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5 Incredible Electric Microcars

Since the early 19th century the power of vehicles has been revolving round the laws of electromagnetism. All thanks goes to James Clerk Maxwell for the laws. It was in the 1830s that Scottish businessman Robert Anderson constructed the first generic electric carriage. And today, it's rather unfortunate to see transportation dominated by cumbersome poisonous internal combustion engines. Anderson would probably find that ridiculous.

Thank God! Times have begun changing once again and a robust trend towards convenience, environmental awareness and oil disentanglement is emerging. Efficient cars strapped with refined rechargeable batteries are already an affordable reality in some parts of the world.

How sophisticated is the propulsion system of an electric car? There is a battery or a number of batteries usually containing lithium or lead that convert stored chemical energy into electric current. The current is then directed into an electric motor that produces mechanical work, and that is how the wheels rotate. These electric cars are not just low on maintenance and running cost, they are emission-free, silent, and easy to drive and park. Here's our pick of the five incredible electric microcars.

REVA

This is no toy car! The REVA is real and is in fact the antique of electric city cars. It has been plying on the Indian roads since 2001. Completely automatic and endowed with lead acid batteries it has incredibly low running cost of just 0.4 Indian Rupees per kilometer. 90 per cent of all car commutes in India range from 50 to 80 km and on an average the speed doesn't exceed 60 km/h. Well, REVA offers an adequate alternative since it can attain a maximum velocity of 80 kmph and may travel up to 80 km with a single full charge. The REVA, with around 3000 units already hitting the roads, is currently the best selling electric vehicle worldwide. The company has a due expansion plan of 30000 units a year.

Buddy

Meet our friend from Norway. The Buddy is sweet, economical, versatile and a lot of fun too. This electric car shares technical similarities with the REVA which has a range up to 150 km, a maximum speed of 90 kmph and weighs around 800 kg. However Buddy, in tandem, carries extra technological assets while maintaining relatively low cost. The little wonder has been equipped with features like regenerative disc breaking, Li-Ion batteries, optional automation and even a ski/bike rack. People in Norway seem to have welcomed Buddy warmly as a result of which, the car maker develops at least five Buddies a week. It ranks 29th in automobile sales even ahead of Fiat and Smart.

TH!NK city

This one is no big city, but is real big on features. With the production of this electric car, it seems like Scandinavia has been successfully holding the reins. TH!NK city is exquisite. Apart from the captivating design, a version of the current model which is already on sale in Norway contains state-of-the-art Lithium batteries which practically render it an electric powerplant. TH!NK city comes fully equipped with features like regenerative breaking, ABS, airbags, electric windows and mirrors. It can also exhibit a 210 km range, maximum speed of 105 kmph, 95 per cent recyclability and electricity cost of 1 British pound per 100 miles. So that's enough proof that TH!NK city plays in a high league. On the whole, it is the only crash-tested and highway-approved electric car according to the U.S. and EU legislations.

Mitsubishi i-EV

This electric car goes to prove that Japan too is matured enough when it comes to green car technology. That's exactly what the car stands for. The Mitsubishi i-EV, with its ground-breaking technology, is all set to inflict dread on its contenders that gulp down gas. It has enough room for four adults, possesses a target range of 160 km and a maximum speed of 130 kmph in addition to the four-wheel drive and extremely high-density Lithium-Ion battery technology. This Mitsubishi car is already serving its fleet and individual customers in Japan. The car may begin services in other nations soon. Future generations, particularly the MiEV Sport, incorporate technologies like solar panels on the roof, frontal turbines that generate power from airflow and Mitsubishi's 'Super All Wheel Control' to enhance stability.

Lumeneo SMERA

This invention is a far-reaching venture from France. What would one call it? Is it a car, a scooter or a miniature bus? The wacky electric vehicle, SMERA has four wheels, tilts 25 degrees and spares exactly one seat just behind the driver. Almost unreal in appearance, it avers great performance: a range of 150 km, maximum speed of 130 kmph, acceleration from 0-100 km/h in just 8 seconds and an astonishing 10-year Lithium-based battery lifespan! This is a true daredevil strapped with two motors; one above each rear wheel. The cockpit feels like a cozy, high-tech fighter jet. There hasn't been anything like the SMERA so far; it represents the exceptional and revolutionary.

With more and more electric vehicles squeezing their way in, understanding a universe where such vehicles boom is getting easier these days. Fortunately, these are not just concept cars or mere fancy blueprints. It is the production of these vehicles that gives us the feel that a sustainable future is after all no fake promise, it is real.

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