Ellenator vehicles - everything worth knowing for the conversion!

Recently updated on September 19, 2023 at 06:18 am

[Update: 19.09.2023] This post was updatedto take more recent information into account. An Ellenator car offers many advantages when compared to conventional passenger cars. However, the first glance shows that an Ellenator has nothing to do with the legendary Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 "Eleanor" has to do. Not in the beginning ... The inventor, master car mechanic Wenzeslaus “Wenzel” Ellenrieder from Dösingen, had set himself the goal of constructing a suitable car for his 16-year-old son. It should have a certain degree of stability and be able to offer a minimum level of security. And he succeeded. Since an Ellenator passenger car is classified in vehicle class L5e, it is suitable and approved for young people aged 16 and over.

Ellenator vehicles = A1 Fleppen

Anyone who can show a class A1 driving license will reach their destination quickly and safely in a throttled vehicle. And the Ellenator can also be used with class 1b, 3 or B driving licenses. You just have to make sure that the driving license was acquired before January 19, 2013. The same applies to the old driving license class 4 if it was acquired before April 1, 1980.

How does an Ellenator car work?

Ellenator vehicles belong to the passenger car category. The vehicle has four wheels and is still classified as a three-wheel motor vehicle. So he cannot be compared with Reliant Robin, which also carries the single wheel on the front axle. The converted axis of the Ellenator is at the rear. And two tires can also be seen. There are dual wheels, which are counted as one wheel and are attached to a vehicle axle. The passenger car is usually powered by a 1,0 - 1,2 liter gasoline engine. More power ex works doesn't make sense either, as the engine is throttled to just 20 hp using electronic control.

What are the advantages of an Ellenator vehicle?

Anyone who decides to drive Ellenator vehicles has many advantages:

• Thanks to the throttling to 15 KW (20 HP), also suitable for young people from 16 years and driving license A1.
• Safer and more comfortable than a lightweight vehicle or a two-wheeler
• Particularly suitable for beginners and older people
• Maximum speed of 90 km / h
• Allowed on highways
• Four wheels, approved as a tricycle
• Permitted to carry up to 4 people
• Maximum load 300 kg
• Extensive safety equipment, ABS, ESP and airbags
• The entire vehicle equipment, such as navigation system, hands-free system or air conditioning, can be retained in the converted vehicle

In our opinion, the last two points in particular are convincing. Such a vehicle cannot be compared with a light Aixam City Diesel (moped car), a microcar or a car from the manufacturer Ligier. The Ellenator is a full Vehicle from a large manufacturer and therefore has all safety-related options on board. Apart from the rear axle and the throttling of the engine power, there are almost no differences to the production vehicle.

How is the vehicle converted to the Ellenator car?

Conversion to an Ellenator car requires a high level of skill and technical know-how. To convert to an Ellenator vehicle, the entire rear axle of the car must be removed and converted. A suitable wheel arch must then be installed approximately in the middle of the trunk, which of course limits the trunk volume. The wheel arch is welded firmly so that two 14-inch wheels can optimally absorb and distribute the wheel load. You also have to attach a special rear wheel swing arm to the axle mounting points.

The double wheel, which only has a track width of less than 460 mm (Directive 2002/24 / EG, such a bike is legally considered a bike), added. The springs and shock absorbers used so far can continue to exist if they are undamaged and fully functional. Then the rear wheel housings are covered with a galvanized sheet and, if necessary, painted or foiled. The Ellenator car now has a streamlined look similar to the VW XL1 (1 liter car) and can even be upgraded like a normal vehicle by means of tuning.

which vehicles are suitable for the conversion?

Cars built on the VW Group's PQ24 platform (Seat Ibiza, Škoda Fabia and VW Polo) can be converted to the Ellenator. And since 2017, the popular Fiat 500 can also be converted. However, there are already modified Ford KA and other models. The vehicle class is important here, so an Opel Corsa could also be considered. So if you have enough capital, you can have a well-equipped Audi A2, the slightly larger Seat Cordoba or the VW Fox and the Skoda Fabia converted to the Ellenator. And the rare VW Gol should also be suitable for this. All of them were created on the PQ24 platform. Since 2015, the vehicles have been built in series and sold with street approval.

PS: An alternative, albeit a rather unsafe one, is a light vehicle. You can find out more about this in our article “Light vehicles / moped cars: risks and benefits!".

ELLENATOR Summary:

The ELLENATOR vehicle concept was developed in Allgäu, the region of inventors and tinkerers. Wenzel Ellenrieder, the brains behind the ELLENATOR and managing director of the company of the same name, put a brilliant idea into practice: a car that, despite having four wheels, is classified as a “three-wheeled vehicle”. Therefore, it can be driven at the age of 16 thanks to the A1 driving license. The highlight: It is usually based on the Fiat500. The ELLENATOR impresses not only with its exceptional classification, but also with its extensive safety equipment – thanks to ABS, ESP, airbags and more.

In addition, there are all the amenities you know from modern cars: air conditioning, electric windows, central locking and even the option of an electric folding roof! As far as the engine is concerned, the original Fiat engine was used in the case of the 500 14,4 kW (20 PS) throttled, causing the vehicle to experience a peak of about 90 km/h reached. It remains quite economical with a consumption of around 5 liters per 100 km. On top of that, it is a real eye-catcher. But attention: If you decide on the ELLENATOR conversion, you have to buy the base vehicle, the Fiat 500, from the partner dealer Triangel Handels GmbH.

the most important numbers at a glance

• Fiat 500: Basic model for the Ellenator conversion.
• 3: Number of wheels after conversion.
• 6.180 €: Conversion price for the standard Ellenator.
• 6.480 €: Conversion price for the Ellenator convertible.
• 25.370 €: Total price for the Fiat 500 Ellenator Hatchback Hybrid.
• 28.670 €: Total price for the Fiat 500 Ellenator Dolcevita Hybrid.
• 31.470 €: Total price for the Fiat 500 Ellenator Cabrio Dolcevita Hybrid.
• 140 €: Costs for the daily registration to register the conversion.
• 500 €: Costs for complete winter wheels.
• 95 €: Cost of mud flaps for the rear wheels.
• L5E: Vehicle classification after conversion.
• 14,4 KW (19 PS): Performance of the vehicle after the conversion.
• 90 km/h: Maximum speed of the vehicle after the conversion.

You shouldn't swallow the price either, it starts at a high price 25.000 EUR. But the hype seems to be huge for the three-wheeled racer, which even 16-year-olds can drive. Ellenrieder has already sold over 1.000 of the models! So if you're looking for a unique vehicle and want to start early, the ELLENATOR could be just the thing for you. But remember, insurance can also be expensive - prices vary greatly 700 € to 2000 € per year. Photo credit/source: ellenator-gmbh.de among others

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