$18K Microlino is cute EV with 200km-plus range

Swiss kick scooter and e-bike manufacturer, Micro Mobility, has revealed its new Microlino pure-electric city car that it will sell from September in Europe.

Priced at around €12,000 ($A18,500), the new pint-sized Microlino 2.0 draws direct influence from the famous Isetta bubble cars made during the 1950s.

Created to appeal to urbanites who want to avoid public transport but find motorbikes too draughty, the Microlino is said to offer just the right amount of space, range and performance for the average commute.

Capable of carrying two occupants plus three beer crates, the small electric rival to the Renault Twizy, or new Citroen Ami, weighs in at just 513kg and is capable of a top speed of 90km/h.

Keeping weight to an absolute minimum to maximise range, the tiny zero-emissions city car is based on a steel and aluminium monocoque that features a rear axle 50 per cent wider for better stability compared to early prototypes that began testing as far back as 2018.

Two battery packs will be available, but Micro has not yet revealed their size, saying only that one provides a range of around 125km while the other can drive more than 200km between top-ups.

Speaking of charging, the little EV is said to be capable of a full recharge in as little as four hours from a domestic plug socket.

Like the original Italian-designed Isetta produced by BMW under licence, the new Microlino features a front-opening door that allows drivers to park nose-in to the kerb for a safe exit onto the pavement.

Unlike the Isetta, the steering column is fixed to the floor, not the door, hindering ingress and egress a little.

Inside the Microlino there's a simple and minimalist cabin that features a small digital dash.

Reflecting its price, instead of a sound system there's a horizontal bar for users to mount their phone to, or any additional wireless speakers.

As well as being sold directly to customers, the Microlino is set to be offered through car-share schemes and come with embedded tech that could see the small EV use virtual 'keys' sent to your phone.

There's no official confirmation of right-hand drive production yet, but right-hook versions are expected shortly after launch in Europe, hinting the Microlino could migrate Down Under if there's demand.

In Europe, the Swiss brand most famous for its folding aluminium scooters says homologation for the Microlino begins in June and should be completed by August ahead of production beginning in September.