The Appeal Of Vintage-Style Electric Cars Is About To Be Tested

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Despite the haze of economic catastrophe swamping some parts of the US population, other parts are enjoying their business-as-usual lifestyle, and for some that includes investing in unusual electric cars that few other people can afford to own. That’s how Tesla got its start, pitching $100,000 electric two-seaters to the California market under its original iteration as Tesla Motors. Now here comes the UK automaker MOKE International to give it another whirl, at half the cost.

Meet MOKE, Again

The original MOKE cars rocketed to cult status back in the 1960s, having been lovingly adopted by high profile personalities of the day. The car’s official dealer in the UK, Hendy Group, tells the tale:

“There’s nothing quite like a MOKE. Designed in the Swinging Sixties by Sir Alec Issigonis, the father of the Austin Mini, the Mini MOKE quickly gained cult status in the French Riviera, Australia and the Caribbean, with around 50,000 MOKEs being sold between 1964 and 1992.”

That’s not a lot of cars, but then again, the use cases for an open-air vehicle are somewhat limited. The car was originally designed for use by the British Army, which declined to partake. However, Brigitte Bardot, Jackie Onassis, all four Beatles, several Beach Boys, and James Bond himself were among those picking up the slack in the 1960s, as well as whoever was in charge of ordering taxi service in the Village.

“This classic British motoring icon continues to be treasured for its unique styling and the feelings of freedom it evokes, and has now been reengineered in Britain by MOKE International Limited,” Hendy enthuses.

“The new models are faithful to the ethos of the original vehicles, while being packed with improved technology,” the firm adds.

MOKE Electric Cars Are Already Here

MOKE enthusiasts have not been waiting around for the company to produce electric cars. Back in 2017, CleanTechnica took note of the French startup E.Moke. The company manufactured MOKE-ish electric cars in China for sale back home. With low speed and limited battery range, the cars fit into the neighborhood vehicle slot. By 2018, individual MOKE enthusiasts were also filling in the blanks by engineering their own, more powerful gas-to-electric conversions.

In 2022 MOKE itself went all-electric. Under a strategic partnership with the Canadian firm EV Technology Group Ltd., the aim was to bring the official MOKE International brand back to the US, this time in zero emission, highway-legal form.

“MOKE International owns the original 1964 British Motor Corporation Moke trademarks and is recognized in over 100 jurisdictions as the owner of the Moke brand,” the company explained in a press statement.

As one of the single largest auto markets in the world, California has been the natural focus of attention. MOKE and EVTG decided to re-launch in the US with an electric version of the original 1970s-era Moke Californian. Styled to appeal to the US market, the original Californian was based on the Mini Moke.

Highway-Legal, But Safety First

Announcing plans for the new Moke Californian in a press statement dated October 17, 2022, EVTG noted that the relaunch marks “the first time a genuine version of the original Mini Moke has gone on sale in the US in more than four decades, and the first time a highway-legal version of the original Mini Moke has been available in America, with a top speed of 50mph (80kph).”

At 50 miles per hour, the electric MOKE easily beats the minimum speed of 40 mph typically posted for the US Interstate highway system, while hovering reasonably close to the 55 mph maximum posted on many stretches of road. However, on many US highways the maximum speed is posted at 65 mph, with some climbing as high as 80. With that in mind, MOKE drivers may want to make a habit of using roads where the maximum speed is posted at 55 mph or less, of which there are plenty.

EVTG also took note of additional details. “Using a 44hp electric motor and weighing less than 800kg, the rear-wheel-drive Electric MOKE Californian covers 0-34mph (0-55kph) in 4.3 seconds,” the firm explained. “A full charge takes just four hours via a Type 1 port and the Californian covers up to 80 miles of range on a single charge.”

Get Your MOKE Electric Car Right Here

Given those limitations, the US market for a MOKE electric car seems rather limited. MOKE and EVTG certainly thought so back in 2022, when they announced plans for the Californian with a production run of just 325 cars in the first year and pre-order prices starting at $41,900.

We’re about to find out if demand exceeds supply. On December 5, MOKE International announced that the Californian is coming to California in 2026 through the company’s first retail partner, Shaver Automotive. The new “California Collection” is custom-colored in three California-centric choices: Sonoma Red, Laguna Blue, and Venice White.

“This foray into the state follows MOKE’s groundbreaking achievement in becoming the first low-volume EV manufacturer to secure California Air Resources Board (CARB) approval,” MOKE notes.

While MOKE is sticking with the original plan of 325 electric cars for sale in 2026, the company has stated that it will increase production in the following years. Currently the Californian is manufactured in the UK, in Northamptonshire, England.

On its part, Shaver expects the new electric cars to fill a niche in the luxury market. At $49,000, the starting price is closer to $50,000 than originally planned, but that still puts it within comfortable reach of drivers who can afford electric cars for their show-off value. A comparable example would be the eye-catching, not-really-a-truck Tesla Cybertruck, which racked up thousands in sales although it significantly underperformed expectations.

Want a MOKE Californian? Visit mokeinternational.com and put up a refundable $990 deposit to get on the waiting list. Before you do, be aware that MOKE reports a real-life range of 45-80 miles on a single charge, for city and coastal driving. Combined under the Worldwide Harmonised Light Test Procedure, the listed range is 54 miles.

Meanwhile, if you’re wondering what happened to EV Technology Group, that’s a good question. I’ll try to get an update on their status. Alongside the strategic partnership with MOKE International in 2022, EVTG also announced plans to electrify other heritage vehicles, acquiring a portfolio of brands including Ford, Maserati, and Ferrri Coach Builders. In 2023 the company also celebrated a combined pre-order of 423 electric cars including its wholly owned subsidiary MOKE France as well its MOKE International partnership, but no further news has been forthcoming since 2024, when the entire EVTG leadership team resigned.

Photo: MOKE electric cars are coming to the US, starting in California where the company aims to fill the demand for fun, open-air EVs with a vintage flair (cropped, courtesy of MOKE International).