popular science

5/ 2012 Renault Twizy

The Twizy is what the REVAi

should have been. Driver and

passenger sit piggyback along

the center. The entire steel

vehicle structure could protect

the occupants in an accident.

LENGTH: 2.3 metres

6/ 2001 REVAi (G-Wiz)

The REVAi was the best-selling

electric car for nearlya decade.

However, earlymodels lacked

safety features like a reinforced

chassis and failed crash tests

at as slow as 40 km/h.

LENGTH: 2.5 metres

7/ Now/future: Elio

A US-based startup has plans

for its new three-wheeled,

US$7,450, single-seat

commuter car: The company

claims 2.8 l/100km from its

three-cylinder engine.

LENGTH:4.0 metres (!)

8/ 1962 Peel P50

Certified byGuinness as the

smallest production car, the

P50 had one rear wheel and

no reverse. To back up, drivers

pulled the 58-kilogram jalopy

by a handle on its derrière.

LENGTH:1.3 metres

driving. The Indian-built REVAi (or G-Wiz
as you may know it) was the world’s most
popular electric car until 2009 - although it
was classified as a heavy quad bike in Europe.
The Smart FourTwo... is a thing.
With the exception of the Fiat 500, none of
the cars below were hugely popular. Tiny cars
suck. So why do companies like Elio (no.7)
keep trying? Because the tiny car makes sense
on paper. Most commuters are alone in a giant
box. Why use all that petrol? Why struggle
with parking? Why have so much of your
property taken up by a 1.5 tonne lump of steel
most of the time when you’re not driving?
Because cars aren’t utilitarian, is why.
Cars are a culturally complex thing. We
Aussies will suffer all kinds of inconvenience
to have what is, for each of us, our dream car.
Still, in other parts of the world, tiny cars can
exist because petrol prices and the narrow,
twisting streets are less accommodating. Also
the tax. Don’t forget about the tax.

8

3

7

4

8

Tractor Trailer

A 3.1-metre-tall

Volvo VNL 760,

for scale

POPSCI.COM.AU 79