The Toronto company that promises to bring a flying EV to market is seeking 50,000 pre-orders to spark production of Spiritus, their latest three-wheeled, two seater project

In a novel move in the EV manufacturing world, Toronto-based micro-mobility company Daymak Inc. this week launched a four-month crowdfunding campaign to finance its new Spiritus three-wheeled electric vehicle.

Daymak is already an established name in the mid-range e-bike and e-scooter world, but late last year it introduced a higher-end line of EVs — two bikes, a scooter, an ATV, a car and a manned flying drone — under the label, Avvenire. The car in that lineup, which the company describes as “a 3 wheel 2 seater electric car which rides like a go kart,” is Spiritus.

The crowdfunding campaign’s goal is 50,000 deposits at $100 apiece. That will lock buyers into a pre-order at a lower cost than the vehicle’s ultimate retail price tag. The Spiritus vehicles will be manufactured in Canada and are slated to go into production in 2023.

A lower price

“Every $100 deposit or more will guarantee you a lower price for your car,” says Aldo Baiocchi, president and founder of Daymak in the company’s announcement about Spiritus. “[It] will include a bonus $100 coupon towards any ebike or small electric vehicle that we sell now through any of our dealers. This is only available through the crowdfunding campaign.”

Daymak isn’t Canada’s only three-wheeled EV maker, but it is the only one manufacturing, so far, in country. B.C.-based ElectraMeccanica, established in 2015, offers a one-seat, three-wheeler named Solo. Despite being headquartered in Vancouver, ElectraMeccanica made plans to manufacture Solo in China while it also shopped for a U.S. production location. Last week, it announced it would open an assembly facility and engineering centre in Mesa, Ariz.

Two models

Spritus will come in two models: the Deluxe, which has a 300 kilometre range and starts at US$19,995; and the Ultimate, with a range of 480 km and an eye-watering US$149,000 price tag. The company claims the Ultimate model will accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 1.8 seconds, making it “the fastest three-wheeled vehicle on the planet.”

The rest of Daymak’s Avvenire line-up also boasts innovative e-mobility options. Terra and Foras are the electric bikes (Terra is a more traditional off-road model that can go 100 km on a single charge, while Foras is a fully covered bike), with delivery to customers scheduled for late 2021 and 2022, respectively. Tectus is a fully enclosed electric scooter set to deliver in 2022. Aspero is Daymak’s ATV, also planned for 2022. And Skyrider, Daymak says, will be a manned electric drone with autonomous flying capabilities to be released in 2025.

In terms of futuristic transportation choices, Spiritus — which aesthetically resembles Tim Burton’s Batman Returns 1989 Batmobile — falls somewhere between the Skyrider and Tectus.

“Anything is possible”

Daymak, originally started in founder Baiocchi’s garage in 2001 now operates out of a 60,000-square-foot facility. And the Toronto-based company knows how to generate hype, which will be important at least until the first Avvenire vehicles hit the market. In February, it announced a partnership with Extreme Vehicle Battery Technologies Corp., a Vancouver “blockchain and battery technology company,” to supply batteries for the Avvenire line.

Buyers will have to wait until at least the summer of 2023 to get their Spiritus. Daymak says the vehicles will feature backup cameras, alarm systems and trickle-down solar charging capabilities. Spiritus Ultimate will also have autonomous driving options and will be able to be wirelessly charged in addition to solar charging.

“The Spiritus is a dream come true,” says Baiocchi. “We are building strong partnerships and have thrilling news coming out. Anything is possible with the help of the crowd and our partners.”