ULV-III: New ultra-light electric vehicle

At the Automotive NEXT Industry Fair 2010 in Tokyo last week Waseda Environmental Institute introduced a next-generation, ultra-light electric vehicle called ULV-III.

The vehicle, designed for one person, weights only 72.6 kg (160 lbs). According to the developer, it could be used as a mobile advertising medium for environmental campaigns or as a practical personal vehicle instead of a rental bicycle in areas where train stations are a long way apart, to get from one station to another.

The ULV can reach maximum speed of 40 km/h (25 mph), has a 400 W motor and can be charged in 4 hours. It can travel continuously for 80 km (50 miles). Charging the vehicle will cost you only 35 Yen or about $0.40. In comparison with Toyota Prius, the cost is ten times lower per kilometer.

The Waseda Environmental Institute recently supplied one of these ULVs to a restaurant where it was put to use as a delivery vehicle.