Nimbus, a Michigan-based startup, wants to address one of the biggest problems of scooters and bikes, the fact that the rider is quite vulnerable to things like rain and snowfall.

The company does so by adding a roof on top of a vehicle that's not that much larger in size compared to other micro mobility solutions.

Tech Crunch reports that the company recently presented a prototype for the Nimbus One, a three-wheeled EV which "combines the convenience and cost of a motorbike with the safety and comfort of a car."

Being under 84 centimeters wide and less than 2.3 meters long, the car is anywhere from three to five times smaller than a compact car, which comes in handy when you need to filter that traffic or when you might need to park it in a tight spot.

The tiny vehicle has space behind the driver for another passenger, groceries or can be fitted with a baby seat through the ISOFIX points.

Photo source: Nimbus

Nimbus' proprietary tilting technology allows the vehicle to tilt as well, which helps with steering an otherwise not very stable platform, due to the three-wheeled setup.

Lihang Nong, founder of Nimbus, said that "scooters are fun, but they’re also kind of dangerous, but they lean, so that’s fun. Our vehicle does the same thing, but it takes the skill out of it. So, my mom can get in and start to drive."

The founder mentioned that the car has an airbag in the front and said that "drivers don’t need a motorcycle license to drive, so anybody with a car license can use our vehicle. They don’t have to wear a helmet."

The Nimbus One has a top speed limit of 80 km/h, and the 9kW battery offers a range of up to 150 kilometers, which makes it suitable for driving around the city.

The EV can recharge in 1.2 hours using a Level 2 charger or in 5.4 hours at a house outlet.

Although the vehicle has a minimalist interior, it offers features such as a display, a pair of Bluetooth powered speakers and a fast charger for a smartphone.

While powered windows and heating are included, air conditioning is optional.

The Nimbus One also has extra safety features, such as front-collision warning and the company notes that additional features can be installed via software updates.

The pre-orders for the Nimbus One will start over the weekend, and the price for reservation is 100 dollars, with the car's list price being 9.980 USD.

The startup also plans to offer the vehicle through a subscription service for 200 USD per month.

In order to ensure that production will be sustained, the company plans to raise 20 million dollars in equity and 10 million dollars in debt for its series A funding round.

Last year in August, Nimbus was able to secure 4.7 million dollars from investors such as Thiel Capital, the JAM fund and Conscience.

Photo Source: Nimbus