Founded in 1996 and based in Küsnacht, in the Zurich region of Switzerland, Micro Mobility Systems produces the electric quadricycle Microlino in Turin, Italy – a model that is nothing more than a modern reinterpretation of the famous Isetta from the 1950s. In a statement, the Swiss company claims to be “disregarded” by the European Union (EU), excluded from Brussels’ incentive plans to support the energy transition in mobility, and dissatisfied and concerned about the EU’s proposed action plan for automobiles. It criticizes, in particular, the pollutant emission credit system included in an initiative still awaiting approval, which favors cars up to 4.2 meters in length and produced exclusively in factories located in member states (new category M1e).
This plan, it is recalled, considers the allocation of “supercredits” in the calculations of pollutant emissions, but does not cover microcars equipped with electric motors, such as the Microlino, a quadricycle classified in category L7e. “The system allows manufacturers with very high CO2 emissions to buy quotas from electric vehicle manufacturers, which is already happening today among large international industrial consortia. It is a tool designed to accelerate the energy transition, rewarding companies that only produce zero-emission vehicles. By excluding category L, companies that make microcars do not benefit from either the ‘supercredit’ or the existing system, through which electric manufacturers sell CO2 certificates to manufacturers still dependent on combustion engines. Thus, all those investing in vehicles with low energy consumption and weight, and sustainable materials, remain ‘on the sidelines’ of the benefits,” it is argued.
According to Microlino, models registered in the M1e category will also be able to benefit from purchase incentives in several EU countries, which is not the case for L7e microcars. For the brand, this strategy is unfair and misaligned with the environmental sustainability goals pursued by Brussels. Furthermore, the brand also states that this path penalizes “Made in Europe” quadricycles: “Microcars fall under the L7e category, and therefore do not benefit from any incentives. This means we do not receive subsidies, tax benefits, or CO2 credits. While drivers of luxury cars and heavy electric SUVs can enjoy support, Microlino buyers are entitled to nothing,” said Wim Ouboter from Micro Mobility System.
The Swiss company, with this statement, aims to protect the sustainability of quadricycle production in Europe, and thus, asks the European Commission to change the text of the proposal and integrate the L7e category into the new emissions credit system. Otherwise, they inadvertently discourage more rational solutions for promoting sustainability, both for the environment and urban mobility.
