Urban Transport

Sweden's Uniti short-range city EV successfully navigates crowdfunding route

Sweden's Uniti short-range city EV successfully navigates crowdfunding route
The Uniti city car has hit its crowdfunding goal, with a prototype set for completion by the end of 2017
The Uniti city car has hit its crowdfunding goal, with a prototype set for completion by the end of 2017
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Uniti prides itself on being environmentally responsible, so the car is largely made from sustainable biomaterials
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Uniti prides itself on being environmentally responsible, so the car is largely made from sustainable biomaterials
The Uniti is a small two-seater car designed for city driving
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The Uniti is a small two-seater car designed for city driving
Uniti has a range of 150 km (93 miles) and a top speed of 90 km/h (56 mph)
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Uniti has a range of 150 km (93 miles) and a top speed of 90 km/h (56 mph)
The steering unit is a strange beast, and the windscreen features a HUD
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The steering unit is a strange beast, and the windscreen features a HUD
The Uniti city car has hit its crowdfunding goal, with a prototype set for completion by the end of 2017
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The Uniti city car has hit its crowdfunding goal, with a prototype set for completion by the end of 2017
The Uniti is designed to be fun to drive, but autonomous driving is also a goal
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The Uniti is designed to be fun to drive, but autonomous driving is also a goal
View gallery - 6 images

Lessening range anxiety is a priority for many electric vehicle manufacturers, but others are steering into the skid with small EVs designed for short-range city driving, such as the Renault Twizy and the Microlino. Joining them is the Swedish startup Uniti, which has just hit its crowdfunding goal to develop a prototype of its own little electric city car by the end of 2017.

First unveiled last year, Uniti claims its car of the same name is the first high-end vehicle under the EU L7e designation, meaning it's technically a heavy quadricycle. Weighing in at 400 kg (882 lb) and chugging away on a 15-kW (20-hp) AC motor, the vehicle will let owners get away with less tax and more lax safety standards.

With its home turf being an urban environment, the Uniti can hit speeds of up to 90 km/h (56 mph) and can go as far as 150 km (93 mi), which trumps both the Twizy and Microlino in terms of range, but clocks it in slightly slower than the Twizy's top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph).

Uniti prides itself on being environmentally responsible, so the car is largely made from sustainable biomaterials
Uniti prides itself on being environmentally responsible, so the car is largely made from sustainable biomaterials

Powering the Uniti's motor is an 11-kWh Na-Ion battery, which can be plugged in or charged via induction. Uniti also prides itself on being environmentally responsible, so the car is made largely of sustainable biomaterials.

Underneath its Blade Runner-esque exterior, the cabin is decked out with a strange steering system that resembles Nintendo Wii motion controllers, providing what the company calls "an unusual driving experience," although autonomy is also a goal. It seats two in tandem, and the entire windscreen forms a heads-up display, which the company says opens up (and we quote) "batshit crazy gaming and entertainment options."

Uniti is currently seeking funding on FundedByMe, which operates a little differently to Kickstarter and Indiegogo by offering backers the opportunity to purchase shares in the company. The campaign sailed past its €500,000 (US$560,000) goal within 36 hours, and will continue taking pledges until November 19.

If all goes to plan, the prototype will be completed by late 2017, and the final production car is expected to cost 200,000 kr (US$23,000).

Check out the Uniti campaign video below.

Source: Uniti

2016 Crowdfunding | Uniti - Ingenious Electric Vehicle

View gallery - 6 images
4 comments
4 comments
JeffEnad
This vehicle is came out from sci-fi movie or my favorite anime - "Mahouka koukou no Rettousei" that two-seater electric city vehicle capable of driverless or what I usually call autodrive or autopilot (from Tesla Motors) into assigned destination.
ljaques
Oh, come on. $23k for a glorified motorcycle with extended plastic fairing? It will never fly in the US due to the total lack of safety factors. Something as small as a motorcycle @ 40kph would destroy it and kill the occupants in a 90-degree impact, or even head-on. These would be great on something like a large company or school campus or rural roads, but not on sub- or urban roads in traffic. Large malls or airports would make a killing renting them out to get to your car in the protected lot, then self-return. But in-town, one red light and the Uniti and driver/passenger are _history_.
Timelord
$23,000? So the low-cost EV continues to be elusive.
GWA111
Att ljaques, not in Australia re Rural Roads. It would never handle the rough roads we have here and you are very correct in every other aspect. I don't understand why they would release something with such poor safety for road usage. Yes, large facilities, airports, mega-factories, school campus, gated communities, all ok. Actual public roads? Just a fatality waiting for a coffin