| 2 rear
|
|-
| [[Peel P50]]
| [[Isle of Man]]
| 1963-64
| 2 front
| Smallest production car ever built.
|-
| [[Bond 875]]
| England
| 1965-70
| 2 rear
|
|-
| [[Reliant Robin]]
| England
| 1973-81
| 2 rear
|
|-
| [[HMV Freeway]]
| United States
| 1979-82
| 2 front
|
|-
| GM Lean Machine <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.3wheelers.com/gmlean.html |title=General Motors Three Wheeled Cars. |publisher=GM's Lean Machine (3-wheelers.com/gmlean) |accessdate=2008-04-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.commutercars.com/downloads/studies/UCBLeanMachineStudy.pdf |title=Lean Machines: Preliminary Investigation. |publisher=Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California at Berkeley (commutercars.com/downloads/studies/) |accessdate=2008-04-08}}</ref>
| United States
| 1980s
| 2 rear
| Tilt, concept car only, conceived by Frank Winchell, [http://www.schultzengineering.us/ptv-rnd/gmlean.jpg illustration]
|-
| [[Campagna Corporation|Campagna]] [[T-Rex (automobile)|T-Rex]]
| [[Quebec]], [[Canada]]
| 1996-present
|2 front
| Most likely the fastest (157 mph) most expensive ($50k MSRP) production 3-wheeler
|-
| [[Cree SAM]]
| [[Switzerland]]
| 2001
| 2 front
| [[Battery electric vehicle|Electric]], only 80 produced
|-
| [http://www.scootcoupe.com ScootCoupe]
| United States
| 2004-
| 2 front
| Smallest production car currently, requiring no license to operate due to its [[moped]] drive-train
|-
| [[Myers Motors NmG]] ("No more Gas")
| United States
| 2006-
| 2 front
| Single occupant all-electric plug-in: 75mph, 50-60 mile range, lithium batteries. Developed from Corbin Sparrow. The 2-passenger model, the Duo, is scheduled for release in 2010. [http://www.myersmotors.com/]
|-
| [[ZAP Xebra]]
| United States
| 2006-?
| 2 rear
| electric power
|-
| [[Carver|Carver]]
| Netherlands
| 2007-2009
| 2 rear
| Tilt
|-
| [http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/cars/moonbeam-100mpg-homemade-car-202834.php Moonbeam]
| United States
| 2008-
| 2 front
| 100mpg DIY, fabric-covered car based on parts from 2 Honda 150cc motorscooters.
|-
| [[Triac (car)|Triac]]
| United States
| 2009
| 2 front
| [[Battery electric vehicle|Electric]]
|-
| [http://www.rqriley.com/xr3.htm XR-3 Hybrid]
| United States
| Plans-2008, Kit-2009
| 2 front
| Front 3 cylinder diesel (125 mpg), rear electric 40 mile range -(220 mpg when used as a hybrid)
|-
| [[Aptera 2e]]
| United States
| 2010?
| 2 front
| [[Battery electric vehicle|Electric]] or [[Plug-in hybrid]], 300 mpgUS
|-
| [[Persu Hybrid]]
| United States
| 2010?
| 2 rear
| Tilt, hybrid and electric models, technology licensed from [[Carver|Carver]]
|}

==Registration==
In the U.S. the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines and regulates three-wheeled vehicles as [[motorcycle]]s.<ref name=Related Highway Safety Provisions>{{cite web |url=http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/nhtsa/Cfc_title49/HighwaySafety.pdf|title=Related Highway Safety Provisions}}</ref> [[Driver's license|
Licensing]] requirements vary on a state-by-state basis. In other jurisdictions, such as British Columbia, Canada, a three-wheeled vehicle with an enclosed passenger compartment is considered an automobile.

== See also ==
*[[Three wheeler]]
*[[Tuk-tuk]] or [[Auto rickshaw]] - Three wheeled vehicles popular in many parts of Asia
*[[Cushman]] - manufactured in USA, many built for utility/maintenance
*[[Tri-Magnum]] - a DIY three-wheeler
*[[Myers Motors NmG]] - all-electric plug-in, manufactured in USA

== External links ==
* [http://www.3wheelers.com/history.html History of the Three Wheeler]
* [http://www.rqriley.com/3-wheel.htm "Three Wheel Cars; Primary Factors that Determine Handling & Rollover Characteristics"]
* [http://www.schultzengineering.us/ptv-rnd/research.htm Link index for three wheeled cars as well as other types]

[[Category:Three-wheeled motor vehicles|Three-wheeled motor vehicles]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:27, 20 September 2010
Line 272:		Line 272:
	Licensing]] requirements vary on a state-by-state basis. In other jurisdictions, such as British Columbia, Canada, a three-wheeled vehicle with an enclosed passenger compartment is considered an automobile.		Licensing]] requirements vary on a state-by-state basis. In other jurisdictions, such as British Columbia, Canada, a three-wheeled vehicle with an enclosed passenger compartment is considered an automobile.

	~~== See also ==~~
	*[[Three wheeler]]
	*[[Tuk-tuk]] or [[Auto rickshaw]] - Three wheeled vehicles popular in many parts of Asia
	*[[Cushman]] - manufactured in USA, many built for utility/maintenance
	*[[Tri-Magnum]] - a DIY three-wheeler
	*[[Myers Motors NmG]] - all-electric plug-in, manufactured in USA

	== External links ==		== External links ==