Oddball micro EVs like the Citroen Ami, Fiat Topolino, Opel Rocks Electric and Renault Twizy might seem crazy to anyone looking on from North America, but these quadricycles are contesting a small but important niche that’s predicted to get bigger in the coming years.
And now the segment has another contender in the form of the Zero from London-based EV startup, Ark. Though Ark may expand to to other regions in the future, the Zero is currently only available in the UK, where its £5,995 ($7,620) price makes it £1,700 ($2,160) less expensive than the Ami and the country’s cheapest electric vehicle.
It’s also one of the slowest. Power comes from a 3 hp (3 PS / 2.2 kW) electric motor, and the top speed is limited to 28 mph (45 mph). Ark says the 80 Ah battery gives a 50-mile (81 km) range and can be charged in 6-8 hours for just £1 (80 cents).
It’s difficult to get an idea of the Zero’s true size from the images, but the dimensions on the spec sheet tell us it’s tiny, measuring 98.4 inches (2,500 mm) in length, 47.3 in (1,202 mm) across, and 64 in (1,625 mm) tall. Those numbers means it’s almost 8 in (200 mm) shorter and an incredible 18.1 in (460 mm) narrower than a Smart ForTwo, which is the definition of a tiny city car for most people.
Related: Fiat Gives Us A Better Look At The Adorable Topolino EV
The narrow body means the Zero’s driver has to sit directly in front of any passenger, like in Renault’s Twizy, but together with the aluminum constriction it does help keep the curb weight to an incredibly low 1,078 lbs (489 kg). Unlike the Twizy though, the Zero has a proper set of doors with windows, which should mean its less horrible to drive in rainy city weather, though it does also mean it looks pretty terrible from most angles.
The exception is the front, which has a friendly (or is it slightly psychotic?) face that’s straight out of a Pixar movie. Buyers can opt for red, black or gray paint plus the white shown here, but that’s about where your personalization options end. The single available trim includes a digital infotainment screen, LED lights, a sunroof and a reversing camera.
No one would argue that the Zero looks as cool as an Ami or Topolino, but thanks to that £1,700 saving it makes a lot of sense for anyone in the UK looking for one of these vehicles, which are exempt from the London congestion charge. Ark’s website says it’s already working on the next car. I wonder which Lightning McQueen sidekick that one will look like?
