Another electric vehicle is joining the increasingly crowded U.K. market, with Franco-German company Mia Electric saying it will display three EV variants of its Microbus at this year’s EcoVelocity motor show Sept. 8-11 in London.
U.K. sales chief Richard Deslandes says the French-built Mia is designed with cities such as London in mind. “We consider the U.K. a priority market for us, alongside France and Germany,” he says.
Former VW design chief Mürat Gunak adds three Microbus EV models to Mia lineup.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the response we’ve received since we launched in Geneva and now have 3,000 confirmed orders. Production started in June, and we will be producing 4,000 vehicles this year to meet this initial demand.”
The EVs go on sale in the U.K. in first-quarter 2012. Deslandes says Mia hopes to increase production at its Cerizay, France, factory to 14,000 units by the end of 2012.
The Microbus models are the creation of former Volkswagen design chief Murat Günak. They come in three configurations: a standard short-wheelbase model and two extended models, the Mia L and Mia box van.
Power comes from a rear-mounted 18kW (24-hp)electric motor that gives a top speed of 68 mph (110 km/h). A 75- to 81-mile (120 to 130-km) range is provided by the 16 hp battery pack that comes as standard. The lithium-iron-phosphate batteries can be fully charged in five hours.
The standard short-wheelbase Mia has three seats, while the extended Mia L has four. The Mia Box van features a cargo capacity of 53 cu.-ft. (1,500 L).
An unusual feature of all three EVs is a central driving position that allows the driver to get in and out of the car on either side.
Mia says this seat arrangement gives the driver a perfect view of city traffic and plenty of legroom for the back-seat passengers.
It also creates an office-style layout within the cabin that features a display with space to mount a tablet computer and iPod.
The purchase price is £22,000 ($36,328) after the U.K. government’s £5,000 ($8,256) incentive subsidy. All three EVs will be exempt from the congestion charge in London.
The EVs and their batteries come with 3-year warranties, with an option to purchase up to five years.
The company is owned by a Franco-German partnership in which the German parent company, Mia Electric, has a majority share of 52.7%.
Edwin Kohl, founder and owner of the Kohl Group pharmaceuticals firm, holds 36% of the company and the French region of Poitou-Charentes owns the remaining 11.3%.
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