Key to City Mobility: Tiny, Lightweight Cars?

Electric cars are well suited for cities, but they won't be popular without regulatory support that discourages conventional vehicles, says Green Car Congress.

Nicolas Meilhan, a senior consultant with Frost & Sullivan in Paris, tells the online daily that EVs address air pollution issues but not parking and traffic congestion.

Meilhan urges municipalities in Europe to address all three goals by limiting city access for cars that weigh more than 500 kg (1,100 lbs), multiplying monthly parking fees for urban residents and providing tax breaks for ultra-efficient vehicles. The goal, he says, should be small, light vehicles whether they are powered by electricity or tiny gasoline or diesel engines.

The average weight of a car in France has grown 47% or 500 kg (1,100 lbs) to 1,266 kg (2,791 lbs) over the past 50 years, Green Car Congress reports.

Meilhan notes that ultra-light city cars exist today. He points to the Ligier JS50, which debuts in February. The tiny piston-powered two-seater weighs 400 kg (882 lbs), emits 65 g/km of carbon dioxide and has a European fuel economy rating of 2.5 l/100 km (94 mpg).

A similar model, the front-drive Aixam from France's Aixam-Mega, is less than 10 feet long, weighs 350 kg (772 lbs) and is powered by a two-cylinder, 400-cc diesel engine that makes 5.4 hp. The two-seat coupe has a top speed of 45 kph (30 mph) and a fuel economy rating of 3 l/100 km (78 mpg).