Microlino an electric isetta: Swiss company Micro Mobility preparing to build a modern small car.
Swiss scooter maker aims to have the EV microcar on European roads by 2018.
MICROLINO: LITTLE EV HOMOLOGATED FOR EUROPEAN ROADS
Micro Mobility Systems, a Zurich-based mobility manufacturer that specialists in scooters and bikes, has had its new Microlino sub-micro car homologated for European roads, with production to kick off “by the end of 2018”.
First revealed in 2016, the Microlino is technically a ‘quadricycle’, meaning it isn’t subject to the same level of safety standards as conventional cars. Ahem, crash tests, ahem. It’s clearly been inspired by the BMW Isetta sold in the 1950’s, right down to the front-opening door.
Measuring 2435mm long and 1500mm wide, the two-seat Microlino is tiny, and it’s a featherweight by modern standards, tipping the scales at 450kg (without the battery and driver).
Behind the front seats is a relatively large 300L boot, which is actually more spacious than a Mazda 2(250L).
Two variants are available, a base 8kWh version and a high-spec 14.4kWh model. Range for each is 120km and 215km respectively.
The little electric motor makes a ‘stonking’ 15kW of power and 110Nm of torque, helping the Microlino dash from 0-50km/h in 5.0 seconds.
Why no 0-100 figure? That’s because the little urban vehicle is limited to 90km/h – we won’t be seeing any autobahn videos of these anytime soon, hopefully.
Micro Mobility Services says production will start in December, with deliveries to commence in its home market of Switzerland “soon after”.
The Microlino will start arriving in other European markets in 2019 – nearly two years behind original schedule – priced from “around” €12,000 ($18,906).
