The report, released this week, concluded that micro cars, popular in Europe, the US, Japan and China but not allowed on New Zealand’s roads, are more dangerous than conventional cars but less dangerous than motorcycles. 

Long-time campaigner for micro-cars in New Zealand, Toa Greening criticised the report for its narrow focus on safety and failure to take account of the negative impacts of having roads clogged with over-sized motor vehicles.

“The report is disheartening as it completely overlooks the success of such vehicles in Asia and the numerous benefits they offer,” Greening said.

“It fails to acknowledge a crucial point: heavy passenger vehicles, primarily carrying single commuters, pose safety concerns not only for lightweight EVs but also for motorcycles, bicycles, and scooters—all of which are permitted on our roads.”

The report, which limited its investigation to the UK, USA, Europe and Japan, has no mention one the world’s best-selling EVs: The Wuling Honguan.

Greening said the Wuling - which cost under US$5000 - has a crumple zone with higher models featuring air bags.

Vehicles like the Wuling and the popular Citroen Ami are classified as quadricycles in Europe and New Zealand. Currently they’re not allowed on our roads.

Last month Carbon News asked transport minister Simeon Brown for a comment for a story on micro-cars but was told his focus was on the government’s 100-day plan.

To date that 100-day plan has seen the minister reverse the previous government’s commitment to lowering speed limits and instructing Waka Kotahi to cease work on all mode shift initiatives such as cycleways.

Yesterday a spokesperson for transport minister Simeon Brown said: “The Minister is continuing to work on the priorities of the coalition Government’s 100-day plan so this is not a focus for him at present.

Microcars come in many shapes and sizes. The Citroen Ami with a top speed of 45km/h which doesn’t require a licence to drive has been a surprise hit in France while the Nissan  Sakura with a top speed of 130km/h is Japan’s bestselling EV.

:Nissan Sakura

The 81-page report’s focus is on the safety of lightweight electric vehicles and goes into extensive detail on the different regulatory regimes in the UK, Europe, USA and Japan.

It acknowledges that “four-wheeled lightweight electric quadricycles are considered a promising mobility solution in the context of the growing climate crisis and increased awareness of the need for clean and sustainable mobility.”

Citroen Ami cargo version

It found that the casualty rate of quadricycles was 47% to 280% higher than cars but 14% to 71% lower than motorcycles.

The report concludes that while detailed information on “accidentology” is hard to come by there is a risk of total casualty numbers increasing of quadricycles meeting the current European standards are allowed on New Zealand.

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You can read an earlier Carbon News story on the e-volution of the microcar here.