Microlino enters production

Electric vehicles provide vital technology that is fundamental in realising a sustainable future. Micro-mobility technology moves towards providing small-scale personalised uses. For instance, it provides scooters, hover-boards, e-bikes and micro-electric vehicles.

Micro EVs are small electric cars that can accommodate either one or two passengers. This technology basically synthesises as it is an adaption of electric vehicles to micro-mobility technology. This can potentially solve the various challenges the transport industry is facing.

Currently, when we compare micro electric vehicles to internal combustion engine vehicles, micro-electric vehicles are four times more energy-friendly. They also provide an important technological solution for decarbonising the transport industry.

EVs offer solutions to local air pollution, noise pollution, energy security concerns, oil dependency and climate change. This means that the use of EVs is environmentally friendly. EVs come in different sizes. The smaller vehicles use reduced batteries. These smaller batteries come with many benefits;

• Lesser eco-impacts

• Reduced costs

• Increased efficiency- this means there is higher fuel to output ratios.

The relationship between emissions and model size supports the development of smaller-scale technologies in the transport industry. This means, soon, the transport industry may be making a transition to micro-mobility technology.

Micro electric vehicles utilise micro-mobility technology. This technology incorporates the use of a similar battery system yet smaller in size than that of the parent vehicle. Micro electric vehicles have a compact size since most of them are made from carbon fibre together with bio-composite bodies. Therefore, they are lighter and smaller compared to the basic EVs. We can also describe them to be ideal for city driving.

Their small sizes mean that the battery needs fewer resources to build. Moreover, since they come in small sizes, it limits their top speed. Therefore, they pose less danger when compared to other road vehicles. This can be an advantage as micro-electric vehicles may not need to undergo certain crash-testing requirements.

Vehicle companies such as Renault are running a zero-emissions program to develop micro electric vehicles. For instance, in 2012, they debuted the Renault Twizy, which is a microcar. In Europe, the Renault Twizy is a lightweight or heavy quadricycle. However, this classification depends on the output power.

The output power of the Twizy 4kw for the 45 design and 3kw for the 80 model. The names reflect their top speeds in km/h. the frame of the Twizy provides occupants with extra protection as its structure is deformable. As for safety measures, the safety retention system comes with an airbag for the driver, a four-point safety belt at the driver’s seat, while the passenger seat has a three-point one safety belt. The Twizy’s EV range is 90km and runs under a 6.1 kWh lithium-ion battery.

Electric vehicle charging stations are types of equipment that connect electric vehicles to an electricity source to recharge electric cars, plug-in hybrids and neighbourhood electric vehicles. There are charging stations that come with advanced features like smart-metering, network connectivity and cellular capability. However, other charging stations are just basic.

Charging stations can also be known as electric vehicle supply equipment. You can find them in public parking locations and electric utility companies provide this. Other retail shopping centres also provide this service. These stations provide unique connectors that are compatible with different types of electric charging connectors.

The charges for using electric vehicle supply equipment comes in different varieties. Some charges are monthly or yearly or per kWh rates. Some charges come in hourly rates. Some charging stations are free and local governments subsidise them.

Different varieties of charging stations provide different charging speeds:

3-Pin Plug

This is the slowest method of charging an Electric Vehicle and will charge at a maximum speed of 3kW/hr. It is usually advised against using this charging method due to it being more unsafe due to lack of weatherproofing and additional safety features found on purpose build EV charge points.

7kW EV charge point

They charge through an AC plug with 240 volts. They also need public charging or home charging equipment for installation. They provide about a range of 10 to 20 miles per charging hour. They are the most popular types of charging stations.

22kW+ EV charge point

They are also called DC fast chargers. The plugs they use to operate with 480 volts and they use direct current. They provide the battery with DC electricity by use of a special charging port. These DC fast chargers have a range of up to 40 miles per 10 minutes of charging. However, not all vehicles are compatible with this type of chargers. Charging stations such as Tesla Supercharger are specifically designed for higher-speed charging.

As the number of electric vehicles keeps increasing globally, charging infrastructure providers, governments and automakers are working together to come with agreements on how to create more accessible public charging stations.

Micro-EVs are electric transport technologies that come with certain characteristics;

• Minimum pollution

• Small sizes to utilise minimum parking and road space

• Ease of operation

• Low running costs

These characteristics help the technology to minimise transport challenges potentially. Micro-technology goes an extra mile in dealing with problems like end-of-life disposal complications. According to predictions, they suggest that their suitability can be related to social norms whereby new generations will regard it to be fit for mobility solutions.

Micro electric vehicles could also serve as a reasonable compromise between EVs and e-bikes. Their prices remain to be below the standard EV types. However, the prices of some novels remain to be very competitive.