Micro, maker of those bubble-type electric cars found in some European cities, has a new Microlino especially for Americans. The all-electric Microlino Spider is called the “anti-pickup truck” and is intended to replace the golf cart. No, not for use on streets, but in extensive tourist complexes and in the so-called golf cart communities where wealthy urbanites can retire in the relative safety of walkable towns with low-speed roads.
“Americans don't just drive big cars. In fact, the United States is the world's largest market for golf carts, where they are often used for personal transportation within neighborhoods,” says Wim Ouboter, founder and president of Switzerland-based Micro. “That's exactly why we created the Microlino Spider.”
“Think of it as the antithesis of huge electric vans: not designed for the 5 percent of trips where you need to haul a lot,” Ouboter says, “but for the 95 percent of trips where you go solo.”
The Microlino Spider features an open door and roof design for easy entry and exit from the sides. That's a marked departure from the road-legal Microlino Dolce I reviewed last year, or the slower Lite version that only requires a moped license, both of which are entered through the vehicle's hinged face to the delight of users. spectators.
At the moment, Micro calls the Microlino Spider a “concept,” but says it intends to bring the microcar to the U.S. “as a sleeker, safer alternative to golf carts, ideal for personal errands or commuting.” “. It is now gauging the interest of partners such as “dealer groups, leasing companies and other businessmen interested in bringing this new category of vehicles to the country.”
Unfortunately for Micro, Americans are increasingly attracted to larger, more dangerous vehicles. Almost all trucks and SUVs sold today are larger than they were 20 years ago. And those giants represent about 80 percent of the vehicles sold in the United States. Experts have warned that the larger the vehicle, the greater the risk of injury or death to pedestrians and cyclists.
Micro's anti-pickup truck may not solve this particular problem. But more small car options are undeniably a good thing in a society overrun by rolling land yachts.
