Los Angeles-based automaker Eli Electric Motors has begun assembling the Zero, a contender for the title of the United States’ most compact car. Having said that, the first vehicles will be delivered to Europe, with the USA set to follow shortly afterwards.
Compared to the concept from three years ago, the final production car is very different. It has a 72-volt on-board network instead of 48-volt, improved suspension, a reversing camera and LED headlights, as well as power-assisted brakes and steering.
A single electric motor mounted in the back produces 5.4 horsepower (4 kilowatts) and gets the urban ride to a maximum of 40 km/h (25 miles per hour). A 5.8-kWh traction battery translates into 80 km (50 miles) of range, but you can opt for a larger 8-kWh battery and get 112 km (70 miles).
The Zero comes based on an aluminum chassis with MacPherson struts at the front end. It benefits from rotor brakes all around and has parking sensors along with see-through doors to simplify parking as much as possible. This is especially impressive given its dimensions of 88 x 54 x 62 inches LWH (2.25 x 1.38 x 1.58 meters), as well as a turn radius of just 7 meters.
The interior contains two seats available with fake or natural leather trim, a digital dashboard with a 7-inch display and back-up camera video feed, a low-end audio system, a USB slot for connectivity and charging, a simple air conditioner, and a 12-volt socket. The trunk can hold up to 160 liters (5.65 cubic feet) of luggage.