About 40 years after last selling vehicles in the United States, Moke International is back in the country with the new Electric Moke Californian. This low-speed vehicle is inspired by the original 1964 Mini Moke and is powered by a fully electric powertrain. This battery powered machine is handcrafted in the UK and its American version follows the Electric Moke for the European market, which was just launched on the Old Continent.
The Mini Moke ceased production in 1982 and was last sold in the United States four decades ago. Its modern successor is road legal and has a top speed of 50 miles per hour (80 kilometers per hour). With a fully charged battery, this cute EV can cover a distance of up to 80 miles (120 km). Moke International says this range is sufficient for exploring Route 101 to Malibu Beach from Santa Barbara.
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This zero-emissions low-speed vehicle is powered by a 44-horsepower (33-kilowatt) electric motor mounted on the rear wheels. Acceleration from rest to 34 miles per hour (0-55 kilometers per hour) takes 4.3 seconds. The Californian Electric Moke weighs just 1,764 pounds (800 kilograms). A full charge of the lithium-ion battery takes just four hours in the Type 1 port.
The manufacturer says the modern Moke embodies the same qualities and characteristics as the original LSV. Moke International describes these virtues as “fun, freedom, fresh air” but in this new version, they are combined with the joy of riding a pure electric engine. This new model retains the youthful and funky design language of the original Moke Californian. Its predecessor was available in the United States between 1977 and 1982.
Originally designed as a light military vehicle that could be dropped into war zones, the Mini Moke was sold in the UK as a utility cart for farmers and workers. Its popularity quickly expanded beyond the UK to France and Australia and eventually allowed more modern versions to be sold in the US in the late 1970s.
Moke International will release more details, including availability and pricing, in the coming weeks. The manufacturer is proud to say that this was the first automaker of the 1960s to go fully electric.
