Germany-based manufacturer Innovative Mobility Automobile GmbH (IMA) announced it had over 700 preorders for its electric one-seater Colibri.
About half of the interested people are private users, while the other half are business customers such as fleet operators or nursing services.
The Colibri EV is a compact one-person electric vehicle which provides generous interior space despite its minimal measures of 2.75m length, 1.18m width and 1.30m height. A specially designed lifting mechanism eases entering and exiting, while pedals and steering wheel can be adjusted to suit drivers between 1.58m and 1.98m. The trunk offers enough volume for two crates.
The construction highlight is the lightweight frame on a magnesium-steel basis, reducing vehicle weight and, hence, energy consumption costs. Vehicle developer B&W from Wolfsburg as well as developer Altair Engineering have proven that this lightweight construction does not affect safety. The Colibri will pass the Euro-NCAP crash test as the first vehicle of its class.
IMA says the Colibri EV has a range of 110 km (68 miles) from a 6.5-kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery. Zero-to-100 km/h (62 mph) time is apparently 9.9 seconds and a top speed of 120km/h (74 mph).
The Colibri EV was unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. Series production is scheduled to begin in late 2015; pricing is €8,900 plus €55 monthly battery lease.
[source: Green Car Congress]
