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Automotive

Mia-Electric microbus to launch in the UK within weeks

By James Holloway
June 21, 2013
Mia-Electric microbus to launch in the UK within weeks
Mia-Electric is to launch a version of its electric microbus in the UK in the coming weeks
Mia-Electric is to launch a version of its electric microbus in the UK in the coming weeks
View 9 Images
Mia-Electric is to launch a version of its electric microbus in the UK in the coming weeks
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Mia-Electric is to launch a version of its electric microbus in the UK in the coming weeks
The vehicle is stated to have a range of 74 miles (119 km) and be fully chargeable from flat in 5 hours
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The vehicle is stated to have a range of 74 miles (119 km) and be fully chargeable from flat in 5 hours
The car will benefit from the UK government's grant for plug-in electric cars, bringing the price down to £16,995 excluding VAT
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The car will benefit from the UK government's grant for plug-in electric cars, bringing the price down to £16,995 excluding VAT
Mia-Electric is to launch a version of its electric microbus in the UK in the coming weeks
4/9
Mia-Electric is to launch a version of its electric microbus in the UK in the coming weeks
The vehicle is stated to have a range of 74 miles (119 km) and be fully chargeable from flat in 5 hours
5/9
The vehicle is stated to have a range of 74 miles (119 km) and be fully chargeable from flat in 5 hours
The car will benefit from the UK government's grant for plug-in electric cars, bringing the price down to £16,995 excluding VAT
6/9
The car will benefit from the UK government's grant for plug-in electric cars, bringing the price down to £16,995 excluding VAT
The Mia is targeted specifically for urban drivers
7/9
The Mia is targeted specifically for urban drivers
Mia-Electric is to launch a version of its electric microbus in the UK in the coming weeks
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Mia-Electric is to launch a version of its electric microbus in the UK in the coming weeks
The vehicle is stated to have a range of 74 miles (119 km) and be fully chargeable from flat in 5 hours
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The vehicle is stated to have a range of 74 miles (119 km) and be fully chargeable from flat in 5 hours
View gallery - 9 images

Mia-Electric has announced that its French-made microbus will launch in the UK this summer. It appears that the version of that will initially ship to the UK will be a single-seater with an optional second seat. However, Autocar reports that models with three and four seats could follow.

According to the press release we've seen, the UK model will be powered by two lithium-ion phosphate batters "generating 12 kW." However, the Mia website suggests that the batteries of current generation Mias store 12 kWh of charge, so this may be an error in the press release. More importantly, the vehicle is stated to have a range of 74 miles (119 km) and be fully chargeable from flat in 5 hours. Every 10 minutes of charge time is reported to grant an additional 5 miles (8 km) of range.

The car will benefit from the UK government's grant for plug-in electric cars, bringing the price down to £16,995 excluding VAT (which is about US$26,000 at today's exchange rate).

The final launch date isn't clear, though the UK launch roughly coincides with changes to the London congestion charge, from which the Mia and other electric cars, as well as ultra-low emissions vehicles, will be exempt. The Mia is targeted specifically for urban drivers.

The Mia microbuses will be imported by Venture Automotive Holdings trading as Mia-Electric UK. We've reached out to Venture Automotive to try to clarify the model to be released and its battery spec. We'll update this article if and when we hear more.

Sources: Mia-Electric, Autocar

View gallery - 9 images
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7 comments
James Holloway
James writes about science and technology from his home in rural East Anglia. Whether it's the internet, nature, video games or AI, he pays particular heed to the flash points with culture, society and the planet.

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7 comments
thk
From the look of it, "microbus" is ambitious.
BigGoofyGuy
I agree, microbus might be ambitious. I think 'micro cargo' might fit better. I think it would be perfect for in city deliveries. It is small; therefore, the handling would be better for tight turns, getting into and out of small parking spaces, does not add to the polution of the city, has sliding doors that would not require a lot of space to open/close.
I like the look of it. I like small. :)
Michael Crumpton
I guess they must have different safety standards for this type of vehicle, maybe like NEVs in the US that are limited to 35mph?
martinkopplow
Since I live in a Country where we can already buy the Mia, and I already had the opportunity to drive one, I wonder why it appears to be a secret they make a passenger version, too, seating up to four?
http://www.mia-electric.de/modelle/mia-l
Regarding Michaelc's comment on safety standards: Living is not all about safety, but rather a lot about possibilities. The SUV, which is so popular in the US, is not a very balanced solution and should be banned for all non-commercial traffic and inner-city use.
willemco
a ONE-seater micro BUS? That is micro alright! Where's the driver going to sit (or the passenger for that matter)?
Alexander Engman
"More importantly, the vehicle is stated to have a range of 74 miles (119 km) and be fully chargeable from flat in 5 hours. Every 10 minutes of charge time is reported to grant an additional 5 miles (8 km) of range."
So 10 * 119/8 = 2.5h and that is != 5h as mentioned above.
The last % of charge usually take longer but the math still don't add up in my book.
bergamot69
The pics above are for a limited edition cargo version. There are two passenger versions, for either 2 or 3 people, plus driver.
The concept looks ok, provided that secondary safety could be satisfactorily provided as a low-speed urban runabout (as the brochure proclaims)- preferable to a Renault Twizy for all-year use in our rainy climate.
Some potential issues- it doesn't appear to offer air con- which is far more important in an urban runabout where the vehicle will be stationary in traffic (hot, and very noisy, esp if alongside large diesel vehicle engines, nor does it mention if the windows open). Also, it says that it will charge with a standard European 16 amp socket- most European countries have a socket design so similar that a 'universal' plug does for all, however in the UK we use a different 13 amp plug design- so how much current does the Mia draw when charging?
If these issues are resolved, and it proves to be an easy, fun to drive, and smooth riding car, it would be ideal for use in our larger cities.