Photo: Micro Mobility Systems
Swiss company Micro Mobility Systems goes against the current trend of launching bigger and heavier vehicles, fighting the weight arms race with the tiniest and cutest electric car. Microlino Lite, unveiled in Geneva, targets teenagers in Europe, where it can be driven by people aged 14 and over with an AM (moped) driving license. The microcar will also launch in the US as a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle later this year.
There's no doubt that modern vehicles have grown larger and heavier with every generation, which has never been more evident than in the United States. Large SUVs and trucks are the bread and butter of car buyers in North America, where having such gargantuan automobiles is a moral duty to your family. That's because heavier vehicles tend to fare better in a crash, and until all cars on the roads are like armored vehicles, there doesn't seem to be an end in sight.
The trend accelerated as electric vehicles became more popular. With their big batteries, EVs are heavier than most comparable vehicles in their respective segments. They also have a lower center of gravity, which makes them hard to flip over. These characteristics make EVs some of the safest cars on the roads. Still, not everyone is convinced that bigger and heavier is always better, especially as Europeans have gone in the opposite direction.
This hasn't been more obvious than at Micro's boot at Palexpo, the Geneva Motor Show venue. The Swiss company, a show's mainstay, unveiled its latest model, the Microlino Lite. This is a toned-down version of its Microlino electric bubble car. Its top speed is limited to 45 kph (28 mph), allowing even teenagers to drive it in some European countries. You're good to go if you're 14 (or 16, depending on local regulations) and have an AM (moped) driving license.
The Microlino Lite doesn't skimp on safety, despite the front-opening door it copied from BMW's Isetta, which was the design inspiration for the Microlino vehicles. Micro designed a proper automotive safety cell dubbed Microlino Chassis 2.0, which replaces the tubular frame of other similar microcars. Micro claims this is the first in its class, improving both safety and driving behavior compared to a tubular frame.
The Microlino Lite has a tiny 5.5-kWh battery as standard, although an optional 11-kWh battery is also available. It can go 100 km (62 miles) on a charge with the smaller pack and 180 km (112 miles) with the bigger battery. Charging from 0 to 80% takes two and four hours, respectively, using a Type-2 plug with 2.2 kW of power.
The Microlino Lite will start deliveries this summer in Europe for an entry-level lease price of 149 CHF per month (156 euros or $169). The Swiss company that builds it in Turin (Italy) has bigger ambitions, though, as it also plans a US launch by the end of 2024. According to the company's co-founder Merlin Ouboter, the Microlino Lite is eligible for registration in the US as a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV).
The trend accelerated as electric vehicles became more popular. With their big batteries, EVs are heavier than most comparable vehicles in their respective segments. They also have a lower center of gravity, which makes them hard to flip over. These characteristics make EVs some of the safest cars on the roads. Still, not everyone is convinced that bigger and heavier is always better, especially as Europeans have gone in the opposite direction.
This hasn't been more obvious than at Micro's boot at Palexpo, the Geneva Motor Show venue. The Swiss company, a show's mainstay, unveiled its latest model, the Microlino Lite. This is a toned-down version of its Microlino electric bubble car. Its top speed is limited to 45 kph (28 mph), allowing even teenagers to drive it in some European countries. You're good to go if you're 14 (or 16, depending on local regulations) and have an AM (moped) driving license.
The Microlino Lite doesn't skimp on safety, despite the front-opening door it copied from BMW's Isetta, which was the design inspiration for the Microlino vehicles. Micro designed a proper automotive safety cell dubbed Microlino Chassis 2.0, which replaces the tubular frame of other similar microcars. Micro claims this is the first in its class, improving both safety and driving behavior compared to a tubular frame.
The Microlino Lite has a tiny 5.5-kWh battery as standard, although an optional 11-kWh battery is also available. It can go 100 km (62 miles) on a charge with the smaller pack and 180 km (112 miles) with the bigger battery. Charging from 0 to 80% takes two and four hours, respectively, using a Type-2 plug with 2.2 kW of power.
The Microlino Lite will start deliveries this summer in Europe for an entry-level lease price of 149 CHF per month (156 euros or $169). The Swiss company that builds it in Turin (Italy) has bigger ambitions, though, as it also plans a US launch by the end of 2024. According to the company's co-founder Merlin Ouboter, the Microlino Lite is eligible for registration in the US as a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV).
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