I hope it works...range is good assuming it holds up under average road speeds and temperature ranges.

I wonder how much the vehicle weighs

Shows you how the price of the battery causes the price of an otherwise "much simpler than a regular car" Battery EV to push so high that it can't compete with a Prius at nearly the same price. For comparison the Prius batter is NiMH technology and only about 1.1 KWHr of energy. The Th!nk City had a NiCad pack with about 11 KWHr and 45 mile range. The City's top speed was about 55 mph (with a favorable tailwind ;-).

The car uses a lithium metal polymer battery, which isn't the same as lithium-ion. Lithium-ion is the common ones used in phones and stuff. Lithium metal polymer batteries holds some promise, but have been a research area for decades. It's nice to finally see some progress in LMPBs.

A link explaining their technology:
http://www.batscap.com/en/la-batterie-lithium-metal-polymere/

The price is not that high, at least not when you pay European fuel taxes.

That little car would probably cost about 16.000 € if it was an ordinary gasoline vehicle. The EV variety is 23.000 €.

That's a difference of 7000 €.

Let's see how long it would take until the higher investment would pay off.

Let's say you drive 300 km per week, or 15.000 km per year. The little car might use 0.5 litres per 10 km, or 750 litres per year. One litre of petrol cost about 1 € so that is a saving of 750 € in one year.

But then you have to pay for the power needed to propel the car.

This car has an average range of 225 km during which it consume 28 kWh. This equals 0,0357 kWh per km. If you drive 15.000 km per year it will mean a power consumption of 536 kWh. A kWh cost about 0,10 €, for a total cost of about 50 €.

So the total saving is 750-50= 700 € per year.

So it would pay off in 7000/700= 10 years. Since the average car life is 15-20 years it seems like an acceptable deal, and hence an acceptable sales price.

But then we also have the price of capital. Loaning those extra 7000 € will mean you pay more interest rates which add to the price of the EV.

I'm glad to see all-EV designs getting investment but I have to whine: until companies make EVs that don't look like golf carts or "weird" they will not see mass acceptance at least in N.America. This look like a really nice golf cart. Maybe I'm just cranky today.

I would be fine with a 90 mile range, especially if it was lighter, and cheaper. I wonder if EV makers will offer differing battery size options.

What noone looked at is a car theft for the sake of a new battery bank, how much more will we need to pay in insurance just due to that reason. Its a very difficault problem as
new battery pack is worth more then the rest, I believe vehicle tracking system should become mandatory. Implant tracking system into random battry within a pack so it makes impossible to actually know which battery is emitting a signal and brings police in.
JMHO.

Mark, what are you talking about? A plug-in Prius costs $22,000 + $9,000 = $31,000.

Starvid, thanks for the math!

NBK-Boston: you have to add the cost of replacing the batteries (big $$). Does anyone know how long they'll last?

Bottom line: I'd buy this cutie tomorrow if it was for sale. And I agree with Hampden: less range would be fine with me if it meant a lighter, cheaper car.

With one caveat: what is the temp range? I've seen a plug-in kit with a min of -20C. It's colder than that here,

EM, in the Great White North.

With regards to the price of new batteries, upgraded motor components and so forth, people have to have faith in the future of innovation. As in, people considering buying such a vehicle should not be worried about the cost of replacing the batts in 5-10 yrs, because it may very well be negligible with the next breakthrough.

On EV vehicle appearance, although they are targetting the young fassin conscious market, quite honestly sales should think more broadly. I'd like to see this come in a people mover form, or a utility like a 4x4 low rider such as the single cab Subaru of the mid eighties. Or better still, a van. Courier fleets and various other inner city businesses could make use of EVs in their business model. Although I will say there has to be a means in their circumstance for the battery array to be dropped in the shop and another freshly charged one slotted in so that vahicles can be run 24 hrs a day. My 2 cents.

i hate to say it, but the max speed on this baby is too low. i'd be much happier with a range that's closer to 100 miles but with a max speed of 90 mph.

It doesn't have enough range for long trips, and you wouldn't want to do a long trip in something that small either, so it's not very practicle as an only car. I wouldn't want to spend that much money on a runabout.

Does it pass crash tests?

Lotfw, I'm with you, I would buy this car tomorrow, if I could and I know several others who would too. The range and speed are perfect. I need a car like this to travel approx. 80 mile RT at speed limits of 55 mph. and hundred of others in my area travel the same distance to work each day. I can't get into all the math involved with gas verses electric cost. Bottom line for me is I would save approx. $400 in gas each month which equals enough to pay for this car in 5 years. That may mean lowered dependence of foreigh oil. Plus, suppose I have access to wind power and PVC electric power, now I can charge the batteries without using fossil fuels.

NBK-Boston - Concerning looks, I'm sure you've seen the Honda Element. I think it is ugly but they sell like hotcakes. This Bollore BluE is beatiful in comparison.

Starvid- I share your concerns about theft as that has crossed my mind. However, if used to and from work and work sites have secure parking, then the threat is less.