EV-focused startups are different than traditional car manufacturers as they often times come up with unique, special features for their vehicles, which can make them more appealing.

The microcar that changes its dimensions

I was intrigued when I heard about the fact that a company makes a micro-mobility solution that can adapt its dimensions to better fit in the everyday city traffic.

City Transformer, a perfect reference for a shape-changing vehicle, is an Israeli-based startup which believes that the CT-1 is a great alternative for crowded cities.

The quadricycle can accommodate two people and can change its width even on the go, from 1.4 meters to 1 meter, while the length of 2.5 meters makes it small enough for most parking spots.

Photo source: City Transformer

Its top speed limit is 90 km/h and it is powered by two 7.5kW electric motors and the estimated range is somewhere between 120 and 180 kilometers.

Find out more about this unique little EV from our article on Green Start-Up.

Solar-powered microcars, great for range and for the grid

Another startup, this time from the Netherlands, Squad Mobility, aims to change the way we move around the city, while offering the most familiar experience compared to a traditional car.

Robert Hoevers, the CEO of the company, said that the price of the microcar was one of the key aspects, as it needed to be priced around 8.000-9.000 euros, between electric scooters and the most affordable petrol-powered cars.

The Squad microcar, which will be made in Europe, is a vehicle that will be focused on durability and efficiency, while the solar panels can power the vehicle while it is parked.

Also, the detachable batteries allow you to charge at home or at the office, a great solution that shouldn't have you worried about finding a charging station.

Four battery packs can ensure up to 100 kilometers of range, while the EV's reduced dimensions mean that three Squad microcars take up one normal parking spot, making them very efficient for city driving.

You can learn more about why microcars could be the future of personal urban mobility in our interview with Squad Mobility's CEO.

A car that cleans up the mess made by fossil-powered cars

Ok this one is technically not a startup, yet, but I can't hold myself from telling you about the students at the Technical University of Eindhoven, who developed an EV that is able to capture more carbon emissions that will ever emit, by purifying the air with a special filter.

Called Zem, this EV is equipped with special filters that can absorb 2 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions over 32.000 kilometers.

Photo source: University of Eindhoven

This may not sound impressive, but if a similar system is to be introduced on all future EVs, given how many cars are on the road today, the impact could be huge.

Read more about the Zem EV and how it can help us reduce the amount of carbon dioxide found in the atmosphere.

A small and nimble EV for the city

Nimbus is a Michigan-based startup working in the EV industry that hopes to solve the problem of traffic jams, while offering a fun to drive alternative to traditional microcars.

Their vehicle is 84 centimeters in width, even narrower than the CT-1 and has a length of 2.3 meters, meaning that it's a very compact vehicle for daily commutes to work and back home.

One passenger can sit behind the driver and that particular spot can be fitted with a baby seat, as well.

Photo source: Nimbus

To ensure safe steering, the Nimbus leans on the sides, similar to a motorcycle, without the vehicle actually tipping over, an ingenious technique to allow good maneuverability.

With a top speed limit of 80 km/h and a range of 150 kilometers, the Nimbus can be an ideal solution for the city and you can read more about it here.