{"id":80801,"date":"2025-02-28T07:24:15","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T12:24:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=80801"},"modified":"2025-02-28T07:24:15","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T12:24:15","slug":"niu-unveils-new-electric-microcar-with-impressive-8300-target-price","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=80801","title":{"rendered":"NIU unveils new electric microcar with impressive $8,300 target price"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t\"\"<\/figure>\n

NIU<\/a>, best known as a leader in the electric moped market, has expanded considerably over the last few years. In addition to offering a hot-selling new electric dirt bike<\/a> and showing off concepts for electric ATVs, the company is now unveiling an electric microcar known as the NIUMM 500.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Still in its prototype stage, the two-seater NIUMM 500 electric microcar is designed to fit into L6e category of light quadricycles in Europe. As a quadricycle, these vehicles are technically not \u201ccars\u201d in the traditional sense (or in the legal sense), and thus have their own set of regulations that help streamline their path to production. Other popular microcars, such as the Citroen Ami<\/a>, have taken a similar path and reached success with over 30,000 units sold.<\/p>\n

With a target price of \u20ac8,000 (approximately US $8,300), the NIUMM 500 is intended to fill that niche role of a comfortable, weather-protected urban commuter, going beyond a typical moped or motorcycle with the advantages of locking storage and the ultimate achievement of staying dry in the rain.<\/p>\n

In order to qualify as an L6e vehicle though, there are certain restrictions such as speed and power that prevent the NIUMM 500 from laying down the fastest lap times. A top speed of 45 km\/h (28 mph) keeps the microcar city-oriented, though you could probably tell by looking that this isn\u2019t a highway vehicle.<\/p>\n

\tAdvertisement – scroll for more content<\/span><\/p>\n

In some countries, light quadricycles don\u2019t even require a full car driver\u2019s license, instead allowing the operator to hold a more easily-obtainable moped permit.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n

Despite the speed limitation, the little electric microcar has a lot going for it. The traditional steering wheel control and two-pedal drive setup will feel familiar to seasoned car drivers, yet the vehicle offers a more moped-like parking experience by taking up a mere fraction of a parking spot. The narrow size helps squeeze through tight city streets, though you likely won\u2019t be lane splitting quite like a moped.<\/p>\n

Back on the car-like side of things, electric locks and power windows come standard (including a power rear windshield), as does electric heating. Optional add-ons include a sun roof and air conditioning. There\u2019s a decently large storage area behind the two seats, and another small storage area in front of the passenger seat.<\/p>\n

And in another nod to its hybrid design, halfway between a moped and a car, the NIUMM 500 can even be outfitted with removable batteries (straight from NIU\u2019s NQiX electric mopeds). The removable battery version allows apartment dwellers or others without access to street-level parking to still own and charge their own microcar. Just like how I charge my own NIU batteries at home, owners can simply carry the batteries up the elevator and charge them in their apartment.<\/p>\n

For those with charging access though, there\u2019s a fixed battery version with a larger 7 kWh capacity. It gets an impressive 118 km (73 miles) of range, compared to the removable battery version\u2019s 60 km (37 miles) of range.<\/p>\n

Both appear to feature the same 5 kW motor with a peak output of 10 kW \u2013 also the same drivetrain from the NIU NQiX electric moped.<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"