Micro Motors announces Microlino 2.0 start of production set for March

 
Micro Motors is about to start production of it's Microlino 2.0 EV city car. Production has been delayed until March due to supply shortages. The pic above and the video after the jump, are of the chassis production line which has entered pre-production ramp up. The Microlino 2.0 is expected to have a range of about 140 miles and will come in three flavors (two shown). Unfortunately, the Italian company will not bring the Microlino to the US market any time soon. Maybe if they qualified the little EV as motorcycle-esque like Polaris does with their vehicles, we could see these cute runabouts in urban areas in the US. It is certainly gratifying to see another EV maker enter production. For more info or to watch the production start-up video, click on "read more" below. For more info check out the previous post (link below).

Source: Microlino - Media release, pics, video. Previous post.

Alpha Motor Corporation unveils the new Ace EV Coupe

it seems like another day, another new EV. Of course, that's far from true since the latest crop of new EVs have been in development sometimes for years. The fact that so many have running prototypes and mock ups to introduce says a lot about the electrified-future we are all going to live in. It also says a lot about legacy automakers and the game of catch-up they are going to need to play. It also means that some of these new automakers will be bought up by larger companies, but that's a discussion for another day. 

What you see here is the new Ace coupe, an EV from Alpha Motor Corporation of Irvine, California. The Ace is a small EV with seating for 2 and a pair of jump seats for storage (14 cubic feet) and occasional riders (if Gov. Regs allow). Early specifications (after the media releases) expect a 0-60 mph time of under 6 seconds, rear-wheel drive, fast charging, and about 250 miles of range. 16- to 18-inch wheels will be available and premium sound will be standard.  All this may change by production which is expected in 2023. The overall look has Volkswagen hints like the early Golf/Rabbit and the side profile hints of the New Beetle. It's a nice look...very clean. No side marker lights, but they've got time. I'm sure other things will crop up. The Ace Coupe will spawn a number of vehicles including the compact Icon crossover/SUV. Smart move to use the first product for more like the Tesla Model S and X, etc. The interior has a minimalist Tesla look to it as well. I'm sure we'll be seeing more in the future, at least I hope so. Not every one needs a giant sedan or SUV battery-electric vehicle. so the Ace Coupe city car would be a nice addition to the list of available EVs. For more info, check out the 3 media releases, pic, videos, and spec sheet after the "read more" jump. More to come...

Source: Alpha - Media releases, pics, and videos.

Aptera introduces the all-new "never charge" EV citycar

Okay, that title may be a bit of a stretch, but it is possible (depending on driving style of course) with Aptera's new EV. To begin, the Aptera is an electric vehicle that has several different battery sizes in the offing that will provide anywhere from 250 to 1,000 miles of range on a single charge. The never charge kicker is that the Aptera features solar panels to recharge the batteries on the go...so you may never have to stop. The point is that you have options. To charge or not to charge, that is the question. Obviously, this will make the Aptera extremely economical to use and so will the price of entry. The basic 25kWh Aptera two-seater (250-mile range), will start at just under $25K. Stepping up to the top-of-the-line 100 kWh battery pack (1,000 mile range) will set you back about $46K plus the price of any options. The three-wheel, light-weight design in the top configuration will tip the scales at just 2,200 lbs. including batteries and hit 60 mph in less than 6 seconds (3.5 seconds with all-wheel drive). We can agree that the new Aptera EV won't be for everyone, with it's size and capacity, but as a city car or a daily driver it could meet many folk's needs. Plus it won't cost much (or anything) to run. Also, the three-wheel design does not require a motorcycle license in 48 of the 50 states. Check with your DMV offices about your state's requirements or give Aptera a holler. For more information, check out the media release, specifications sheet (at the end), and 2 videos after the "read more" jump. The new Aptera EV is expected to meet all NHTSA tests and regulations before the vehicle roll-out in 2021. It's also kinda cool looking in a space-age sort of way. Aptera is taking orders now.

Source: Aptera - Media releases, pics, spec sheet, and videos