Should we all embrace Japan’s kei car model – small, cheap, but not exactly safe?
A new breed of electric vehicles is drawing inspiration from Japanese kei cars, tiny cubes-on-wheels that are highway-legal but not likely to pass muster with US or EU safety standards. But what if we loosened up those standards to help lower prices, enabling broader adoption of EVs to people who don’t have 30 grand or more to spend on a car? That is, at least, one of the ideas that French automaker Renault’s head Luca de Meo has put on the table.
Recently de Meo, who also heads up the ACEA, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, took to the stage at a press conference to argue against the instability of European legislation on their industry. He says that they are now facing eight or nine European regulations coming into force each year until 2030, with some of them being contradictory. An incredible amount of time, energy, and money is monopolized to work to meet the demands, with de Meo saying that 20% of the company’s engineers are “almost entirely” dedicated to making sure products developed in-house comply with the standards. These standards encompass everything from safety to pollution levels to visibility and infotainment systems, among other things.
Basically, he argues that Europe needs to adopt a less fluctuating and intense framework to keep the playing field level for European automakers to stay in the game and make some cheaper cars. If Europe simplifies the rules, consumers can enjoy a 40% reduction in car prices by 2027-2028, he argues.
It’s a very tempting proposition, especially when you factor in his idea of creating a whole new category equivalent to kei cars in Europe (we’ll include the US here as a thought experiment) – like in Japan, these cars too would have limits in terms of their size, weight, and power, all in exchange for less stringent safety requirements while benefiting from tax breaks. Picture a tiny car with a tiny battery priced as low as $10,000 – in terms of size, it’s not quite a Citroën Ami but not a Tesla Model 3 either.
De Meo has officially stated that he has drawn inspiration from kei cars for an upcoming crop of EVs coming out of Ampere, Renault’s EV subsidiary, especially the new electric Twingo. While inspired by the first-generation hatchback from the ‘90s, the new Twingo has adopted some kei aspects, such as a slight cube-style shape maximizing interior space in a reduced size with five doors. Renault hasn’t yet released any specifications on the car but promises an efficiency of up to 6.2 miles per kWh, with a price set for under €20,000, or around $22,000. But still, the new Twingo needs to comply to European standards, especially in terms of crash testing (and we might see that price crawl up before it becomes available). That’s the main reason we don’t see Japanese models outside of Japan, such as its best-selling EV kei car, the Sakura.
Electrek’s Take
There are a ton of reasons why this makes sense – just in practical terms of having better access to cheap, light cars that are easy to drive and park. People want small, lightweight cars for short commuter trips or city driving, and lighter EVs would take some pressure off roads as well. And if you’re worried about being cramped, they are designed to maximize interior space, so the boxy frame offers plenty of leg and head room to keep you comfortable, for a little while at least.
Of course, if the idea of being behind the wheel of a highway-legal kei car on a five-lane freeway with SUVs and trucks bearing down on you is terrifying, I agree. It’s really a game of physics here – big, heavy vehicles with long hoods and big crush zones take the advantage here. But clearly the trend is going in the wrong direction, and we need more more small cars on the road, not the two-ton behemoths that are being sold now. Small, cheap EVs fill a huge void in the market. And of course, we’re not talking about radically reducing safety regulations either – I’m old enough to remember riding in a Yugo, the world’s unsafest car and a harrowing experience because it was a literal tin can. Unsafe, cheap cars sold to people who can’t afford all the safety bells and whistles is depressing, and seeing safety reductions for cost savings is a tricky proposition long-term. It’s more about finding some middle ground. If we could get it right, this could be a great move.
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The global shift to electric vehicles (EVs) is accelerating, but McKinsey’s latest report warns of significant strain on the supply chain for critical battery materials by 2030.
EV sales are expected to jump from 4.5 million units in 2023 to 28 million annually by the end of the decade. This unprecedented demand will put pressure on the availability of essential materials like lithium, high-purity manganese, and graphite.
While lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries reduce reliance on scarcer materials like cobalt and nickel, they still depend heavily on lithium, manganese, and graphite. The shift to LFP batteries offers some relief but does not eliminate the imbalances in the supply chain, highlighting the need for continued focus on securing sustainable sources.
Adding to the challenge, upstream raw material mining and refining these materials account for about 40% of an EV battery’s total emissions. McKinsey’s report emphasizes that reducing emissions in these processes is critical.
“Sourcing materials from supplies committed to low-emission fuels and power sources could cut emissions by as much as 80% in mining and refining phases. This needs to be paired with a strong focus on cost reduction given the current profitability pressure in the battery industry,” said Raphael Rettig, partner at McKinsey.
Smaller but essential materials, such as high-purity manganese, also face growing challenges. Currently, manganese contributes around 4% of emissions in a typical lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt (LI-NMC) battery. However, as LFP batteries gain popularity and larger materials like lithium and nickel are decarbonized, manganese’s relative emissions intensity could nearly double without targeted strategies to address the imbalance.
Toyota’s recent $4.5 million grant from the US Department of Energy to develop more sustainable EV batteries is a step toward addressing these challenges. However, it’s clear that solving the broader supply chain issues will require a collective effort from the entire industry to balance demand with sustainable practices and minimize emissions. The path forward will define the EV industry’s ability to meet climate goals while scaling up production.
Read more: Toyota gets $4.5M DOE grant to boost EV battery sustainability
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Hyundai’s new IONIQ 9 electric SUV already looks like it’s from the future, but the flagship Calligraphy trim stands apart from the other options. The top-tier model gains added tech, features, and sleek trim-exclusive design elements. A new all-black model was spotted in California, giving us a better look at the top-tier trim on the road.
Hyundai IONIQ 9 Calligraphy spotted in all-black
The IONIQ 9 is Hyundai’s first three-row electric SUV, a “living room on wheels,” if you will. Last month, Hyundai unveiled the larger electric SUV at the LA Auto Show.
Featuring Hyundai’s new “Aerosthetic” design, you can miss the IONIQ 9’s futuristic style. The streamlined roof and flush exterior design provide a spacious, “lounge-like” interior. It even includes added elements like Parametric Pixels integrated into the front LED lights and bumper.
The IONIQ 9 will be available in S, SE, SEL, Limited, and a flagship Calligraphy trim options. Hyundai confirmed the top-tier model will have an exclusive Calligraphy Design package with 21″ wheels.
Other trim-specific features added to the Calligraphy model include a microfiber suede roof trim, a premium cargo sill plate, a two-tone leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 10″ Head-Up Display (HUD), and a full-display mirror FDM with HomeLink.
Although Hyundai has shown the flagship SUV off in public, a new video from KindelAuto shows a preproduction IONIQ 9 Calligraphy in all-black testing in the US.
Earlier this month, an IONIQ 9 model was spotted testing in public ahead of deliveries. We also saw what appears to be an XRT trim with off-road upgrades caught in Korea last week.
At 199.2″ long, 78″ wide, and 70.5″ tall, the Hyundai IONIQ 9 is slightly smaller than the Rivian R1S (201″ long, 82″ wide, 77″ tall). It’s roughly the size of Kia’s EV9.
Hyundai’s electric SUV, which is powered by a 110.3 kWh battery pack, has an EPA-estimated range of 335 miles, or 620 km, on the WLTP cycle.
Hyundai’s three-row electric SUV will be available in the US and Korea in the first half of 2025. Following that, it will roll out to global markets like Europe. It will be built alongside the updated 2025 IONIQ 5 at Hyundai’s new manufacturing plant in Georgia. Prices will be revealed closer to launch.
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Environment
Podcast: Tesla self-driving computer failure, Cybertruck issues, Honda/Nissan merger, and more
In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss Tesla’s issues self-driving computer failure, Cybertruck is also having some problem, Honda/Nissan merger, and more.
The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.
As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.
After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:
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Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:
Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET):
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