The Microlino: Half Motorbike, Half Car.
The Microlino is a tiny car designed for city drivers and is very similar to the Citroen Ami. It was built in Italy and was first revealed at the Geneva Motorshow. You may be wondering, who needs a car so small? Micro has launched the Microlino because, on average, a car is only occupied by 1.2 people and driven 35 km per day (this equates to 21 miles per day). The Microlino has been designed for everyday use. Whether it is being used for commuting or visiting friends, it will be able to get you there.
The three founders of Micro, Wim, Oliver, and Merlin Ouboter, asked themselves, “how much car do you really need,” which led to the birth of the Microlino. Micro is known for the kickscooter, which “uses the niche of mobility between walking and cycling,” and so they decided to do the same for the Microlino, which essentially acts as the halfway between ‘a motorbike and a car.’ They collaborated with ZHAW, a Swiss University and then went on to develop the prototype in China in 2015. They then presented the Microlino at the 2016 Geneva Motorshow and it was a huge success, with 500 reservations in just two days.
There are two models available: the Lite and the Microlino. Both come with a 5.5 kWh battery, but you can also opt for an 11 kWh battery. The Microlino Lite can reach 62 miles on a single charge with the 5.5 kWh battery, and up to 112 miles with the 11 kWh battery, surpassing the Ami’s range of 46 miles. The smaller battery can charge from 0-80% in just four hours, making it ideal for urban areas where you need frequent short trips.
The Microlino is actually smaller than the Citroën Ami, which might be surprising. It offers 230 litres of boot space, enough for a small weekly shop. Instead of individual seats, it features a bench to save space.
Let’s take a closer look at both Microlino models available and explore who this car was designed for!
Everything you need to know about the Microlino
As aforementioned, the Microlino has space for two adults as well as three beer crates, according to the website. You can charge the Microlino in four hours on a standard household socket and a big positive of the Microlino is the fact you can park anywhere, you can even cross-park and get out directly onto the pavement, as the front of the Microlino where you enter and exit.
Performance stats and trim levels
| Trim | Range | Battery size | RRP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard range | 57 miles | 5.5kWh | £17,990 |
| Medium range | 109 miles | 10.5kWh | £19,790 |
| Long range | 141 miles | 15kWh | £21,490 |
As shown in the table below, the Microlino offers three battery options: Standard (5.5 kWh), Medium (10.5 kWh), and Long range (15 kWh). These choices extend the range from 57 miles to 141 miles, with corresponding price increases.
The base price is £17,990. Opting for the Medium range adds £1,800, while the Long range adds £3,500, bringing the total to £21,490. Microlino claims the range is approximately 60% in winter and 85% in summer. The Microlino has a top speed of 90 km/h (approximately 55 mph).
The Microlino features infinity LED light bars, a sunroof, retro and matte colour options, chrome accents, a vegan leather steering wheel, a soft-close mechanism, sport mode, dual displays, and heating. It is available in six colours: Santorini White, Amsterdam Orange, Milano Red Monocolor, Gotham Black Matte (an additional £490), London Green Matte (an additional £490), and Zurich Blue (an additional £790).
What’s the space like inside?
The Microlino is very compact, measuring 1.46 meters in length and width, and 1.49 meters in height. It has a bench seat that accommodates two people comfortably, depending on their size. A small display behind the steering wheel shows battery level, speed, and other details. Touch displays in the centre of the cabin control ventilation and heating, though there is no air conditioning. You can roll down the windows or manually fold back the roof to cool down. The interior consists of scratchy, hard plastics, reflecting Micro's focus on simplicity and the car's small size
What’s the Microlino like to drive?
Unlike many electric cars, the Microlino has a distinct electric hum due to its shape and size. It is designed for city driving, which may take some getting used to initially. One-pedal driving is impossible; instead, you must press the brakes firmly to get feedback.
What about the Microlino Lite?
The Microlino Lite is limited to 27 mph and has a standard range of 57 miles per charge. Like the Microlino, it offers matte colour options, LED lights, a soft-close mechanism, sport mode, and heating. Additionally, the Lite version features a unique interior, specialised rims, orange trim details, and a Coupé roof.
Performance stats and trim levels
As shown in the table below, the Microlino Lite offers two battery options. The 5.5 kWh battery has a range of 59 miles, charges to 80% in two hours, and costs £16,990. The Medium range version, with an 11 kWh battery, achieves 124 miles and charges in four hours, priced at £18,790 - almost £2,000 more than the standard range.
| Trim | Range | Battery Size | Charging time to 80% | RRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard range | 59 miles | 5.5kWh | 2 hours | £16,990 |
| Medium range | 124 miles | 11kWh | 4 hours | £18,790 |
The Microlino Lite is only available in two colours: Venice blue and Berlin anthracite matte. The latter will set you back an extra £490. You can also decide to have a sunroof which will set you back a further £590!
What license do you need to drive a Microlino Lite?
Many different rules depend on where in Europe you plan to drive the Lite, but in the UK you can drive this car at 16 as long as you have an AM driver’s license. An AM driver’s license means you can drive two or three-wheeled vehicles with a maximum design speed of over 15.5mph but no more than 28mph.
What is the Lite like inside and to drive?
The Lite is similar to the standard Microlino, except for its orange trim details. The driving experience is likely similar for both models, so be prepared for wind noise and the lack of air conditioning before purchasing.
Which should I choose? The Citröen Ami or the Microlino?
| Metrics | Citröen Ami | Microlino |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 241 cm | 251 cm |
| Width | 139 cm | 147 cm |
| Height | 152 cm | 150 cm |
| Cargo volume | 63 litres | 230 litres |
| Weight | 471kg | 496kg |
| Maximum range | 75km / 46 miles | 230km / 142 miles |
This table compares the Microlino and the Citroën Ami in terms of length, width, height, volume, weight, and maximum range. The Ami falls short in cargo volume, holding only 63 litres compared to the Microlino's 230 litres, and in range, achieving 46 miles versus the Microlino's 142 miles for some trim levels.
The Ami is smaller than the Microlino, but only by a couple of centimetres, so it is very impressive that the Microlino has such a large cargo volume!
However, the Ami is more affordable, with an RRP of £7,595-£8,595, whereas the Microlino is nearly £10,000 more expensive.
You used to be able to lease a Citroën Ami through The Electric Car Scheme, which lets people save on leasing by paying from their pre-tax salary. EV salary sacrifice schemes, like The Electric Car Scheme, are offered by companies to improve employee retention and happiness while advancing their climate goals. This benefit reduces CO2 emissions and enhances employee engagement. Participants save on income tax and national insurance contributions, potentially saving hundreds each month.
Can you salary sacrifice the Microlino?
Unfortunately, you cannot yet salary sacrifice the Microlino through providers like The Electric Car Scheme. This is because it is still new and lacks a UK-based team. We hope it will eventually be available for lease, allowing city dwellers to benefit from the savings. Stay tuned!
What is an EV salary sacrifice scheme?
Salary sacrifice involves an agreement between an employee and employer where the employee directs a portion of their salary toward a specific benefit. This tax-free arrangement reduces both income tax and national insurance contributions. Common uses include saving for retirement, covering childcare expenses, purchasing a bike, or leasing an electric car. Employers implement salary sacrifice by modifying employment contracts, but it's important to ensure that it doesn't bring an employee's cash earnings below the national minimum wage. Opting for a salary sacrifice scheme means willingly forgoing part of one's salary, resulting in a reduced income, but the advantage lies in the diminished tax and insurance payments, allowing more money to be allocated towards personally beneficial expenses.
Why choose The Electric Car Scheme
The Electric Car Scheme was born from the belief that everyone wants to make choices to achieve a net zero future. We aimed to create an easy and affordable decision for everyone to transition to net zero. Every company in the UK can support their employees on this journey by offering The Electric Car Scheme as an employee benefit.
This cost-neutral benefit provides employees with the most affordable way to switch to an electric car. Implementing an EV salary sacrifice scheme at your company not only benefits employees but also enhances non-financial reporting, such as ESG or SDG metrics, by facilitating the switch from petrol or diesel cars to electric vehicles.
Last updated: 22/07/24
