Japan has gone beyond its ideas for small kei cars and made a miniature single-seater, initiating an entirely new segment of urban transport.
Japanese startup KG Motors studied the local market of demand and logistics, developed its first electric car for urban use. As it turns out, most Japanese people drive themselves to work and school.. All government surveys reviewed showed that about 70% of car owners in Japan drive without passengers on weekdays.
The research prompted the developers to create a single-seater modern car with an almost full palette of innovation and comfort.. And the company succeeded: the brand’s first electric car, although small, is economical, fast, with a very attractive cost of ownership and, most importantly, easy to park.
A car with one seat in the center of the cabin has a maximum speed of 60 km/h. The 5000 W motor produces just under seven horsepower. It's like a moped, but with a roof over your head.
The battery power level is sufficient for a range of 100 km on a single charge. Recharging takes approximately 5 hours from a household AC outlet.
As for the dimensions, they are truly amazing. The length of the baby does not exceed 2.45 m, which is almost half the length of, say, the length of a Nissan NP 300 pickup truck with a double-row cab (4.95 m). The width is such that it can fit into a standard corridor door – 1.09 meters. The height is only 1.5 meters.
Air conditioning provides comfort. You can roll down the window if necessary, but the side windows open manually, which can be frustrating and require some physical work.
Of course, a single-seater car will by no means replace the need for a large family car, especially when a mother or father needs to drop off a child at school on the way to work.. However, given the late marriages of Japanese youth, this will not hurt to have such a car for commuting to work or school.
At the same time, the price of freedom and independence from public transport is at the forefront – only 1 million yen, which converts into 6,600 US dollars.
This cost is partly due to KG Motors' low costs from efficient design, including. h. thanks to symmetrical body components that reduce the number of molds and tools. A similar concept is introduced on the Citroën Ami, which also uses identical front and rear body panels and glass components to reduce consumption.
While the car is undergoing test drives. Next year, the developers plan to hone the design, add some settings and digital systems. Serial production is expected in 2025.
