Microlino

The Microlino is an all-electric, space saving, lightweight vehicle designed for urban mobility purposes. Its key feature is the front opening door, which enables getting out directly onto the pavement when parking the Microlino. This feature was inspired by the bubble cars from the late 1950. The vehicle has two seats, a trunk, a folding sunroof and can be charged with either a household or a type 2 plug.[1] Legally as well as functionally the Microlino is a vehicle positioned between a car and a motorcycle: a so called lightweight quadricycle (L7e). It aims to combine the advantages of both a car and a motorcycle.[2] Due to the ,,reduce to the max´´[3] approach in the engineering, [4]the Microlino consists of 50% less parts than a regular car, weighs just 513 Kg and is therefore quite eco-friendly in the production and energy consumption when driving.[5][6]

Microlino 1.0
Overview
ManufacturerMicro Mobility Systems
Production2018—
AssemblyTurin, Italy
Body and chassis
Classquadricycle
Powertrain
EngineElectric motor
Dimensions
Length2,435 mm (96 in)
Width1,500 mm (59 in)
Height1,459 mm (57 in)

Technical data
[7]

Powertrain

 [Unit]
Type electric [cat.]
Power 11 [KW]
Max. Torque 100 [Nm]
Max. Speed 90 / 56 [Km/h] / [mph]
Acceleration 5 (0-50 km/h) [sec.]
[8]

Battery

 [Unit]
Battery type Lithium Ion (NMC) [cat.]
Capacity 8 / 14.4 (optional) [KWh]
Range 125 / 200 (optional) [km]
Charging Household plug or type 2 wall box(max 2KW) [cat.]
Charging time 4 [hrs]
[9]

Various specifications

 [Unit]
Curb weigth 513 (incl. battery) [Kg]
Trunk volume 220 [liter]
Dimensions 2430 x 1500 x 1450 [mm]
Seats 2 [nom.]
Vehicle category L7e [cat.]
Heating 1.8 (included) [KW]

Microletta

The Microletta is an electric three-wheeler designed for urban mobility purpose. Currently the vehicle is a concept and production has not been planned yet. The Microletta profits from the three-wheel design in many senses. Having three wheels increases security by enhancing the grip on the front axle, which reduces the braking distance and allows for better stability when cornering.[10] Whilst standing, the semi locking system of the tilting mechanism prevents the vehicle from tilting over and makes a foldable stand superfluous.[11] Due to the third wheel and electric drive the Microletta is legally categorized as L5e, which allows driving the tricycle up to 80 Km/h with a regular driving license. The Microletta will be equipped with two exchangeable batteries, to enable charging at home. It represents the second vehicle of the Microlino AG and pursues the same vision of the ,,better urban lifestyle´´. [12][13]

Technical data
[14]
Specifications [Unit]
Power 3 [KW]
Battery 4.2 (2 batteries) [KWh]
Range 100 [km]
Max. Speed 80 [km/h]
Basis price 4.900 [Eur]

Background

On the 86th Geneva Motor Show in 2016 Micro Mobility Systems first showcased the Microlino, a space saving light electric vehicle, which was developed together with the Zurich University of Applied Sciences.[15] The idea for the Microlino originated from Wim, Oliver and Merlin Ouboter, the Swiss family behind the Micro Kickscooter, asking themselves: “How much car one you really needs for daily driving?” [16] After finding out that the average car in Switzerland is occupied with 1,6 passengers, covers 36,8 Km on an average journey[17],car parking spaces are scarce in urban areas[18] and considering global warming, they have realized that modern cars are overengineered for urban utilization. The vehicle had to fit the urban mobility activities, working towards a more eco-friendly, space saving and efficient future.[19] They realized that similar to the kickscooter which utilized the mobility niche between walking and cycling, it had to be a hybrid between a motorbike and a car. Small and nimble, but at the same time protected from the weather and enough space for grocery shopping. During their research, they stumbled across the 1950’s bubble cars. Inspired by them, they started working on the first designs for the Microlino.[20][21][22] Later on, in 2019, the company started working on an electric three wheeler: The Microletta.

Micro Mobility Systems

Micro Mobility Systems AG is a Swiss company founded in 1996, [23]which designs and globally retails kickscooters and kickboards. The company is based Küsnacht and outsources production in the far east. The scooters and kickboards are typically designed with a folding mechanism, inline scating rolls and are manufactured out of aluminium. The company was mainly responsible for the hype of kickscooters and kickboards in the year 2000,[24] [25]which depleted in the following year (2001) together with the dotcom bubble. [26] For Micro Mobility Systems the sudden drop in demand was additionally amplified by many imitations of their kickscooters and kickboards. Micro Mobility Systems became a textbook example for small to medium sized companies with fluctuating demand combined with outsourced production and low appropriability regime. Due to stable financial structures and intense branding, the revenues recovered strongly after 2002. Thereafter they have achieved long term growth through steady innovation and reinforcement of the ,,Micro´´ brand. [27]

Manufacturing partner

In 2019 a collaboration between Microlino and CECOMP was started in order to refine both the design as well as the engineering of the Microlino 1.0 to the more modern Microlino 2.0.[28] CECOMP is also the manufacturing partner for the serie production starting in 2021. The CECOMP is also involved in the Microletta project for the engineering as well as the manufacturing later on. CECOMP Spa (Centro Esperienze COstruzione Modelli e Prototipi) is an Italian automotive company established in 1978 by Giovanni Forneris and is based in La Loggia, Turin. The company specialises in developing prototypes and models for car manufacturers such as Lancia, Maserati and Toyota. Since 2011, the company has expanded into manufacturing, producing the electric Bluecar for the French Bolloré company.[29]

Giovanni Forneris started his career with the Fiat Design Centre and moved on to other well known designers and coach builders in Turin, such as Michelotti and Giugiaro. [30]

Cecomp is a founding partner of the Icona company, which specialises in exporting Italian design and engineering services to China.

BMW Isetta

The Microlino was inspired by the BMW Isetta of 1955 from which it takes up the modernized lines. Like its ancestor, it receives a single front door to access its interior designed for two people, and a tailgate which opens onto a chest of 300 liters. The BMW Isetta was powered by a four-stroke petrol two-cylinder of 245 cm3, the Isetta VELAM and the Isetta ROMI by a two-stroke two-cylinder.

References
  1. "Microlino 2.0: Daten, Fakten und Fotos des Schweizer E-Autos". Elektroauto-News.net (in German). 2020-03-05.
  2. Thomas Ricker (2020-03-04). "Smile, the new Microlino and Microletta electrics are here".
  3. "Microlino" (in German).
  4. "microlino - das ist kein Auto" (in German).
  5. "Microlino" (in German).
  6. "Microlino 2.0: Daten, Fakten und Fotos des Schweizer E-Autos". Elektroauto-News.net (in German). 2020-03-05.
  7. "Microlino".
  8. "Microlino".
  9. "Microlino".
  10. Thomas Ricker (2020-03-04). "Smile, the new Microlino and Microletta electrics are here".
  11. "Microletta".
  12. "Home".
  13. "Microletta Concept: "Vereint Modernität mit Retro-Charme"". Elektroauto-News.net (in German). 2020-03-05.
  14. "Microletta".
  15. "Absolventenporträt: Projektleiter Microlino" (in German).
  16. "Our Journey".
  17. Bundesamt für Statistik (BFS) (2017). "Verkehrsverhalten der Bevölkerung" (PDF). www.ethz.ch (in German). ETH Zürich.
  18. H. Ibrahim (2017-11-25), Car Parking Problem in Urban Areas, Causes and Solutions (in German), Rochester, NY: Social Science Research Network, retrieved 2020-09-29
  19. "Our Journey".
  20. "Our Journey".
  21. "Our Journey". Microlino.com.
  22. Yumpu.com. "Micro Electric Broschüre DE" (in German).
  23. "Handelsregister des Kantons Zürich". 2016-01-10.
  24. "VERKEHR : Kult und Kamikaze - DER SPIEGEL 28/2000".
  25. HSG University of St.Gallen (2009). "Realizing the scooter dream" (PDF). University of St.Gallen.
  26. "SPORTARTIKEL : Von der Rolle - DER SPIEGEL 31/2001".
  27. "Arbeitsbeispiel Micro Mobility Systems AG – Feinmass Kommunikationsdesign, Luzern".
  28. Karl Smith2020-03-06T18:30:00+00:00. "Micro Mobility's Microlino and Microletta".
  29. "Home" (in Italian).
  30. "ICONA | Founders | Cecomp". 2012-09-02.
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