My biggest problem with this kind of vehicle is, well, just that – the ‘big’ factor. These cars just aren’t big. And most of our population is! When so many people are overweight these days such a small car cuts down on its target market before it’s even left the designer’s table. Then there are tall people, like me, who’d probably be crippled from having to sit in one of these for anything over 20 minutes or so – it’s not fun sitting with your knees up to your chin! I know the designers say it will seat three, but eveyone knows that third person has to be about 1m tall to fit in the back of small cars and that those in the front should be of a small build.

Personally, I’d prefer it if designers made this kind of car just a little bigger, even just a few centimetres, and cut a mile or two off the speed and/or fuel consumption. A small sacrifice in efficiency, would be more than compensated by the increased market that these vehicles could reach.

All that said, the technology – 75 mph, 80m range, is great. It’s all a step forward towards cutting emissions and making our traveling far more eco-friendly. Vehicles like this are a great start and foreshadow vehicles of the future. Just think how the technology behind this car will spawn incredibly efficient vehicles 20 years down the line.

Steve N. Lee