While the upcoming generation of electric mini and micro cars could take some major strides beyond the current NEVs, they have more than a few hurdles standing in the way of mass-market adoption. Subcompacts appeal to city drivers with short commutes and limited parking — the same drivers who are less likely to have a garage where they can plug in and charge up at night than their suburban counterparts. Of course, there’s no way you’ll fit a family of five or a bicycle in these models. And while smaller cars don’t statistically put drivers at greater overall risk on the road, as the Wall Street Journal notes, they face questions about how safe they are on highways swarming with SUVs. A recent study found small, lightweight cars such as the Smart Fortwo and Toyota Yaris faired poorly in head-on collisions with heavier midsize vehicles, as this video from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety explains.
Automakers are betting big on these next-generation little cars — here are six slated to hit U.S. or European roads in the next few years (though several of these are planned for limited regional rollouts). How likely are you to buy one if you have the chance?
Daimler Smart Fortwo EV: Daimler aims to give the electric version of the Fortwo enough power to reach 37 mph in 5.7 seconds and have a top speed of 70 mph. A fully charged battery is supposed to give a 150-mile range
BMW Mini-E: The 573-pound battery pack, which sits where the backseat would usually be, is supposed to get a full charge in eight hours with a conventional wall socket, or three hours at high voltage, and deliver an all-electric range of 156 miles. As Wired notes, BMW aims for the model to do zero to 60 in 8.5 seconds and have a max speed of 95 mph.
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