Zurich, July 2025 — The UK’s newly announced £650 million Electric Car Grant (ECG) was meant to accelerate the shift to clean mobility. But for Europe’s leading microcar manufacturers, it represents a missed opportunity — one that could have made cities cleaner, quieter, and less congested.
The grant explicitly excludes L6e and L7e-class microcars, disqualifying some of the most efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles ever produced.
Efficiency overlooked
Among the excluded vehicles is the Microlino, a Swiss-designed, Italian-built microcar that consumes just 6.5 kWh per 100 km and weighs less than 500 kilograms — a fraction of a standard electric car.
“Microcars are not just small — they’re smart,” said Oliver Ouboter, Microlino Co-Founder and Spokesperson for the Microcar Coalition.
“They use up to two-thirds less energy than conventional EVs, require fewer raw materials, and take up far less space. They’re built for the cities of tomorrow. It’s deeply disappointing to see L6e and L7e vehicles systematically excluded from funding mechanisms — especially at a time when reducing urban emissions and congestion is more urgent than ever.”
A proven climate solution — left out
A 2022 study by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) found that L7e vehicles could replace up to 60% of daily car trips, offering major reductions in both emissions and traffic congestion.
Despite this proven potential, many public incentive schemes still favor large, high-power electric SUVs — vehicles that are less efficient, heavier, and more resource-intensive to produce.
This imbalance reflects a persistent policy blind spot: mobility innovation is still being measured by size and horsepower, not by sustainability and system impact.
What smarter policy could look like
To make the electric transition both fair and effective, the Microcar Coalition calls on policymakers in the UK and across Europe to:
- Include L6e and L7e vehicles in national and EU-level EV incentive programs
- Recognize their role in cutting energy use, emissions, and congestion
- Design modern frameworks that reward efficiency, innovation, and local production
Incentivizing smaller, cleaner vehicles doesn’t just benefit microcar users — it supports Europe’s wider goals of reducing material dependency, stabilizing the grid, and reclaiming valuable urban space.
Microcars: a European answer to global challenges
As cities around the world struggle with overcrowded streets, resource scarcity, and rising energy costs, microcars offer a distinctly European solution — one rooted in engineering efficiency, design innovation, and sustainability.
From Paris to London, Zurich to Milan, these compact electric vehicles are redefining what mobility can look like: accessible, efficient, and human-centered.
Yet to truly thrive, they need policy recognition equal to their environmental impact.
“Europe has always led through smart innovation,” says Ouboter. “If we want to make clean mobility practical for everyone, microcars must be part of the plan — not left outside of it.”
About the Microcar Coalition
Founded in 2023, the Microcar Coalition is a European alliance of pioneering electric microcar manufacturers and mobility innovators. The Coalition works to modernize outdated vehicle regulations and ensure that lightweight electric vehicles (L7e) are recognized as a cornerstone of sustainable urban transport. Through partnerships, research, and advocacy, it promotes a fair, innovation-driven approach to mobility that supports livable cities, climate goals, and European industrial strength.
