MOKE International returns to US with street-legal 50 mph open-top electric vehicle
Remember those fun little Jeep-like MOKE cars from the heyday of 1960s open-top fun-mobiles? Just months after landing a $55M funding deal, MOKE International is bringing them back to the US for the first time in decades with its new MOKE Californian model.
MOKE Californian returning to US
Some of our readers may remember that Mokes were Jeep-like British cars first built in the 1960s.
They grew popular across much of Europe before expanding to cities in Asia and North America, aided by a slew of celebrities that opted for the joy-riding vehicles in the ‘60s and ´70s.
Official numbers are hard to come by, but it is likely that around 50,000 of the vehicles were produced by various manufacturers over the years, helping develop a cult following for the fun little open-top runabouts.
Several decades before the Jeep Wrangler dominated coastal towns as the breezy beach vehicle of choice, Mokes were all the rage.
Decades later, UK-based MOKE International now tells us that they are returning to the United States with an improved and more powerful all-electric MOKE Californian. The move comes some 40 years since the last original version was last sold in the US.
According to the company, MOKE International’s electric MOKE Californian stands to become the only highway-legal Moke available in the US and the country’s “first genuine version of the original Mini Moke to go on sale since 1982.”
The original Moke Californian that sold in the US during the 1970s and 1980s came with a 1,275cc internal combustion engine (ICE). Decades later, MOKE International’s new Californian is now an all-electric vehicle with a 33 kW electric motor replacing the old gasoline-powered engine. In fact, while MOKE International did produce ICE-powered versions, the brand has since gone all-electric.
The new MOKE Californian features an 80 km/h (50 mph) top speed and a 0-55 km/h (0-34 mph) time of 4.3 seconds. It sports a lithium-ion battery with enough capacity for a claimed 120 km (74.5 mile) range based on the WLTP testing protocol. Or as MOKE puts it, “enough to cruise Route 101 down to Malibu Beach from Santa Barbara.”
The vehicles are designed with a full light package, retro-style needle gauges on the instrument panel, four seats with three-point safety belts (adjustable front seats and bench rear seats), waterproof speakers, waterproof upholstery, and a Bimini roof. Owners can also upgrade to a full canopy with doors.
The manufacturer MOKE International is the owner of the original 1964 Moke trademark as well as over 100 other Moke trademarks. In Europe, the company is widely recognized as the direct descendant of the original manufacturer of the legendary Mini Moke vehicle.
Some of my readers may recall that we covered another Moke manufacturer, MOKE America, earlier this summer. That company also produces Moke-style vehicles, though MOKE International maintains that MOKE America does not own the trademark, and thus has been engaged in a lengthy legal battle with the US-based company.
Earlier this year a MOKE International representative explained to Electrek that “MOKE America is not legally allowed to use the MOKE name, they are infringing on the trademark.”
MOKE International claimed the following in a legal filing:
MOKE International (MIL) owns the original 1964 European ‘MOKE’ Trademark and circa 100 others worldwide including the US mark following its sale by ACG Inc in 2016. In 2020, The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) dismissed the opposition of “Moke America” to MOKE International and its then JV partners, MOKE USA, re-registering that trademark. Though “Moke America” have appealed, we allege in our most recent lawsuit that they copied our designs and that their cars do not comply with U.S. automotive legislation. The court case will be heard in January 2023.
We don’t yet have any info on when exactly the MOKE Californian will be available in the US or what the price tag will be, but MOKE International tells us that those details will be coming in a matter of weeks.
For comparison, the manufacturer currently sells its vehicles for £29,150 (approximately US $32,860) in the UK.
Could you see yourself heading to the beach in a MOKE Californian? Let us know in the comment section below!
And just for fun, here’s an old photo of Electrek’s publisher Seth Weintraub with a vintage Moke variant that he used to drive in Macau. Without a left-hand manual 4-speed gearbox, the new all-electric MOKE Californian should be much easier (and quieter) to drive.
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The Mockingbird Solar Center, Ørsted’s largest solar project globally, is now online, next to protected prairie donated by the renewable energy giant.
This massive 468-megawatt (MW) solar farm is set to power 80,000 homes and businesses, providing a major boost to the Texas grid.
But the launch of Mockingbird Solar isn’t just about clean energy – it’s also about restoring precious ecosystems. Ørsted has donated 953 acres of the Smiley-Woodfin Native Prairie Grassland, which sits next to the solar center, to The Nature Conservancy. The donated land is now the Smiley Meadow Preserve, a protected area for tallgrass prairie that’s home to more than 400 species of grasses and wildflowers.
Tallgrass prairies are some of the rarest ecosystems in the US, with less than 1% of Texas’ original tallgrass prairies still in existence. Tallgrass prairie does a lot of heavy lifting for the environment, including storing carbon, preventing floods, and providing crucial habitats for pollinators.
“Native prairies are the rarest landscapes left in Texas – so much so that many people have never seen one,” said David Bezanson, land protection strategy program director for The Nature Conservancy in Texas. He added that preserving Smiley Meadow will not only conserve one of the best prairie remnants left but also help restore other prairie habitats and boost regional biodiversity.
The Mockingbird Solar Center, a half-billion-dollar project, is part of Ørsted’s $20 billion push to expand renewable energy production across the US. Beyond generating electricity, it will inject $75 million into local property taxes, benefiting schools and other public services. The project also created over 550 construction jobs and will continue to be supported by operations staff moving forward.
Ørsted worked with US companies, including First Solar, for solar panels and partnered with local businesses like Drake Construction and Pfifer Farms for construction materials. It also gave more than $50,000 to local volunteer fire departments in Roxton and Brookston.
With Mockingbird Solar now up and running, Ørsted has more than 6 gigawatts of onshore wind, solar, and battery storage projects either in operation or being built across the US.
Read more: Ørsted got a huge Tesla battery storage system for the world’s single-largest offshore wind farm
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Jeep’s first global luxury electric SUV will arrive at US dealerships any day. Despite its $72,000 price tag, lease prices for the 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S EV start at just $599 per month.
2024 Jeep Wagoneer S EV lease prices
After unveiling its first global electric SUV, Jeep’s CEO said the Wagoneer S “marks a new chapter” in its storied history.
Jeep claims the Wagoneer S packs “exhilarating performance.” With 600 hp and 617 lb-ft of torque, the big-body SUV can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. Its 100 kWh battery pack also gives it a driving range of over 300 miles.
The electric SUV is unmistakably still a Jeep, but it did get several upgrades to distinguish it as an EV. The grille is now enclosed without the need to cool a massive engine, giving it a sporty, more modern look.
Jeep revamped its design with a new illuminated seven-slot grille with ambient cast lightning. It also fine-tuned its profile, adding flush door handles, a rear wing, and integrated fins for better airflow.
The first Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition models get exclusive dark accent design elements like 20″ Gloss Black Wheels.
Inside, the electric SUV is loaded with the latest tech and connectivity, including a best-in-class 45″ of usable screen space. The setup includes a 12.3″ center screen and an exclusive 10.25″ interactive front passenger screen.
Jeep already announced that the 2024 Wagoneer S EV will start at $71,995, but now the company has revealed lease prices for the first time.
According to Jeep, the 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition can be leased for $599 per month for 36 months (10,000 miles per year). The deal includes $4,999 due at signing and a $7,500 EV incentive. However, you may want to act fast, as Jeep’s offer is only good until December 2, 2024.
| Jeep Wagoneer S vs Tesla Model Y | Starting Price | Range | Lease Price |
| Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition | $71,995 | +300 miles | $599/mo |
| Tesla Model Y RWD | $44,990 | 320 miles | $299/mo |
| Tesla Model Y AWD | $47,990 | 308 miles | $399/mo |
| Tesla Model Y AWD Performance | $51,490 | 279 miles | $599/mo |
In comparison, Tesla Model Y RWD lease prices start at $299 for 36 months with $2,999 down (10,000 miles). The Performance AWD model starts at $599 per month. In an end-of-year promo, Tesla also offers 3 months of free Supercharging and Full Self-Driving.
Ready to drive off in your new electric SUV? We can help you get started. You can use our links below to view offers on the Jeep Wagoneer S and Tesla Model Y at a dealer near you.
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