Eli Electric Vehicles to introduce affordable EV in the USA
The company writes that its expansion in the US is built on success in Europe and French Polynesia “where hundreds of vehicles have been sold and are being used for personal transportation, eco-tourism and government fleets.” The vehicle itself, called the ‘Eli ZERO’ will be released on the US market as a street-legal micro-EV which is designed to reduce traffic congestion, inefficiency and pollution caused by large highway vehicles.
The Eli Zero’s dimensions are 4.5 feet wide, and 7.4 in length, and comfortably sits two people, according to the company. The range is set at up to 90 miles and the vehicle boasts comfort features such as keyless entry and start, as well as power-assisted steering, ABS and radar parking sensors, coupled with a rear-view camera. However, Eli also notes that “final configurations and specifications, will be announced during a full launch later this year.”
Customers can reserve an Eli Zero via a $200 refundable deposit and sales are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2024 and deliveries to follow. Eli plans to sell through local distributors and dealer partners across the country, boasting an assembly line with a production capacity of over 4,000 vehicles per year.
“The US is the largest micro-EV market, with an addressable market of over $120 billion, representing a significant opportunity for Eli to lead in this segment,” said Marcus Li, CEO and founder of Eli Electric Vehicles. “Our goal is to transform urban trips, empowering riders to reconnect with their communities through compact and agile EVs that allow for a better utilization of urban space, reduced congestion, ease of parking and ultimately an improved quality of life in cities. Introducing the Eli ZERO to the US market, we’re not only riding the wave of an emerging mobility revolution, but also redefining personal vehicles in an innovative way that benefits both traffic and the environment.”
The production version of the Zero was launched all the way back in 2021, after being presented as a concept at the CES in 2017. At the time, production was set in China, with the 13 European countries selected as the launch markets.
