Two seats and a gas engine too much? Then worry no longer inner-city traveler, you’re in luck. Thanks to the urban minded folks from Germany’s Innovative Mobility Automobile (IMA), the Colibri, an electric urban vehicle, has you covered. In a competition to see who can do the smallest electric German mover the best, the Colibri makes a strong case for the podium.
Born out of Jena, Germany, this compact inner-city solution is targeted as either a fleet vehicle or for use in a car sharing program. These options are enhanced by a tablet-based control system that allows users and administrators to easily add or delete users from a sharing system. Driver’s can also remotely access mission critical information such as the battery charge status or vehicle location using their smartphone via the tablet.
Designed around a hybrid space frame the Colibri is unique in the use of "gullwing" styled doors. This iconic Benz design element doesn’t just show well at the schnitzel stand, the doors also serve as weather protection devices in the event of rain or snow. And where horizontal swinging doors would trap occupants in more condensed situations the Colibri’s winged door arrangement allows for better ingress and egress. The manufacturer reports two Colibris will actually fit into one regular space rather nicely.
Capable of seating one the Calibri is among the few in its one-seat configuration. Given the car’s mandate as a short term fleet vehicle or sharing device, the singular seating system not only saves space but helps reduce overall weight and dimensions. Sporting a protruding central touch screen, visual information is presented in a most direct fashion. A sense of Formula One claustrophobia awaits drivers thanks to the narrow cockpit and central display.
With two electric motors developing 24 kW at peak power, a battery capacity of 6.5 kWh and a range of 110 km (69 miles), the Colibri is not intended as a long distance, let’s visit Aunt Helga type ride. Its lithium-iron-phosphate battery has a reported lifespan of 220,000 km (136,000 miles) or 8 years and is capable of reaching full charge in 2 hours on a household socket, or 80 percent in 20 minutes via a public charging station. When charged via ze German grid, the Colibri is responsible for just 29 grams of CO2 per kilometer according to IMA ... with zero local-emissions.
As expected the wee Colibri weighs in at a mere 440 kg (970 lbs). Capable of reaching speeds of 120 kmh (75 mph) the Colibri actually throws out respectable performance figures of 9.9 seconds to 100 kmh (60 mph), more than enough e-juice to transport the "1 bag and 2 crate" storage items specified for the trunk. More like a small shelf for your umbrella really.
The Colibri is set to enter production towards the end of 2014.
