Nobe GT100

The Nobe GT100 (pronounced no bay)[2] is a zero emissions[3] concept vehicle with two forward wheels and a single trailing wheel, each electrically powered. Originally designed as an enclosed two-door coupe, and subsequently rendered also as a two-door convertible, the GT100 (variously called the Nobe or Nobe 100) debuted at the 2019 Geneva Auto Show as the Nobe 01.[4]

Nobe GT100
Nobe GT100
Overview
ManufacturerNobe Cars
Production2 prototypes built
AssemblyTallinn, Estonia (SeaNest OÜ/Nobe Autotööstus; projected)
DesignerRoman Muljar
Body and chassis
ClassConcept car
Body styleenclosed coupe or convertible
Layoutbattery electric vehicle;
Three-wheeled, two forward;
All wheel drive
Powertrain
EngineElectric Motor
Dimensions
Wheelbase59.5 in (1.51 m)[1]
Length143.7 inches (3.65 meters)[1]
Width61.4 in (1.56 m)[1]
Height53.9 in (1.37 m)[1]

The Nobe was styled and promoted in Estonia by company founder Roman Muljar[2] in 2017,[3] with the idea production might happen in that country.[5] After original development and two unsuccessful crowd-sourcing attempts, Nobe's Estonia workshop caught fire, destroying its two prototypes and underlying documentation, all uninsured.[6] Developers turned to North America, where a non-running prototype was subsequently marketed by Nobe Cars USA, Inc.. The company at one time had worked with Sandy Munro and Munro & Associates to engineer the vehicle for production.[7]

By late 2021, the companies surrounding the concept were mired in shareholder disputes and controversy. By 2022, development had stalled and the vehicle had not neared production.

Design

The Nobe 100 was projected to weigh 1,100 lbs and use rechargeable, portable 120v/240v batteries[7] — for a projected driving range of 180 miles and projected top speed of 80 miles per hour.[2]

The concept accommodated seating for two with a rear luggage area (or optional rear jump seat); front trunk; stability control; air-conditioning; fully integrated espresso machine[8] Other illustrated features included seat-belts with integral airbags[5] and a system marketed as Gekko,[8] facilitated by the car's light weight, that would allow the car to be cable-winched up aluminum rails mounted to the side of a building, enabling "zero-footprint" parking.[1]

Styling was described as "cute as hell. Like, Audrey Hepburn in white gloves cute. It's the car Edna Mode would drive."[9] Still another said it is "classically beautiful in its treatment of lines and motion - the Nobe looks downright breathtaking."[10]

Classification

The three-wheeler was marketed as off-road capable[7] and would be classified in the United States as an autocycle,[7] a regulatory class of three-wheeled vehicles requiring only a regular driver's license and exempt from federal automotive safety provisions when equipped with a steering wheel rather than handlebars, two side by side seats and seat belts (but not airbags). As of 2020, the classification existed in 48 states.[11]

Controversy

Nobe Cars has had two failed crowdsourcing campaigns on Indiegogo and FundedByMe, both of which were only able to achieve about 15% of their goal.[12] As of 2022, Nobe Cars USA, Inc. markets the company via their website, www.nobecars.com.

Controversy surfaced regarding the automaker when an investigative report on the Estonian news program Pealtnägija on the ERR network investigated and found criminal charges and past bankruptcies associated with the CEO, Roman Muljar, in addition to complaints by shareholders about his ability to run a business and misappropriation of funds.[13][14] Video from the report was later released with English subtitles.[14]

Allegations of assault against Nobe CEO Roman Muljar, along with accusations of poaching and investment theft, were made by an EV investor, who also reported to police being threatened with a glass bottle by Muljar at the Fully Charged EV show in Farnborough, UK in May 2022.[15]

A group referring to itself only as nobecarsinvestors.com pointed to many problems with the company, offering comparisons to the Dale and Elio cars and to Nikola Motors.[16] The group raises serious questions about "the nature and timing of the fire that destroyed" Nobe's factory in October 2019, and questioned how "a move to another facility was in the works before the fire even started." In multiple articles, the Estonian media note that the company was in severe financial distress at the time of the fire, while the investor group questions how a company that could not even pay a €1,700 tax bill, and claims to have neglected to get insurance, somehow had the finances to have a new factory completed just two months after the fire.[17][18][19][20][21][22]

See also

References
  1. Gustavo Henrique Ruffo (July 22, 2019). "Nobe 100 Reveals All Its Remaining Secrets, Such As Specs". insideevs.com.
  2. Peter Valdes-Dapena (April 8, 2021). "Forget SUVs. These auto makers think tiny electric cars are the next big thing". CNN Business.
  3. "Mynobe.com". Mynobe.com.
  4. Greg Potts (March 8, 2019). "Gallery: these are the wackiest cars of the Geneva Motor Show".
  5. Jason Torchinsky (October 19, 2020). "This Is The First Up-Close Look At The Best-Looking Upcoming Three-Wheeler EV You've Ever Seen". Jalopnik.
  6. Mihkel Kärmas (September 15, 2021). "The shareholders of Estonia's first electric car project have quarreled". ERR.ee.
  7. "Munro & Associates Inc. and Nobe Cars USA Inc. Collaborate to Launch Nobe 100GT in U.S." Ciseon PR Newswire. September 17, 2020.
  8. Sophie Curtis (May 4, 2021). "Three-wheel electric car that can park vertically on walls is 'so beautiful you'll want to lick it'". Mirror.
  9. Kyle Hyatt (June 1, 2018). "Nobe 100 is the 3-wheeled, classic-inspired EV nobody knew they wanted". Road Show.
  10. Aaron Turpin (June 1, 2018). "Old European styling meets 3-wheeled electrification in the Nobe 100". New Atlas.
  11. "What is a Slingshot Autocycle?". Polaris. June 5, 2020.
  12. "Nobe Cars". FundedByMe. Archived from the original on 2021-04-22. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  13. Mihkel Kärmas (September 15, 2021). "The shareholders of Estonia's first electric car project have turned the battle". err.ee.
  14. Mihkel Kärmas (April 27, 2022). "Trouble at Nobe Cars—News program exposes past bankruptcies & criminal charges, CEO's contradictions". "Nobe Cars Investigation" YouTube Channel.
  15. "Nobe Cars' CEO Roman Muljar Assaults EV Investor". Roman Muljar Scam Watch. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  16. "Nobe Cars Investors". Nobe Cars Investors. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  17. "News Reports on the Fire at Nobe Cars". Translation of the following 5 articles into English. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  18. Lepik, Sandra (4 October 2019). "Telliskivis põles Nobe autode töökoda" [Nobe Cars workshop burnt down in Telliskivi]. Pealinn (in Estonian). Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  19. Saarmann, Tanel (7 October 2019). "Põlengu üle elanud Eesti autotootja: kahju on kahest autost, mis ära põlesid" [Estonian car maker survived the fire: pity about the two cars that burnt down]. Ärileht Delfi (in Estonian). Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  20. Treimann, Liis; Ivask, Pille (4 October 2019). "Nobe tootmishoone ja garaaž said tules kannatada" [Nobe production building and garage damaged by fire]. Tööstusuudised (in Estonian). Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  21. Ruuda, Lennart (7 October 2019). "Tulekahjust räsitud Eesti autotootja: jätkame täie hooga!" [Fire-ravaged Estonian carmaker: full steam ahead!]. Postimees Majundus (in Estonian). Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  22. Antson, Agaate; Pärgma, Reet (4 October 2019). "Eesti elektriauto Nobe ruumid põlesid öösel lahtise leegiga" [Estonia's electric car Nobe's facilities went up in flames overnight]. Postimees Majundus (in Estonian). Retrieved 24 November 2022.
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