Moke goes electric, but the price will give you a shock

The iconic Mini Moke is about to join the electric-car era.

However, before beach-going fans of the sun-loving vehicle get too excited, it’s worth noting the future of the Moke is now destined to become a golf buggy or resort runabout.

Despite repeated promises an Australian return is on the cards, it is unlikely the Moke will meet safety standards for local road use.

However, the Moke will still live on in countries that offer exemptions for road use of such cars – or be deployed as a resort vehicle because they can be used on private property.

The new owners of the Moke brand – which use much of the design and tooling from the original model, and manufacture the vehicle in limited numbers in the UK – say they will build the last petrol-powered Moke this year before a shift to electric power in 2022.

A statement from the company out of the UK overnight said: “From January 1 2022, it will no longer be possible to order (a petrol-powered) Moke, making the marque the first legacy manufacturer in the world to go fully electric.”

The company says it is now taking reservations for deliveries to be scheduled in time for the 2022 European summer holiday season.

According to the company’s website, the electric Moke has a maximum driving range of 144km, can be recharged from empty in four hours on a high output electricity socket, and has a top speed of 100km/h.

But the most eye-watering statistic is the price. In the UK the electric Moke will start from £29,150. That’s $53,000 in Australian currency – dearer than the MG ZS EV and electric hatchbacks from Nissan and Hyundai locally.

The company claims the electric Moke can reach 55km/h from rest in just 4.5 seconds (about the same as a Toyota Corolla) because the 33kW electric motor only needs to move 800kg.

“Range is fit for five round trips between Cap-Ferrat to Monaco (144km),” the company says, adding that the recharge time is estimated to be four hours on a Type 2 EU Standard socket.

SPECIFICATIONS
Electric motor: Three-phase AC Synchronous
Range: 144km
Recharge time: 4 hours
Top speed: 100 km/h
Max output: 33kW
Charger port: Type 2 (EU Standard)
Dimensions length x width x height: 3225 x 1660 x 1546mm
Weight: 800Kg
Ground clearance: 180mm

MORE: Company says it wants to bring Moke back to Australia