Is this the return of the bubble car? Two Swiss brothers are returning to the downsized delight of the BMW’s Isetta era with a tiny electric car: the Microlino. The original has been on sale in certain markets in Europe in 2023, with the Micro brand also launching a new Microlino Lite model at the 2024 Geneva motor show.
Buyers can choose between 6kWh, 10.5kWh and 14kWh battery capacities and the company quotes recharging times between three and four hours, depending on the size of cell. Range is calculated at 56, 110 or 143 miles. You can order a Microlino now, with reports pointing to a UK market launch due in the summer of 2024.The Lite model features a smaller battery sizes and a top speed limited to 45km/h to comply with L6E licencing requirements that allows people to own a Lite without a driving licence. Those battery sizes – either 5.5kWh or 11 kWh – allow a range of 62 or 111 miles respectively.
‘The idea was to create an alternative to conventional cars,’ Oliver told Reuters. ‘The Microlino does that much better than bicycles – it’s weather protected, you have space for cargo, you can have two people sitting next to each other.’