Last-mile transport

A big ol' SUV isn't the ideal choice for city folk needing to quietly and cleanly zip around busy streets. Micro-cars make more sense, and the boxy A05 that made its debut at EICMA 2024 in Milan last month is now up for pre-order.

As clean air zones are imposed in more cities, clean alternatives to combustion-engine delivery vans are needed to keep packages flowing. A startup is working on a compact e-hauler that's claimed to have a "cubic load capacity rivaling mid-size vans."

LA-based Eli Electric Vehicles is launching its flagship Zero electric micro-car in the US market later this year, hoping to build on sales success in Europe and beyond. The teeny two-person city dweller starts at just $11,990.

We've seen a number of electric micro-cars aim for the hearts of city dwellers recently, such as the Mobilize Duo, S04 and the Ami. Arguably the cutest of the bunch is the Microlino EV bubble car, and now a Lite version is ready to roll.

Lámpago has revealed its first electric vehicle. The fun-looking short-haul ride merges urban e-trike vibes with vintage micro-car design, offers luxury seating for two, a bunch of branded accessories and even includes a spare tire mounted to the back.

Back in 2020, a London startup launched an e-scoot on Kickstarter that did away with the deck in favor of foot platforms on either side of a tubular folding frame for a face-forward riding stance. Now the second-generation Taur has been launched.

Many commuters are now looking at ways to do so without having to drive the gas-guzzling car. Electrified scoots and bikes are proving very popular, but the UK's Zinc Sports has merged the two for a folding sit-down scooter called the Venture.

This week, McLaren Applied spun off micro-mobility brand Lavoie. The company is looking to inject some serious F1 talent and know-how into creating solutions like the Series 1, an e-scooter that folds down into an easy-carry package in seconds.

Taiwan's Giant Bicycles has launched a tough-looking urban ebike called the Stormguard E+ that's designed to tackle daily commutes, shopping trips into town or off-road adventures beyond the city limits in full-suspension comfort.

Way back in 2013, we brought news of a dinky two-seater electric microcar called the Birò. Last week, Estrima rolled into the EICMA 2022 trade show in Milan with an updated version of the "smallest four-wheel electric vehicle in the world."

Sondors caused much excitement last year with the launch of a $5,000 electric motorcycle named the Metacycle. It's taken a little longer than anticipated, but the company has announced that deliveries have now started for customers across the US.

Whether folks are looking for a greener, cheaper last-mile trip to work or just want to get around without being punished by hills, ebikes are proving a popular choice. The latest Class 2 model from iGo is a step-through commuter called the Metro CX.