The Moke is returning to the United States after a 40-year absence, but with one key difference: This time it will be a highway-approved electric vehicle with a top speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) and a range of 75 miles (120 km).

The USA’s zero-emissions reimagining of the classic Mini Moke has been aptly named the Moke Californian, apparently fitting in well with surf culture and state the push for electric cars. The “Californian” tag was also on a version of the original Moke sold in the US from 1977 to 1982.

The EV version of the Moke will be manufactured in the UK and features a 33 kW (44 hp) engine that sends power to the rear wheels. With a top speed of just 50 mph (80 km/h), the usual 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) metric is a bit redundant. Instead, it sprints to 34 mph (50 km/h) in 4.3 seconds, which we reckon isn’t too shabby.

Read: The Revived Moke will go all-electric in 2022, priced from £29,150 in the UK

The lithium-ion battery provides enough energy for 75 miles (120 km) of driving — though that’s based on the somewhat optimistic WLTP cycle, which means EPA figures could be lower. Still, according to the folks at Moke International, that’s enough to cruise Route 101 to Malibu Beach from Santa Barbara. Meanwhile, the battery can be fully charged in four hours from a standard US Type 1 charger.

If you’re wondering if this Moke has anything to do with BMW or MINI, it doesn’t. Moke International, the name behind the Moke Californian, owns the original 1964 Moke trademark as well as 100 other Moke trademarks.

Also, Moke International is unrelated to Moke America, which offers a similarly styled EV with a top speed of 25 mph (40 km/h). According to the former, they are currently fighting a legal battle over the use of the trademark. Moke International claims that Moke America copied their designs and that the latter’s cars do not comply with US motor vehicle laws. The court case will be heard in January 2023.

Pricing for the Moke Californian has yet to be announced for America, but in the UK it’s offered with a starting price of £29,150, which equates to around $33,000.
















https://www.carscoops.com/2022/10/the-moke-californian-returns-to-the-us-as-a-highway-legal-ev/

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