A microcar is the smallest automobile classification, usually applied to very
small cars. Such small cars were generally referred to as cyclecars until
the 1940s. More recent models are also called bubble cars due to their
bubble-shaped appearance. Definition
The definition of a microcar has varied considerably in different countries.
Since there are usually tax and/or licensing advantages to the
classification, multiple restrictions are often imposed, starting with engine
size. The Register of Unusual Microcars in the UK says: "economy vehicles with
either three or four wheels, powered by petrol engines of no more than 700cc or
battery electric propulsion, and manufactured since 1945". The Bruce
Weiner Microcar Museum says "Engine sizes of 700cc and less and 2 doors or
less" and the US-based Vintage Microcar Club simply defines it as 1000cc or
less. Typical microcars usually have some of
the following features: seats only the driver and a single
passenger a 1-cylinder 49 – 500cc engine
1 wheel drive cable operated brakes on 2,3,or 4 wheels
simple suspensions 6″ - 8″ roadwheels
Many, but not all, microcars are also: Not fitted with a reverse gear.
May have all gears operable in reverse as well as in forward gear such as the
Messerschmitt KR200. Fitted with lifting bodywork instead of
doors. Less than 3m in length.
Less than 85 cubic feet/2400 litres interior volume.
There are also a variety of microcar trucks, usually of the "forward control"
or van style to provide more cargo room. These might be used for local deliveries
on narrow streets where standard small pickup trucks would be inconvenient, and
full-sized delivery trucks would be impossible.
Legal position The economy of operating such a small
car has also often been helped by three-wheeled microcars or cars with
very small engines being treated as motorcycles for tax and insurance
purposes. In some countries, microcars with a
certain maximum weight are considered motorcycles and therefore no car driving
licence is needed. This assures a certain market among older people who do
not want to stand for, or who cannot pass an auto driver's licence test. More
negatively, at least in Austria and France, such cars are sometimes derided
as a solution for people who had their licence revoked because of drunk
driving. In some European countries, taxes
formerly depended on engine displacement, and/or insurance rates
depended on power. This has given rise to names of such cars as Citroën 2CV and
Renault 4CV. This favourable treatment by governments is based on the benefits
to a society of reducing use of such resources as minerals, parking space and
foreign exchange, reduced noise and chemical pollution, reduced hazard to
others etc. Reduced global warming from carbon dioxide emission has now been
added to this list. Another advantage is the ease of
parking. Some microcars can be parked perpendicular, where other cars park
parallel, or be lifted by hand, like a motor scooter, to get into a tight spot.
The Isetta and some others had forward entry, to facilitate perpendicular
parking close to other vehicles. The Myers Motors NmG is licensed as a
motorcycle and parked in motorcycle spaces in California, and probably in
other places. The small size improves handling by
reducing the angular inertia. The Messerschmitt and Spatz have been
described as much better than ordinary cars on snow and ice. Spare room on the
road and ease of missing obstacles are also improved.
For the performance oriented, who prefer more than two wheels and a roof, the
scaling laws show that one need not give up acceleration until the curb weight
comes down to around the driver's weight, because power per weight of the
car itself improves with small size, in an otherwise similar design. Top speed
is lost with small scale, due to the decreased Reynolds number, but this is a
small effect. The Messerschmitt TG500 had about a 78 mph top speed with 15 kW
and excellent aerodynamics. In the UK before October 2000, a person
who passed a motorcycle test was automatically granted a full
sub-category B1 licence as an additional entitlement with the full Category A
licence. Since 2000 a provisional car licence has to be requested.
The last major UK manufacturer, Reliant, ceased production of these vehicles in
1998. Elio Motors, an American company
attempting to revive the class, is working with state legislatures to
remove the motorcycle licensing requirement. http:www.eliomotors.com/
Electric microcars Some examples of battery electric
microcars are: The Think Nordic, imported to the USA by
Ford Motor Company to satisfy California Zero-emissions vehicle requirements in
the state of California. Removed from the market by Ford in a bargain with the
California Air Resources Board. See PZEV for more information.
The Global Electric Motorcars GEM, a 2- or 4-passenger "Golf car" style vehicle.
The REVA electric vehicle as used in its home environment, India. This may soon
be exported to the USA with speed electronically limited and sold as an
NEV. The Corbin Sparrow, a single-seat
electric microcar that can be licensed as a motorcycle.
The CityEl, a three-wheeled single-seat electric microcar built in Germany.
The obstacle to adaptation of such vehicles in the United States is less
technical than cultural and political. The mandates by regulatory powers that
such vehicles meet full U.S. safety regulations ensures the unavailability
of vehicles suitable for use in the mixed traffic conditions that
predominate in U.S. suburban areas. The French company SECMA produces the
so-called scootcar FUN-ELEC. The TWIKE is a microcar that is pedal
assisted. Electrocar is a small freight
transporter typically used in enterprises or rail stations
the 2012 PeelP50 comes in electric as well as the classic one cylinder
gasoline. Microcars by country of origin
See also List of microcars by country of origin
Battery electric vehicle Bubble car
City car Cyclecar
Car classification Economy car
Kei car a Japanese category of small vehicles, including passenger cars,
vans, and pickup trucks. MIT Car
Neighborhood Electric Vehicle Vehicle size class
Velomobile Notes
References Hans-Ulrich von Mende, Matthias Dietz &
Benedikt Taschen, Kleinwagen, Small Cars, Petites Voitures, Taschen, ISBN
3-8228-8910-5 External links
The Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum 3wheelers.com
Peel Microcars The Vintage Microcar Club
VintageMicrocar.com Electric Car Society
The Micromaniacs microcar club