The Microlino Lite

The Microlino Lite is a low power version of the Microlino that only requires a moped license in Europe. It might show up here as a LSV. Two battery options for a 100 to 177 km range. Don't know what standard that is under; WLTP has tests for low powered cars.

"Although the Microlino Lite is targeting Europe on day one, Micro co-founder and CMO Merlin Ouboter says the Microlino Lite is eligible for registration in the US as a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) and hopes to have the first Microlinos there by the end of 2024."

The Microlino Lite is here to make urban SUVs look even dumber - The Verge

 

It works like the ICE inspiration. The drive unit runs backwards for reverse.

edit: Or am I thinking of another classic micro car?

 

Also for those with limited mobility, or those simply don't need, or pay for, a highway capable car. Narrow roads and limited parking are real issues for European cities, which is why this low speed car segment has been around for some time there.

Registering it for LSV sales in the US is a way of expanding production some, and gauging whether the cost of introducing the full function Microlino is worth it.

I was thinking of the Messerschmitt KR200.

"The engine had two sets of contact breaker points and, to reverse, the engine was stopped and then restarted, going backwards. This was effected by pushing the key further in the ignition switch than normal, whether intentionally or not. One result of this was that the KR200's sequential, positive-stop transmission provided the car with the same four gear ratios available in reverse as in forward movement."
Messerschmitt KR200 - Wikipedia
Once saw a story of someone's father building a tiny garage for the one he was getting, but then got trapped inside when he couldn't figure out how to reverse the car/scooter.

Someone is making replicas; EV and ICE.
Messerschmitt's three-wheeler bubble car resurrected in Germany - Autoblog

 

LSVs, NEVs, or whatever they are called aren't allowed on such roads in the US, and I doubt Europe would allow it either. So these won't work for those with such situations, but there are plenty of places where they will. Specially in their home market.

There already are EV and ICE LSVs for sale in the US. It is not like Microlino is proposing a brand new thing for the market here.

 

Yep, which is why NEV is used for such by some states; Neighborhood Electric Vehicle.

The full power Microlino can do 55mph, which would be far more useful here as an about town vehicle. But regulations mean such a car would have to comply with all the rules for a true car. That means higher cost, if it is even possible to accomplish. This is why there companies doing trikes like Aptera.