Eli Electric Vehicles, a California and China-based EV company, is building a minimalist electric bug vehicle similar to a Smart Car. The company is now eyeing the Zero’s official United States launch. Eli is already taking pre-orders for the relatively inexpensive model — a little under $12,000.
Eli launched the Zero thanks to crowdfunding in 2017, developing the car before shipping it to Europe in 2021. Green Car Reports said it initially targeted a U.S. launch in 2022. However, the site says the automaker missed the date but claims to have shipped hundreds in Europe and French Polynesia.
Photo Courtesy Eli Electric Vehicles
The Zero is designed for urban driving and short commuting. It’s not the most powerful EV on the road, but like other small-scale electrics, its goal is to make short-distance driving less harmful. It’s one way to decarbonize cities, with companies like Arcimoto and Club Car promoting the same idea.
Marcus Li, CEO and founder, came up with the idea for Eli after admiring the New York landscape. The narrow corridors of Manhattan and skyscrapers made him realize modern cars cause congestion because they keep getting bigger. Lightweight vehicles offer more potential to get through tight corners and dodge traffic, not to mention being more wallet-friendly.
Eli also made charging easy, with the car fully powering up from any 120V outlet in 5 hours or 240V outlet in 2.5 hours. It has regenerative braking to send power back to the battery and carries three lithium-ion batteries under the chassis. There’s an optional battery heating system that improves performance in winter months.
The interior has 5.65 cubic feet of trunk space, USB charging outlets in the glove box, Eco Mode driving mode, rearview cameras, and three different headlight settings.
The car also has a Sony infotainment system with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, Bluetooth speakers, and more.
The Zero can only go around 25 mph, so don’t expect to drive fast or far. The batteries have about 90 miles of range at most — the company said in a press release that this was an enhancement from the European version. However, that’s the idea! It’s supposed to be a neighborhood vehicle.
The EV was inspired by the idea that the country’s vehicle dependency has made us less connected. Pollution aside, most American cities are car-dependent, causing traffic and congestion, making it impossible to drive across town. Eight-lane highways now slice through neighborhoods, causing a separate set of problems.
Photo Courtesy Eli Electric Vehicles
“We shouldn’t forget that the very essence of cities and communities is to bring people and culture together,” the company website says. “Urbanity is intended to give people increased access to events, activities, goods, and a sense of togetherness.”
Green Car Reports said the sales will begin in the third quarter of 2024. Eli plans to sell the Zero through a set of dealer partners. The company also said it has a plant that can build 4,000 EVs a year.
One of the Zero’s big differences from other small-scale urban transportation EVs is the design — Arcimoto and Aptera offer three-wheeled autocycles. While those have had their own success, Zero provides the traditional driving experience. It’ll be up against tough competition, but as more cities incentivize EV adoption and public transportation use, Zero could emerge as one of the leading lightweight urban cars.
