Venture Vehicles is now Persu Mobility and makes an Urban Life Vehicle (ULV)
It may look the same, but this is not the VentureOne. As of today, the three-wheeled VentureOne you see above is called the Persu Hybrid. The company behind the car, Venture, has changed their name to Persu Mobility and says that "other corporations [that] have used derivations of the Venture name" is the reason for the switch. Guess we'll have to update our tags.
Persu Mobility is also getting into GM's ER-EV territory with this announcement: "[The Persu Hybrid] is a class of vehicle that literally doesn't exist today and we have coined a new term for it, the Urban Life Vehicle (ULV)." Whatever it's called, you can see the evolution of the vehicle by looking at the galleries below.
Read Persu Mobility's email after the jump. Thanks to everyone who sent this in.
Gallery: VentureOne & Carver three-wheelers
[Source: Persu Mobility]
Email from Persu Mobility:
Persu Mobility
The world is entering a new era of mobility, and in particular, seeking solutions to balance the twin challenges of dramatic population increases in the major urban cities of the world with the need to maintain the freedom of mobility. With 80% of the world's population growth in the next 20 years coming from the top 20 urban markets, it's clear the time is right to develop and endorse fresh new solutions.
Founded in 2005 as Venture Vehicles, Persu Mobility was established to answer these challenges. It is a company focused on being at the leading edge of a new world of American mobility with the development and introduction of an exciting urban transportation vehicle that defines a new American personal transportation segment.
The company is lead by a highly talented team with proven automotive industry expertise in business strategy and operations, technology development and implementation, vehicle engineering, distribution and marketing success.
The result is a new generation of automotive company unencumbered by past traditions and totally dedicated to ushering in a new era of mobility with fresh new transportation solutions.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
meme 5:12PM (12/08/2008)
Perhaps one of these days they'll actually get around to making vehicles.
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Ignatius 5:21PM (12/08/2008)
I've been there since 2006, I doubt it.
Mark 5:24PM (12/08/2008)
HA, no girl would want to be picked up in this thing. Instant FAIL.
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gulags 5:52PM (12/08/2008)
Props to these guys for pissing through their venture (ha ha) capital without anything to show for it, and not suffering the consequences. It would make the dot-commers proud.
But really, shame on Carver for not selling their bikes in the States. That's the real crime here.
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jimgee 5:55PM (12/08/2008)
Maybe we can have a race between the Persu Hybrid and the Dagne (http://www.revolutionmotors.biz/revolution/index.html), and see which company DRAWS a new vehicle first.
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Snoopy 12:45AM (12/09/2008)
I was originally planning on getting the VentureOne, sorry, Persu Hybrid when it was still planned as a Serial Hybrid. When they went to the Parallel Hybrid model I switched over to Dagne watching. Considering they've already shown video of their prototype in action, that's pretty good.
They just need to get started on production. Maybe they should go on the Dragon's Den (http://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/) and try their luck. They've already agreed to fund Uno (http://www.the-uno-tomorrows-transportation.com/index.html). Who knows.
PVin 6:44PM (12/08/2008)
I just hope that when and if it gets out to the market it doesn't get an hefty price tag as the Carver in Europe ( 39000 EUr plus accessories - around 50000USD....)
After all these are BIKES so get us a BIKE pricetag PLEEEASEEEE. Not a Lamborghini type Price
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Warren11050 7:06PM (12/08/2008)
I really hope they actually build it. If they do and stick to their original pricing... I will buy it. I actually like the Dagne better with it's joystick steering, throttle, and brake.
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ug 7:59PM (12/08/2008)
They're done. Any company that is incapable of releasing an electric version of an existing paltform for this long is incompetent. Look at what Aptera has accomplished from the ground up in comparison.
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stevefazek 1:42AM (12/09/2008)
God i need to start making some auto cad pictures and Styrofoam models its the best way to get rich
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Tim 9:05AM (12/09/2008)
It's a beautiful concept and should be a LOT more fun than the Volt to drive. Too bad Persu will be unable to REALLY compete against the big-3 who are about to receive unlimited tax money.
Too bad the USSA has decided to follow the USSR's socialist business model. When gov't chooses (funds) technology, competition, innovation & quality die while costs increase. It's MUCH easier to spend another person's money when you can do so with NO personal risk or responsibility.
By the way, Aurel Perşu (1890-1977), was a Romanian engineer, and among the first to apply aerodynamics principles to automobiles. He came to the conclusion that the perfectly aerodynamic automobile has the shape of a falling water-drop.
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kballs 2:13PM (12/09/2008)
That's funny because a free-falling water drop is actually a sphere, not the cartoon "teardrop" shape that most people think.
John 11:51AM (12/09/2008)
Hopefully they will soon provide some updates as to where they are at this point in time. They have already backed up the roll-out date to Early 2010 in California only and later in the following years elsewhere in the U.S. It has changed from a serial hybrid to a parallel hybrid with lowering of expected fuel mileage from 100mpg plus to approx 75mpg. It still is a vehicle to watch and see. There are a lot of others in developement at this time with the same if not better MPG ratings.
I hope the end result of the Persu Mobility vehicle will still be a great vehicle.
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Jon 7:33PM (12/09/2008)
I really do hope they come out with a product that will get some good reviews. They have the attention for now, but that can shift quickly as others are heading the same way.
This vehicle will break new grounds. It has to be fun ,and be totally gas practical beyond arguments. Kind of sad, if the roll out will be pushed back ,as I am ready now to buy.
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Chris M 9:59PM (12/09/2008)
I'm not sure of the reason for the name change, perhaps they were worried about being confused with Bricklins "Visionary Vehicles".
Or maybe they just thought a variation of "Persue" (as in chase after) would be a cool name.
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Roger W. 9:39AM (6/17/2009)
Well 6 (SIX) whole months [now Jun 2009], and not a 'word' of any progress on this vehicle, sort of makes you wonder IF there is 'any progress', and WHEN or IF it will ever be produced. NOT a way to obtain financial backers, or keep potential buyers 'excited', IMHO.
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Siva 9:24AM (7/09/2009)
This project will never get off the ground for the same reasons some of the best motorcycle companies died out after the second world war. Why pay car prices for a bike, no matter how good it is. Case in point, the Royal Enfield, Burroughs Superior and the Vincent Black Prince, all outstanding bikes but well out of reach of the masses who would rather buy a car for the families they were now bringing up. Those masses will determine if your project succeeds or fails. They are still trying to hand manufacturer these bikes when the obvious thing to do would be to license it to a third world country with good manufacturing facilities and ability to mass produce and thus bring the price down. Unfortunately I do not see this happening.
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