As time passes, the world’s population keeps growing, and city roads don’t expand, making regular-sized cars more expensive. This gives tiny urban cars another chance to attract buyers, prompting a new Swedish company to present its own take on the segment. In addition to its compact footprint and great efficiency, the Luvly O offers a new way of production and shipping, enabling a starting price of €10,000 (equal to $11,000 at current exchange rates) before any subsidies.
Taking inspiration from the popular furniture brand IKEA, Stockholm-based Luvly plans to produce its new EV, the O, in a main factory and ship it in flatpacks. Thanks to this patented feature, 20 units of the EV can fit in a standard container which would normally fit up to four regular-sized cars. However, unlike IKEA furniture which is assembled by the buyer, in Luvly’s case this process will take place in smaller regional factories.
More: Mobilize Duo And Bento Are Renault Group’s New Subscription-Based Urban EVs
The Luvly O is claimed to require up to 80% less energy for production and use than a standard EV, and its environmental credentials are further improved by the fact that all parts of the vehicle are recyclable and can be manufactured from renewable materials.
Tiny, Efficient, Practical, And Safe
The EV measures 2,700 mm (106.3 inches) long, 1,530 mm (60.2 inches) wide, and 1,440 mm (56.7 inches) tall, making it 290 mm (11.4 inches) longer than a Citroen Ami, but a full 932 mm (36.7 inches) shorter than a Fiat 500. The exterior design is minimalist, featuring a grille-less front, recessed round headlights, semi-exposed wheels, and no rear glass. Inside, there are two seats and a 267-liter (9.4 cubic foot) cargo space.
The microcar’s lightweight design, at less than 400 kg (882 lb-ft), means it requires only 6 kWh / 100 km (62 miles) to move. This allows the tiny 6 kWh battery to provide 100 km (62 miles) of range, which may seem low by 2023 standards, but is more than sufficient for most urban environments. Additionally, the battery is divided into two removable pieces that can be charged at home, with each module taking only one hour to charge from a regular outlet in Europe.
Smaller and more affordable vehicle segments like heavy quadricycles, such as the Citroen Ami and Mobilize Duo, are often criticized for not meeting the safety standards of regular cars. However, Luvly’s urban EV defies that belief, advertising itself as the safest in its segment. This is attributed to a “sandwich composite safety shell” with energy absorbers that protect passengers in the event of a collision. Additionally, the vehicle’s low top speed and lightweight design make it safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users compared to typical heavyweight EVs.
The company has a fill-out form on its official website, but it is not clear when production of the Luvly O will commence. The urban EV could be followed by mechanically-related models, including an LCV and a sportscar.
