LAS VEGAS—Electric vehicles were a big thing at CES this year. Even before the show officially kicked off, Faraday Future introduced the world to its FF Zero 1 concept car, and Chevrolet let journalists (including us) get behind the wheel of its new Bolt EV. But the single most fun EV we encountered was also the cheapest and most pared back (by quite some margin)—the Arcimoto SRK.

The SRK is an electric trike. It's a two-seater in a tandem configuration with the driver up front steering via handlebars. Earlier prototypes used a steering wheel—something Arcimoto chose to change since it now classifies the SRK as a motorbike, which have much easier homologation regulations than cars. But the SRK has things bikes don't have. You're in no danger of tipping it over for one thing (the batteries give it a good 70:30 weight balance front:rear and ensure stability), and it's got a roof and even optional side panels.

Oh, and because you've got a windshield and a roof and seatbelts, there's no need to wear a helmet. (Depending upon the state you live in you may need a motorcycle license to drive it, but you can take that test in the SRK.) There's even luggage space at the back. Even better is the price. Arcimoto says it should cost $11,900 before any tax credits or rebates are taken into account, making this a most-affordable machine.

Up front are a pair of electric motors, powering the front wheels. Behind them, running along the length of the SRK is the battery pack—a 12kWh lithium ion number that's good for 70 miles (112km) of range, although a 20kWh option will also be available that bumps that range up to 130 miles (209km). And don't go thinking it's something slow like a golf cart—top speed is 85mph (137km/h), more than fast enough for city driving.

In a mostly empty parking about half a mile from the main show, Arcimoto's John Friess talked us around the SRK before offering us the chance to try it out. And as you'll see from the video above, it very quickly won us over. The controls will be familiar to those of you who bike—twist the right grip to make it go, use the regenerative braking handle to slow down (there's also a mechanical foot brake as a backup), and turn from side to side to steer.

As with all EVs, you get a lot of torque almost instantly, and 60 mph (97km/h) is just 7.5 seconds away. While we didn't quite hit 60 in that parking lot, even at slightly slower velocities the SRK felt fast because you're so exposed to the elements around you. The amount of grip available for cornering was also a little surprising; we're quite sure this EV would be fun to hustle down a back road on a sunny day.

Jonathan Gitlin

Arcimoto

Arcimoto

As we mentioned, side panels are available for those who aren't keen on exposing themselves to the elements, and the company is also working on a delivery version that swaps out the second seat for an enclosed cargo space.

The SRK hasn't moved into production just yet, although Arcimoto is accepting refundable $100 deposits from future customers. While we realize that it's not going to be the right EV for all drivers and all occasions, city-dwellers looking for a cheap and fun commuting machine would do well to give this little EV a closer look.

Listing image by Jonathan Gitlin