Microcars are cheaper to charge than larger electric vehicles. And models that don't require full driving licenses, lower the bar to access. On the other hand, there is the challenge of overcoming popular resistance to change and accepting a transition to slower vehicles with shorter ranges. But there is confidence among manufacturers that declining prices and increasing exposure can help to break down these perceptual barriers.
Part of this new wave of smaller lightweight, stylish vehicles designed for urban transport, the three-wheeled Nimbus One tilts in corners, which allows the footprint of the vehicle to stay narrow. "We're small enough to go in between cars," says Nimbus founder Lihang Nong.
Dutch Squad Mobility has developed the Solar City Car -- an electric "microcar" that's just 2 meters long and 1.2 meters wide. Solar panels in the roof of the Solar City Car can boost its range by around 20 kilometers per day.
Swiss company Microlino is producing an electric vehicle with space for two passengers, which can be charged in four hours. The Microlino also comes in a limited-edition version called Pioneer, featuring vegan leather and suede interior. Also from Microlino, the Microletta is a three-wheeled scooter with a top speed of 80 kilometers per hour.
Estonian company Nobe's three-wheeled GT100 has a classic retro design.
The electric Citroen AMI is 2.41 meters long and 1.39 meters wide. Classified as a quadricycle, it can be driven without a license by 14-year-olds in some European countries.
Israeli company City Transformer has developed the CT-1, which has a "foldable" chassis that allows it to reduce its width to just 1 meter. The CT-1 features vertically rising doors that make it easier to access the car in a narrow space.
Click below (the three-wheeled Nimbus One) to see images of all these minicars and read more at CNN.
