Is the future electric microcars?

Smaller, lighter, and adopting electric propulsion, micro cars are the solution for a more environmentally friendly and rational automobile according to a report by IDtechEX.

The automotive world is changing rapidly. In addition to the surge of hybrid and electric cars eating into the market share of gasoline and diesel models, size and weight are now under scrutiny. Because the car is still too heavy to typically carry just one person, while also taking up a lot of public space. The average car in France measures 4.20 meters and weighs 1,400 kg. For reasons of sobriety in these times of climate change, reducing dimensions is also necessary. The ideal candidate: the micro car, known as quadricycles or colloquially “cars without a license”.

Micro cars worldwide, moving toward an electric transformation

This is highlighted in an IDTechEX report, which describes them as “the smaller and greener future of urban mobility.” The firm explains that “when unoccupied, these vehicles have an average weight between 100 and 500 kilograms.” In France, noisy diesel license-free micro cars are evolving toward electric versions. Following the modest success of the Renault Twizy ten years ago, it was Citroën Ami that launched the popularization of electric quadricycles in 2020. Others follow, such as Aixam with a range of models, Estrima, XEV, and soon Ligier through the Myli.

Elsewhere, while the United States view them as “neighborhood cars” in the form of golf carts, micro cars are an institution in Japan. Over there, these “kei cars” have strict size, engine capacity, and power limits, and electric versions are now underway.

Safety improvements needed

The report notes, however, “that there are areas for improvement, such as reinforcing the vehicle’s chassis and adding airbags to protect the driver in case of collision”. Another point we observed after testing electric quadricycles is that IDTechEX recommends “building better suspension so the driver maintains control when passing over potholes.”

To address these issues, the report emphasizes the need “for more regulations to impose safety requirements.” Indeed, in Europe, light or heavy quadricycles (L6 and L7) are governed by different safety, crash test, and homologation standards than “normal” cars in category “M1”.

An exploding category of micro cars in China

While most Europeans consider micro cars or quadricycles as “sub-cars,” China does not share this view. In the Middle Kingdom, they form a true category of vehicles. And the vast majority are electric, with numerous models from many brands.

One of them, the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV, even became the country’s number one electric car! It sold 424,000 units just in 2022, far ahead of Tesla Model Y and BYD. Notable rivals include Chery QQ Ice Cream and eQ1 (each nearly 100,000 units), as well as Changan Lumin.

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