10 cute but crazy mini electric vehicles

Electric technology has freed up the way that vehicles are designed, allowing for the creation of some hugely innovative machines.

With electric motors far smaller and more efficient than petrol versions, that also allows for a whole new wave of ultra-cute tiny machines.

Let's take a look at some of the craziest micro electric vehicles that are shaking up the automotive landscape.

Citroën Ami

With its quirky looks, the charming Citroën Ami is a cheeky little EV that’s grown in popularity since its arrival last year. 

The Ami only has two seats, a top speed of 28mph and range of just 46 miles - so it meet quadricycle regulations, meaning in some countries it can be driven from the age of 14.

Pitched as an alternative to scooters and moped, the Ami was designed with affordability in mind - one of the doors is rear-hinged (like on a Rolls-Royce, we say optimistically) so that the panels are identical on both sides of the car. Even the bumpers are identical to save money. 

Better still, the Ami is a delight on the road. The driving position is good and with so many windows the view out is excellent. Its electric motor provides instant torque and the steering is light and responsive. 

City Transformer CT-1

This will excite Transformers fans: it's a car that can actually transform. Okay, it doesn't transform quite as much as Optimus Prime and chums, but the innovative City Transformer CT-1 quadricycle can adjust its width to help squeeze through tight gaps.

Thanks to its modular skateboard architecture, the CT-1 can alter its width from 1.4 metres to just one metre – while on the move. The extra width gives the CT-1 more stability on faster roads, and it can then be shrunk to the width of a motorbike to tackle congested city streets and tight parking spaces.

Weighing 590kg and powered by a pair of 7.5kW motors, the CT-1 has a top speed of 55mph, although this drops to 28mph in the narrower City mode. It has a range of up to 111 miles. 

There’s room for two occupants, with the second passenger sitting behind the driver. Up front there’s a neat digital instrument cluster and a touchscreen infotainment display. 

Squad Solar City Car

Aiming to brighten the world of tiny EVs, the Squad Solar City car - as the name suggests - can be charged by the sun. 

The Citroën Ami rival, developed by Dutch firm Squad Mobility, has a top speed of 28mph and is powered by four 1.6kWh batteries which help it to achieve a range of 62 miles. 

The solar panels on the roof add an extra 12.5 mile of range - as long as the sun is out, of course. The idea is that the solar panels will keep the charge topped up, and complement the more standard plug-based charging.

Despite its small size, the two-seater quadricycle is relatively roomy inside, with 243 litres of storage available. 

Evetta EV

Inspired by the classic Isetta bubble car, the Evetta is intended to capture the essence of the original microcar that burst onto the scene in the 1950s – but with an electric powertrain.

Measuring 2500mm long and 1500mm wide, the Isetta reincarnation is almost identical to the original model, and thanks to its small proportions, it can be parked sideways in a space.

Developed by German firm Electricbrands, the Evetta has a range of up to 124 miles and can reach a top speed of 56mph.

Better still, the firm is planning to offer a convertible version of the micro EV called the Openair, as well as a cargo variant for last-mile deliveries. 

Luvly 0

What do you get when you cross flatpack furniture with an electric vehicle? The Luvly 0. 

Designed and built by Swedish firm Luvly - Light Urban Vehicles - the 0 is a compact quadricycle that has been developed to use a sandwich composite chassis. Not only is the chassis cheaper to produce, it also allows for the machines to be shipped in individual pieces flatpack-style, then assembled closer to the customer. 

The compact quadricycle features swappable batteries, has a top speed of 56mph and offers a range of up to 62 miles. 

Luvly claims its micro EVs use up to 80 per cent less energy to make than a convection electric vehicle, and save considerably on transportation costs. That's because they can be shipped flatpack-style, allowing for more machines to be shoved in a shipping container before assembly takes place locally.

ElectraMeccanica Solo EV

If three-wheels is more your thing then you’ll be a fan of the ElectraMeccanica Solo EV. 

The single-seat machine is aimed at city and urban motoring, with a Solo EV Cargo variant designed specifically with last-mile deliveries in cities in mind. 

The Canadian-based firm’s electric three-wheeler is fitted with a 17.4kWh battery that helps it to a range of 100 miles, and can reach speeds of up to 80mph.
 

Freze Froggy EV Beachstar

Made by a Latvian armoured vehicle specialist and based on the Chinese Wuling Hongguang Mini EV city car, the Freze Froggy EV is an utterly mad soft-top two-seater.

The Froggy is set to use a 20kW electric motor, which will enable it to travel up to a top speed of 62mph and offer a driving range of 105 miles. 

Rather than carry over the four-seat arrangement from the standard car, the Beachstar features a two-seat configuration. That’s because the firm’s designers say that “roadsters are not school buses”. 

Carver Electric

Designed to make urban commuting as easy as rising a scooter or moped, the Carver Electric is a three-wheeled, two-seater which is designed to tilt as you go around corners. 

At one metre wide the Carver is aimed at the urban mobility market, and yet its extra rear-wheel promises more stability and control when compared to a two-wheeled machine. 

There are two version of the Carver EV: the S+ model which has a top speed of 50mph and the Carver R+ which tops out at 28mph. Both have a range of 80 miles.

With the Carver Electric designed for cities, the firm also offers a cargo version for last-mile deliveries, which offers 500 litres of storage space. 

Microlino 2.0

Hang on, haven’t we seen this already? Don’t worry, we aren’t repeating ourselves: the Microlino 2.0 is another Isetta-inpsired EV but is built by Swizz mobility pioneer, Micro.

The Microlino is built to L7e vehicle regulation, with the retro-styled EV using a 12.5kW motor which allows for a 0-31mph time of five seconds and a top speed of 56mph. It's even got a sport mode. 

A choice of batteries are available: 6kWh, 10.5kWh and 14kWh offering ranges of 56, 110 and 143 miles respectively. Impressive stats for a tiny quadricycle. 

Like many of the machines here, the Microlino only takes up a third of the average parking space, and like the 1950s micro cars the machine features an unusual front opening door. 

Mullen I-Go

Designed specifically for last-mile deliveries in European cities, the Mullen I-Go is an oh-so-cute machine from California-based Mullen Automotive. 

The boxy delivery vehicle has a short wheelbase of 2438mm and a kerb weight of just 795kg. Its powered by a 16.5kWh battery that offers a range of around 124 miles, with the I-Go's 34kW electric motor helping it up to a top speed of 62mph. 

Mullen says the I-Go is homologated and certified to EU standards, and is on sale in various countries including the UK.