Engineer who scours EV ‘graveyards’ for parts reveals what led to model’s ‘destruction’ – rushed production didn’t help

AN EV technologist has revealed his thoughts behind a pile of now-defunct cars that drivers recently paid more than $18,000 to buy.

A junkyard in Arizona now holds a pile of decaying EVs in various states of disrepair – the battery engineer said more testing could have helped.

Instagram/ startupslick

Instagram/ startupslick

Instagram/ startupslick

Instagrammer Nicholas Bauer ( @startupslick ) posted a video revealing a pileup of ElectraMeccanica Solos .

Bauer, who said he is a former auto engineer who worked on battery technology for truck manufacturers, posted after he found the pileup of cars in Gilbert, Arizona.

“I could see them over the fence,” he told The U.S. Sun.

“I made a video showcasing my theories as to why the vehicles were being destroyed, and that video went viral.”

THE SOLO’S UPBRINGING

ElectraMeccanica sold dozens of the one-seater EVs for around $18,000. The company pitched the tiny cars as a daily driver , perfect for any city commute.

Engineers gave the car a unique shape. In the front, the car featured a normal-looking hood and two headlights.

The car had two doors in the middle, which allowed drivers to access the single seat from either side.

But the vehicle design diverged from everything else on the road near the back.

Designers slimmed the vehicle toward the rear, ensuring it only took up the space needed to fit one seat and some standard driver amenities.

Only one wheel carried the vehicle’s weight in the back. All solos used three wheels overall.

“I think the design is practical and most efficient for city commuting as a single-occupant, three-wheel vehicle,” Bauer told The U.S. Sun.

“Three-quarters of Americans drive solo to work.”

THEN, A SOLO DOWNFALL

Despite the excitement behind the company’s unique product, ElectraMeccanica recalled most of its products in 2023.

The recall has effectively killed the brand ever since.

Electric vehicles vs gas

Pros and cons of EVs vs gasoline-powered vehicles

EV PROS:

• Convenient (when charging at home)
• Cheaper (depending on state or city)
• Cheaper maintenance, due to lack of mechanical parts
• Great for commuting
• Reduced CO2 emissions
• Federal and state tax incentives
• More performance (speed, handling – depending on the make and model)

EV CONS:

• Higher initial cost
• Higher insurance rates
• More frequent tire and brake replacement intervals
• Higher curb weight (thus causing more rapid wear on crucial parts)
• Low resale value
• High depreciation rates
• Lack of charging infrastructure
• Unreliable public charging (related: slow charging times)
• Poor winter and summer performance
• Lack of clean energy alternatives means more “dirty energy” from coal and nuclear sources
• Range anxiety

GAS PROS:

• Highly developed refueling infrastructure
• Fast refueling
• Cheaper insurance rates, depending on make, model, and configuration
• Established repair industry
• Lower initial cost
• Higher range before refueling, especially with hybrids
• Many manufacturers produce nearly emission-less engines
• Cheaper refueling, depending on the location

GAS CONS:

• Finite resource (related: heavy dependence on petroleum)
• Carbon emissions/greenhouse gases
• Higher repair costs
• Higher insurance rates, depending on make, model, and configuration
• Varying costs at the pump, depending on state, city, and county

Source: Car & Driver , Perch Energy , AutoWeek

The company said vehicles were losing power from the proprietary battery. The proper maintenance fix was too expensive for the nascent company.

So ElectraMeccanica bought back the vehicles built between 2018 and 2023 and sent them to a junkyard near its final manufacturing hub in Mesa, Arizona.

Bauer thought the fan-favorite cars could have lasted longer on the market if the company spent more time on its research and development projects.

He also wondered if the American buyer was ready for the unique take on transportation.

“I believe that the idea of a single-seat, three-wheeled vehicle scares many potential US buyers away as it is small among US traffic and US drivers prefer larger vehicles,” he said.

“In my opinion , the Solo was rushed to production. It was not properly validated and tested prior to release, and that is what led to its recall, destruction, and failure of the company.”

In March 2024, Xos Inc ., an electric truck manufacturer, purchased ElectraMeccanica for $48 million, according to Yahoo Finance .

Xos Inc.’s CEO said the newly purchased factories would allow the truck manufacturer to build more products.

Xos is coming off a quarter where it set new bests for produced electric trucks.

Bauer said he used to work for Xos before becoming a social media influencer.

TODAY’S EV MARKET

Several all-EV brands are working through their developmental stages, but glimmers of hope are interspersed with manufacturer downfalls in the sector.

Tesla, the biggest name in the vehicle market, has reported two straight quarters of disappointing sales numbers.

However, the company is likely buoyed by its initial investment in charging infrastructure and excitement about its self-driving technology.

The company’s CEO, Elon Musk , said it will soon release its Robotaxi vehicle and program.

He also said the company’s Supercharger network, the largest vehicle charging network in the US, anticipates an influx of cash after more cars get adapters to plug into the network.

Meanwhile, Rivian and Lucid both announced sales numbers above Wall Street expectations.

The companies have major billion-dollar investments from rich behemoths. Rivian secured investments from Volkswagen and Amazon while Lucid benefits from cash via the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund.

Some companies without huge investments have struggled.

In June, Fisker, an EV startup with an SUV that thrilled several passionate fans, declared bankruptcy .

Still, EV sales are gaining more momentum .

Several giant manufacturers, like Honda , GM, Ford , Hyundai , and Kia have launched well-received products that recently hit more sales records.