Swiss automaker Micro Mobility Solutions debuted the smaller variant of its electric city car Microlino, the Microlino Lite, at the Geneva International Automotive Show this week.
What’s remarkable about this new electric car is its cartoonishly adorable appearance and small body, enabling it to drive even on narrow routes.
Microlino Lite debut
Micro officially introduced the Microlino Lite electric city car at the highly awaited Geneva International Automotive Show on Monday.
The Microlino Lite claims to be capable of delivering a base driving range of 62 miles to 112 miles with a larger battery pack. It also has a top speed of 45 kilometers per hour (28 mph).
It supports a Level 2 charge, enabling a charging speed of 0-80% in two or four hours (depending on the battery pack).
Inside, the 95-inch-long Lite offers two seats and a small storage area. It also has an ultra-basic cockpit with a few physical buttons and one screen for the driver.
Similar to the iconic Isetta car, the Lite’s main door is upfront. It swings out for people to step inside.
As for the pricing, the new Lite version is incredibly cheap. In the Swiss market, European customers can obtain the EV for the equivalent of $169 for a 48-month lease starting this summer.
Launch plans: Will American customers buy it?
The Switzerland-based automaker aims to initially launch the new Microlino Lite EV in the European market under the L6e category.
It also announced plans to bring the tiny electric city car as a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) to the United States by the end of 2024.
However, American customers are known to prefer larger vehicles like SUVs and pickup trucks. Therefore, seeing how the US market will welcome this quirky electric city car would be interesting, considering the unbeatable reign of the Ford F-Series pickup for four decades already.
The predecessor
For reference, the first Microlino variant offers up to 15 kWh battery pack that delivers a maximum driving range of 228 km (~142 miles) between charges. It also boasts a top speed of up to 90 km/h (~56 mph).
It shares the same steel unibody exterior, 230 liters (~8.1 cubic feet) maximum trunk volume, a sunroof, and a two-seater bench seat with the new Lite variant. The two Microlino variants also have the same sleek, rounded design.
The Lite is basically a slower variant of the Microlino, enabling teenagers and unlicensed folks to drive the electric city car in some countries. In the US, it is under the Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) classification. The Microlino Lite may have slim prospects of dominating the US market because American customers love larger vehicles. Nonetheless, this tiny electric city car can potentially be a mega-hit in Europe, given the region’s narrow and congested streets.
Interested customers can now reserve the Microlino Lite on the company’s official website.
