Bolt Nano is New Player in Urban BEV Micro-Mobility

Paul Myles

TU-Editor

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20th May 2019

A new player has joined the micro-car urban BEV mobility race to take on the big players including Renault and Seat.

US company Bolt Mobility has unveiled its Bolt Nano which, like the existing Renault Twizy and the Seat Minimó concept launched at the Geneva Motor Show 2019, is a lightweight two-seater micro car aimed at taking up as little space on the city streets as possible. It’s about the same size as the two car giant’s offerings and, like the Minimó, claims a swap out of the vehicle’s battery pack to extend its lifecycle. Naturally, it would need to have a small non-structural battery pack to achieve this and, therefore, the car’s range is expected to be no more than about 15 miles.

This is Bolt’s fourth BEV following on from its e-scooter range including the Bolt Original, the Bolt One and the Bolt Chariot. Expected to be priced at $9,999 and on the market by 2020, the Nano claims to take up a quarter of the space of a traditional car while provide room for two people plus baggage.

The company’s app allows commuters find and ride all its products with the aim of promoting flexible mobility while navigating urban environments. It also lets vehicle owners track, maintain and earn income by sharing the costs between the two passengers, hoping to reduce urban congestion and pollution. Olympic champion sprinter Usain Bolt, the company’s co-founder and global ambassador, said: “Through its portfolio of micro-mobility products, Bolt Mobility fulfills the dream that many of us share to operate in a world where our vehicles will fit perfectly into the fabric of our urban environments while respecting the air we breathe.”

— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in London. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_