The Nobe 500 Is A Tiny Electric Pickup and Cute 1950’s Look

[cawimmer430]

The Nobe 500 Is A Tiny Electric Pickup With A Carbon Chassis And Cute 1950's Looks Coming In 2022

Nobe, the Estonia-based startup that gave us the Nobe 100GT three-wheeler in 2018, is back with another retro-styled model. The Nobe 500 is a tiny pickup with a carbon-fiber chassis and a fully electric powertrain that is scheduled to debut in summer 2022.

The first images of the Nobe 500 appeared on the company's official Facebook page in early 2021, but more information about the upcoming model has recently surfaced. From the images, it is clear that the design was inspired by the classic Ford F-series.



The curved bonnet, the chrome elements, the whitewall tires, and the beautifully designed front and rear fenders make Nobe's pickup look like an adorable miniature truck from the '50s. It even comes with wooden extensions for the rear bed which must be quite small judging from the proportions of this compact vehicle.

The cabin has a bench seat but we guess it's more suited to two adults. We don't have pictures of the interior but it will most likely share its design with the Noble 100GT, featuring analog instruments and a large steering wheel.





Electric Power

In terms of powertrain, the pickup will most likely share the 72kW (92 hp / 98 PS) electric motor of the three-wheeler which accelerates from 0-60 mph (0-98 km/h) in under 6 seconds. It could also inherit the same 25 kWh battery which on the 100GT is good for a 160-mile (257 km) range. L'Automobile suggests that Nobe's pickup might also get an adjustable air suspension.

As reported by Jalopnik, the company that's based in Tallinn, Estonia wants to bring both the teardrop-shaped Nobe 100 three-wheeler and the Nobe 500 pickup to the US. A fire in 2019 destroyed their workshop and a couple of prototypes but today they are back on track, ready to produce their first model with the help of UK-based Far, while also developing a cabriolet variant.

According to the Nobe's official website, the Nobe 100GT will be priced at $25,000 in the US, so we expect the Nobe 500 pickup to be more expensive given that, unlike the three-wheel 100GT, it will be classified as a street-legal car.








Link: https://www.carscoops.com/2021/09/nobe-500-is-a-tiny-electric-pickup-with-carbon-chassis-retro-styling/

[FoMoJo]

Wonderful.

What are they comparable to size-wise?  Hard to tell from the images.

[CaminoRacer]

I'll take one

[cawimmer430]

Wonderful.

What are they comparable to size-wise?  Hard to tell from the images.

It's probably as wide as a Smart ForTwo and a little longer obviously. The closest thing size-wise in the USA would probably be the Mitsubishi Space Star.

[Payman]

Aw shit, these are brilliant. 

[SJ_GTI]

Looks cool, but don't believe it will ever be for sale in the US.

[MrH]

Looks cool, but don't believe it will ever be for sale in the US.

+1

How would this pass federal approval?  It doesn't have airbags.

[Payman]

+1

How would this pass federal approval?  It doesn't have airbags.

It would require regs separate from the standard vehicle regs. Something like limiting it to 2 persons, a maximum speed (60 mph?) and no freeway use. I think we have something along those lines being pushed up here in the legislature.

[Laconian]

It's an EV, so we have pretty strong odds that this is an investment grift and these cars won't ever be produced

[Payman]

It's an EV, so we have pretty strong odds that this is an investment grift and these cars won't ever be produced

Another Juicero on wheels.

[SJ_GTI]

It's an EV, so we have pretty strong odds that this is an investment grift and these cars won't ever be produced

This was my thinking. This is just "investment" bait. Hoping to part some venture capitalists with their money.

[Laconian]

This was my thinking. This is just "investment" bait. Hoping to part some venture capitalists with their money.

Targeting nostalgic boomer VCs.

[Laconian]

Another Juicero on wheels.

Elio Motors

[MrH]

It would require regs separate from the standard vehicle regs. Something like limiting it to 2 persons, a maximum speed (60 mph?) and no freeway use. I think we have something along those lines being pushed up here in the legislature.

The feds aren't making an entirely new set of rules just for a retro EV mini truck from Estonia.

[Payman]

Elio Motors

They got 70,000+ $1000 deposits (that's $70 MILLION) and still weren't able to produce a single car. The original idea was to license Suzuki Swift (Metro) 1.0 3 cyl engines, but no, they went ahead and blew all the money trying to develop their own motor. Then everything depended on a $300 million loan from the gov't. Paul Elio had a somewhat neat idea, but he had zero fucking clue about the auto industry.

[Payman]

The feds aren't making an entirely new set of rules just for a retro EV mini truck from Estonia.

What? Of course not. You think this is the only small EV in existence?

[AutobahnSHO]

It's probably as wide as a Smart ForTwo and a little longer obviously. The closest thing size-wise in the USA would probably be the Mitsubishi Space Star.

speaking of, saw this for sale the other day
https://www.ebay.com/itm/185074084371?hash=item2b17466a13:g:szkAAOSwRKVhUOqM

[AutobahnSHO]

The feds aren't making an entirely new set of rules just for a retro EV mini truck from Estonia.

They did to drive similar things on army forts...

I see them rusting out behind buildings now.

https://www.fortgordonnews.com/articles/fort-gordon-goes-green-with-electric-hybrid-cars/

https://www.army.mil/article/38672/electric_vehicles_make_it_to_fort_gordon