| Posted: Aug. 25, 2022, 8:19 a.m. | Updated: Aug. 25, 2022, 8:25 a.m. | 8 Min Read
in Stratford has spent the last two years developing its new vehicle concept, a car the founders believe will change the way Islanders think about driving.So far, the shop has completed two prototypes. Both are converted, fully electric Toyotas built between 2009 and 2013, Natal Antonini, a mechanical engineer told SaltWire NetWork during a tour of their garage on Aug. 23.
Initially, the plan was to convert light pickup trucks to electric ones and resell them. However, after looking at the average cost of a truck in Charlottetown and the number of batteries it would take to power them, it made more sense to use second-hand vehicles. The process starts with cutting off the back section of the vehicle at the back passenger door. Next, the shop installs a back-end loader, which can hold up to 500 kilograms of weight.
In order to make the car affordable, serial production is needed. This is the next step for the business, as they plan to begin rolling out models for sale next year.