Microlino to debut new tiny electric ‘cars’ at Paris Motor Show along with adorable e-moped
Microlino, the cute little electric four-wheeler from Swiss mobility company Micro, is headed for a big debut at the Paris Motor Show this week. In addition to a production series Microlino, the company will also show off a new model for younger drivers, a new concept vehicle, and an updated Microletta electric scooter.
The Microlino looks like a small four-wheeled electric car, but it’s actually classified as an L7e “heavy quadricycle” in Europe.
This classification puts it somewhere between motorcycles and cars when it comes to regulations surrounding safety and manufacturing.
The reduced regulatory hurdles help the Microlino achieve a smaller form factor with less weight, as well as offering a lower price point for urban commuters seeking a low-cost electric vehicle that can better protect them from the elements as compared to an electric motorcycle or scooter.
As Microlino cofounder and CEO Merlin Ouboter explained:
Simply said, we need a lot less battery cells per km of range than conventional electric cars, because the vehicle needs a lot less energy to be moved around. Therefore, the energy footprint for the production and usage of a Microlino is only about a third of that of a conventional electric car.
We’ve followed the L7e version of the vehicle for years as it has worked a circuitous path to production.
Microlino launched its Pioneer Series earlier this year at a price of €12,500 (approximately US $12,230).
The vehicle touted automotive-grade components and claimed to be the first in its category to use steel and aluminum unibody construction, similar to the way full-size cars are produced.
Unlike full-size cars though, the Microlino uses a more compact design that features a single forward-opening door similar to the classic BMW Isetta bubble car.
The small vehicle comes with a 10.5 kWh battery that claims to offer a range of 177 km (110 miles) per charge. The company has also added 6 kWh and 14 kWh battery options for those that want more or less range (with corresponding higher and lower price tags).
The Microlino has a top speed of 90 km/h (56 mph) and a 12.5 kW (16.8 hp) motor, meaning it should be fairly peppy for the city but might take a bit longer to get up to its top speed.
Now not only is Microlino bringing its production-spec L7e version of the vehicle to the Paris Motor Show, but the company will also be showing off the first ever L6e version of the vehicle. That model will be known as the Microlino Lite.
Microlino Lite
L6e vehicles in Europe are classified as “light quadricycles,” which means they have masses under 425 kg (937 pounds), motor power of less than 6 kW, and are limited to 45 km/h (28 mph) speeds.
Unlike heavy quadricycles in the L7e category, light quadricycles in the L6e category have relaxed driver’s license requirements and can often be operated by younger drivers starting at 16 years old.
The Microlino Lite should offer a similar range to the standard Microlino, according to the company.
As Microlino cofounder Oliver Ouboter explained:
With the Microlino Lite we wanted to provide even more people access to sustainable mobility solutions. There are more and more people without a driving license that still want to travel weather protected.
The company expects the Microlino Lite to arrive at a slightly lower price than the current €15,000 price tag for the Microlino (approximately US $14,680) after it enters production next year.
Good luck getting either model soon though. Despite working to ramp up production, the company is still facing a 35,000-strong reservation list.
Microlino Spiaggina Concept
Another new model on display at the Paris Motor Show is the Microlino Spiaggina Concept. The new concept was inspired by iconic 1960s micro-vehicles, such as the Fiat 600 Jolly and the Citroen Mehari.
The Microlino Spiaggina Concept will feature a canvas roof with white and blue stripes and an open rear and side for a breezy ride in warm weather. Wooden flooring in the passenger compartment and trunk as well as all-weather upholstery give the interior a waterproof design.
As the company explained:
The Microlino Spiaggina concept was a fun idea we’ve toyed with already years ago that now finally became a reality. It will be the most stylish vehicle for Europe’s summer destinations like Portofino, St.Tropez or Ibiza.
Microletta electric scooter
If the Microlino isn’t already adorable enough for you, or if you’d prefer fewer wheels, the Microletta electric scooter concept might be right up your alley.
We first saw the design back in 2020, but now the concept is getting its French debut.
The dual front wheels create a tadpole trike format that should offer better traction and stability while maintaining the leaning dynamic inherent to two-wheeled electric scooters and mopeds. The leaning mechanism can be easily locked at rest so that riders don’t have to put their feet down at traffic lights.
The Microletta will offer a top speed of 80 km/h (50 mph) and a range of 100 km (62 miles) from its removable battery.
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Following approval from Transport Canada, EV startup Workhorse will be bringing the W56 and W750 model electric delivery vans to commercial truck dealers in Canada as early as this spring.
Workhorse first showed its W56 medium-duty electric truck at Indiana’s Work Truck Week in 2023, and has sold the trucks to logistics and delivery companies like FedEx and Pride Group – which ordered more than six thousand of the electric vans in 2021, and continues to expand its fleet.
“This is a major step forward for Workhorse,” says Josh Anderson, Workhorse’s chief technology officer in a press statement. “Pre-clearance from Transport Canada opens up a large new market for our products throughout Canada, including with fleets that operate across borders in North America.”
As part of the approval process, Workhorse completed its registration as a foreign manufacturer under Transport Canada’s Appendix G clearance program. Transport Canada confirmed the vans’ compliance with Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) for both vehicles – but it remains to be seen if and how the latest tariff-driven trade war between the Trump Administration’s US and Canada will impact Workhorse’s plans to expand throughout North America.
Despite that uncertainty, Workhorse execs remain upbeat. “We’re excited that our electric step vans can now reach Canadian roads and highways, providing reliable, zero-emission solutions that customers can depend on,” added Anderson.
Canadian pricing has yet to be announced.
Electrek’s Take
There’s no other way to say it: the Trump/Musk co-presidency is disrupting a lot of companies’ plans – and that’s especially true across North American borders. But in all this chaos and turmoil there undoubtedly lies opportunity, and it will be interesting to see who ends up on top.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Workhorse, via Electric Autonomy Canada.
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![Liebherr developing giant, 140-ton Segway-style autonomous haulers [video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/operational-area-earth-moving-copy.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
The new Liebherr S1 Vision 140-ton hauler is unlike any heavy haul truck currently on the market – primarily because the giant, self-propelled, single-axle autonomous bucket doesn’t look anything like any truck you’ve ever seen.
Liebherr says its latest heavy equipment concept was born from a desire to rethink truck design with a focus only on core functions. The resulting S1 Vision is primarily just a single axle with two powerful electric motors sending power to a pair of massive airless tires designed carry loads up to 131 tonnes (just over 140 tons).
The design enables rapid maintenance, as important components easily accessible for quick servicing. Wear parts can be replaced efficiently, and the electric drive significantly reduces maintenance work. This helps to minimise downtimes and increases operational efficiency.
LIEBHERR
Because of its versatility, durability, and ability to perform zero-turn maneuvers that other equipment simply can’t, the Liebherr S1 Vision can be adapted for various applications, including earthmoving, mining, and even agriculture. There’s also a nonzero chance of this technology finding applications supporting other on-site equipment through charging or fuel delivery.
The S1 accomplishes that trick safely with the help of an automatic load leveling system that ensures maximum stability, even on bumpy or rough terrain. The company says this technology significantly reduces the risk of tipping while providing smooth and secure operation across various environments.
Liebherr will show the S1 Vision at this year’s bauma equipment exhibition in Munich, Germany. The design has already been nominated for the bauma Innovation Award in the Mechanical Engineering category – and my money’s on it winning.
Electrek’s Take
This is such goofy, stupid fun that if it was wheelbarrow-sized I’d have three of them. I can’t imagine the insanity of watching one of these things roll across a job site with 100 tons of granite in the bucket – and will have nightmares about the kind of damage it could do if it flipped out like a poorly made Chinese hoverboard clone whipping a toddler across a living room … which, in fairness, would probably get a billion views on Instagram or TikTok or whatever.
I can’t wait.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Liebherr.
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The HD arm of Hyundai has just released the first official images of the new, battery-electric HX19e mini excavator – the first ever production electric excavator from the global South Korean manufacturer.
The HX19e will be the first all-electric asset to enter series production at Hyundai Construction Equipment, with manufacturing set to begin this April.
The new HX19e will be offered with either a 32 kWh or 40 kWh li-ion battery pack – which, according to Hyundai, is nearly double the capacity offered by its nearest competitor (pretty sure that’s not correct –Ed.). The 40kWh battery allows for up to 6 hours and 40 minutes of continuous operation between charges, with a break time top-up on delivering full shift usability.
Those batteries send power to a 13 kW (17.5 hp) electric motor that drives an open-center hydraulic system. Hyundai claims the system delivers job site performance that is at least equal to, if not better than, that of its diesel-powered HX19A mini excavator.
To that end, the Hyundai XH19e offers the same 16 kN bucket breakout force and a slightly higher 9.4 kN (just over 2100 lb-ft) dipper arm breakout force. The maximum digging depth is 7.6 feet, and the maximum digging reach is 12.9 feet. Hyundai will offer the new electric excavator with just four selectable options:
- enclosed cab vs. open canopy
- 32 or 40 kWh battery capacity
All HX19es will ship with a high standard specification that includes safety valves on the main boom, dipper arm, and dozer blade hydraulic cylinders, as well as two-way auxiliary hydraulic piping allows the machine to be used with a range of commercially available implements. The hydraulics needed to operate a quick coupler, LED booms lights, rotating beacons, an MP3 radio with USB connectivity, and an operator’s seat with mechanical suspension are also standard.
Like its counterparts at Volvo CE, the new Hyundai excavator uses automotive-style charging ports to take advantage of existing infrastructure at fleet depots and public charging stations. More detailed specifications, dimensions, and pricing should be announced by bauma.
Electrek’s Take
The ability to operate indoors, underground, or in environments like zoos and hospitals were keeping noise levels down is of critical importance to the success of an operation makes electric equipment assets like these coming from Hyundai a must-have for fleet operators and construction crews that hope to remain competitive in the face of ever-increasing noise regulations. The fact that these are cleaner, safer, and cheaper to operate is just icing on that cake.
SOURCE | IMAGES: HD Hyundai; via Construction Index, Equipment World.
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