Image Credit: Captain Electro.
California... Endless sunshine, avocado over-consumption, and, apparently, a desperate need for a new kind of small, open-air, slow-ish automobile. I’ve seen more beach buggies and custom golf carts on the West Coast than I’ve seen sensible drivers in the fast lane. I suppose it was only a matter of time before the iconic MOKE - that slightly ridiculous, perpetually cheerful British fun-mobile - made its grand, electric entrance. This is the "California Collection," and it’s not trying to replace your Tesla. It’s here to remind you that a big chunk of money can buy you about as much electric vehicle as a decent used sedan. But you get 100 times the smiles.
Underneath that unmistakable hood is a motor pushing 33 kilowatts, which is roughly 44 horsepower. That’s less power than the cheapest Ford Fiesta, and yet somehow, this little box on wheels manages to get up to a hair-raising top speed of 50 miles per hour. If you're thinking of a quick freeway jaunt, you'd better reconsider. If you’re planning on winning the drag race against that chap on a bicycle? You might just have a chance, provided the bicycle is going uphill.
Image Credit: MOKE.
The limitations just keep coming... The Electric MOKE will graciously transport you for approximately 54 miles before it sulks and demands a lie-down. That’s probably enough to get you to the beach, realize you forgot the sunscreen, and then get halfway back to the house before panic sets in. This is not a car - it’s an elaborate, zero-emissions lifestyle accessory. And what is the price of this impracticality? A cool $49,500 to start… This is purely a plaything for those who already have a family runabout, a big SUV, and possibly a yacht. It exists in the premium territory, which is British-speak for "expensive toy for people who already own everything."
The thing is, you have to respect history. This isn't some focus-group-designed plastic tub. The Moke was originally conceived in the 1960s as a British military vehicle. A machine designed for the tough life of soldiering, which, thankfully for the soldiers, was almost immediately rejected for being too low to the ground and generally useless off-road. Its failure in combat was the world’s gain in fun, as it soon became the cult-favorite, open-top darling of the Caribbean and the French Riviera. A military vehicle that couldn’t navigate a puddle now navigates the boulevards of Beverly Hills. The irony is so thick you could use it as axle grease.
Image Credit: MOKE.
The design is simple: an open-air vehicle that offers a truly immersive experience - mostly because you're exposed to the elements. No roof, no windows (well, sort of), and no notion of aerodynamic efficiency. You will be seeing the world, and the world will most certainly be seeing you. For the California launch, they’ve even given us a handful of wonderfully nostalgic colors, cleverly named after the locations where you are most likely to be seen driving one: 'Sonoma Red,' 'Laguna Blue,' and the wonderfully crisp 'Venice White.' It’s the perfect, four-wheeled embodiment of a Californian summer afternoon, provided that afternoon doesn't involve any hills or long distances.
Getting this open-top electric MOKE street-legal in the People's Republic of California was apparently a years-long saga of paperwork, lobbying, and probably a few high-tea sessions. To be fully compliant and actually sell these electric beach buggies in the US, MOKE International had to jump through all the flaming hoops of California's stringent regulations, including becoming the first low-volume EV manufacturer to secure the almighty California Air Resources Board (CARB) approval.
Image Credit: MOKE.
This is a big deal because it allowed the company to bust past the humiliating 25 mph limitation imposed on Low-Speed Vehicles (LSVs) you often see puttering around golf communities. They managed to double that speed to 50 mph, which, in the world of LSVs, is practically breaking the sound barrier. It’s a genius loophole: pay a premium, go a bit faster, and still avoid the truly expensive and complicated Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards required for a real car.
The company is very keen to tell us that all genuine MOKEs are handcrafted in the UK, with over 70 percent of the parts sourced from Europe. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is where a good chunk of that $49,500 goes. You are buying pedigree. You are buying a small slice of British engineering that has been lovingly assembled by a chap named Nigel, probably while drinking a weak cup of tea and complaining about the weather. This attention to detail means it has "unmatched quality." I assume that is true until you hit your first giant American pothole and the steering wheel reminds you it's attached to a machine built primarily for resort roads. It’s a massive step up from the cheap, plastic-bodied LSVs that currently litter the beaches, giving you that lovely feeling of superiority as you whiz past them at your blistering 50 mph.
Image Credit: MOKE.
For those of you already reaching for your checkbooks, here’s a sobering thought: exclusivity is guaranteed. MOKE is only making a limited quantity of 325 vehicles available for purchase across the entire US in 2026. That's a tiny club, a membership card to the 'I Own A MOKE' society. It’s an instant luxury toy for someone who uses "beach house" as a verb. Lorne Vary, the CEO, said that launching in California "feels like a true homecoming." It’s a heartwarming sentiment that makes you forget you are about to spend fifty grand on something that struggles to keep up with a Vespa. But he’s right, this state, with its love of "sunshine, freedom, and outdoor adventure," is the perfect natural habitat for an open-top fun-mobile.
But who exactly is the target demographic for this electric beach buggy? It's not the person looking for maximum miles per dollar. It’s not the commuter braving the 405 freeway every morning. It's the resort operator looking for a snazzy, zero-emissions way to shuttle guests from the infinity pool to the lobster buffet. It’s the person who lives three blocks from the ocean and needs a picturesque, coastal road cruiser that makes a visual statement. And it certainly makes a statement. It brings a genuinely retro flair and lifestyle appeal that you simply don’t get with other glorified golf carts. You can’t put a price on looking perpetually happy, even if that happiness is limited to a 54-mile radius.
Image Credit: MOKE.
The Electric MOKE is, in short, marvelous nonsense. It’s expensive, slow, doesn’t go very far, and offers absolutely no protection from the weather. And yet, I can’t help but smile. It’s the antithesis of the modern, soulless, 300-mile-range electric brick that sits in most garages. It prioritizes open-air, zero-emissions fun over raw, eye-watering performance. It's a throwback and a charming anomaly. It’s a brilliant way to spend a lot of money on a machine designed purely for joy. If you’ve got a beach house, a surplus of cash, and a strong dislike for helmets, get your reservation in. This bright blue, red, or white piece of British whimsy is the perfect way to cruise along the Pacific Coast Highway - just make sure you check the tide charts and the nearest charging station before you leave.
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