Rise of the microcar – why compact electric cars are finally having their day and the ones to watch
Many cities around the world are facing a traffic jam crisis – and where governments and local authorities have seen fit to curb emissions from CO2-emitting tailpipes, the humble car is slowly being driven out of many urban areas.
Although the microcar is nothing new (the petrol Peel P50 was launched in the early 1960s), it is experiencing something of a renaissance thanks to traffic and pollution problems. And because battery and electric motor technology is now seen as the ‘cleaner and greener’ option, most modern models have gone electric.
Renault arguably pioneered the genre with its funky Twizy, once the best-selling plug-in car in Europe before it was phased out, while Citroen recently rekindled the microcar flame with its Ami, which remains one of the cheapest electric cars that are for sale. to buy.
“In the field of mobility, we have to think about how we move. When we think about the (modern) cars and how big and heavy they have become, this is definitely the wrong direction. We need to be more sustainable and cars need to get smaller,” Microlino co-founder Merlin Ouboter told The fully charged show.
Merlin isn’t wrong, as it is not uncommon for a modern electric SUV to weigh over three tonnes, while the physical footprint of today’s vehicles has increased dramatically to suit and accommodate customers’ action-packed lifestyles to the large – and often very heavy – battery packs. This simply doesn’t work when parking spaces are scarce. Enter the microcar.
“In many cities in Spain it is simply not practical to try to drive and park a car, which is why we see such a high concentration of scooters and motorcycles,” says Pablo Barrios, business development manager at EV and mobility company Silence. me at the Geneva Motor Show this year.
“But we also know that there is a demand for something that is protected against the elements, provides comfort such as air conditioning, and has storage space for shopping. That’s why we developed our S04 Nanocar model. It is rapidly gaining popularity across Europe and is often the fastest and easiest way to get around the city,” he added.
Even in the US, where life-size cars loom large over the landscape, microcars are starting to gain ground, not least the $11,900 electric neighborhood car (NEV) from start-up Eli, which is now offering its Zero model in both Europe and the United States. in the U.S.
With that in mind, here are some of the key players and emerging names to look out for in the microcar space…
Microlino and Microlino Lite
The Microlino is well worth its place in this guide, not least because of its extremely cute design.
The Swiss company behind the Micro-scooter, itself a craze sweeping the world, set out to design a low-power, equally low-maintenance electric vehicle that would allow even 14-year-olds to legally drive the income markets.
It is available in two flavors, the smallest of which is inspired by the famous Isetta Bubble Car from the 1950s. The Microlino Lite has the same front-opening ‘fridge door’ and three-wheel layout as its retro predecessor, but this thoroughly modern version is powered by batteries and electric motors.
It weighs just 435kg, meaning it can travel 100km on a single charge and charging the batteries takes around two hours from a household socket. There’s also a larger 11 kWh battery (the standard is 5.5 kWh) that extends the range to 180 km – or 112 miles – but takes four hours to charge.
The larger four-wheeled Microlino has room for two people and has a maximum speed of around 90 km/h, making it more suitable for longer journeys. Choose the largest battery packs and you can travel as much as 180 kilometers on a single charge.
The Microlino is already in production and for sale in a number of European markets, with the US being the next big target. It’ll cost €21,990 (about £19,000 / $24,000 / AU$36,500), which is expensive, but the Lite version will be offered via a leasing deal in its home city of Switzerland, rather than an outright purchase. Micro suggests monthly payments of CHF149, which is approximately €156 / £134 or $169 / AU$259.
Silence S04 Nanocar
Proudly on display at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, the Silence S04 Nanocar has quickly emerged in markets outside its Spanish homeland and is gaining popularity for its smart battery design that also works with Silence’s range of electric scooters.
These large, cube-shaped packs (the Nanocar requires two) feature retractable wheels, meaning they can be easily removed from the vehicle in question and easily towed to a socket, scooter or even to the many Silence battery swap centres.
The S04 costs £15,995 (about $20,000 / AU$30,000) to buy outright, but Silence is another company touting a monthly rental fee or membership package. In Spain it is possible to register and use both the scooters and the Nanocar for one favorable price. Alternatively, Silence offers customers the option to purchase the vehicle and then lease the battery technology to keep costs down.
As a means of transport, the S04 Nanocar is capable of a top speed of 80 km/h, can travel approximately 150 kilometers on a single charge and has USB chargers for smartphones, ample space for luggage and operates without a key, which simply requires a smartphone app is required. unlock.
Eli Zero
The small Eli Zero offers a range of 100 km and a top speed of 40 km/h. It’s designed to get from A to B with minimal fuss, replacing the quick trips into town that a scooter or moped would likely have done – albeit with better protection from the elements, air conditioning, power steering, a rear-view camera and even a optional head unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality.
Reservations have already opened in the US, despite regulations making it difficult for the Microcar to thrive due to strict crash safety laws. As a result, for example, it is only legal to drive on roads with a speed limit of 55 km/h, hence the ‘Neighborhood Electric Vehicle’ category.
However, that doesn’t stop Eli from including Bluetooth speakers, comfortable seating for two, LED headlights and a neat keyless ignition system. It may look like a glorified golf cart, but in terms of equipment it has more in common with real passenger cars.
Eli says it has the capacity to produce about 4,000 Zero models per year, although it is not yet known how much interest it has received so far.
Birò
Originating from Italy, Birò takes a similar approach to small personal transportation as Silence, offering quick-swap battery technology in its models and highly adaptable mobility solutions that range from the cheapest and easiest ways to get around, to solutions that can function in colder climates and transport more freight.
Birò wants you to think of its products as small-capacity motorcycles, with similar performance to the 50cc and 125cc scooters currently on the market.
Top speeds range from around 45mph to 60mph, but they cost from £11,350 (around $14,000 / AU$21,500), making them much cheaper than most electric vehicles currently on sale.
In Italy there is the option to join a membership program and access a Birò if required, with the company offering it in ‘Big’ (seats two) or ‘Small’ (seats just one), as well as ‘Naked’ and ‘dressed’ configurations.
Where the Microlino and Microlino Lite are big on retro design and disarmingly cute looks, the Birò is more utilitarian overall. Although it still offers heated windshields, a digital speedometer and a smartphone holder.