Mia's plug-in electric delivery van puts driver front and center
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The mia U micro delivery van features lateral sliding doors for ease of access to the precious cargo
The mia U is available in two battery capacities - an 8kWh pack for up to 56 miles on a single charge or a 12kWh pack for up to 80 miles
The contents of the mia U electric microvan can be accessed via the rear door or a lateral sliding door on either side of the driver
The mia U has 53 cubic feet of cargo space behind the single driver seat
French/German electric vehicle manufacturer mia has developed a small plug-in delivery van with a top speed of 68 mph and a battery range of up to 80 miles
The mia U is capable of a top speed of 68 mph thanks to its 18kW (peak) asynchronous electric motor
The mia U is very economical to run, costing about $1.34 per 62 miles
All of the important information is displayed right in front of the driver in the center of the dash
One of the two aluminum wings on either side of the steering wheel
Probably the most striking feature of the mia U is the positioning of the driver in a central position, said to give better all-round visibility
The mia range includes a two passenger model and a three passenger version
Designed for busy city driving, the mia electric vehicle range is available now
The mia on the streets of Paris
Attracting some attention from onlookers, the mia standard edition
Plenty of room in the back for grocery essentials
The mia L - an economical way to transport the family around the inner city
The current mia range consists of a three occupant model, a four occupant version and a micro van
About to take an unusual passenger on board at the Michelin Challenge Bibendum last year
Each model in the range features lateral sliding doors for ease of access
Dropping the kids off at school with the mia L
The mia factory is now reported to be capable of churning out around 1,000 mia vehicles per month
The 68 mph top speed might be a little slow for motorway driving but is more than enough for zipping through busy city streets
The mia urban vehicle concept was originally developed for contract vehicle production company Heuliez, by Patrick Largeau
The mia's length of 9.4 feet and tight turning circle of 14 feet makes it quite the parking and maneuvering performer
In addition to giving a better all-round view, the central driving position also gives passengers behind the driver a bit more leg room
Passenger seats are fitted with an ISOFIX system for attaching child seats and there's a three-point safety belt on all seats
The mia has good reason to smile - a top speed of 68 mph and battery range up to 80 miles on a single charge
Safety features include ABS and Active Brake Assist as standard to help with emergency stopping, a central airbag for the driver and central locking for the doors and trunk
The creamy-white mia electric vehicle with black rims and white bumper inserts
The mia benefits from just over 9 cubic feet of storage space at the back, not bad for a car of this size
The mia features a bowed floor and roof to make it easier to get in and out
While the mia is available in a number of different colors, a custom paint job does not come as standard
The custom-finished mia U with 14-inch rims surrounded by Michelin green energy tires
The 8 kWh LiFePO4 Lithium iron phosphate battery pack is fully charged in just three hours via a standard 230V/16A plug
The driver of the mia L is positioned front and center, with passengers behind
The mia's central driving position gives passengers more leg room
The mia vehicles are capable of running for up to 56 miles on a single charge of the 8kWh battery pack, or over 80 miles with the 12 kWh pack installed
The 12 kWh LiFePO4 Lithium iron phosphate battery pack is fully charged in just five hours via a standard 230V/16A plug
Murat Günak, Chief Designer and Head of Corporate Strategy mia electric, with the mia range
Passengers benefit from lots of leg room
The full mia range will feature at the 82nd Geneva International Motor Show shortly
Article Summary
Small-scale courier services, electricians, plumbers or any other professionals who depend on being able to drive through city streets for their livelihoods and need a generous helping of cargo space to boot, may well find the novel mia electric microvan a very good fit indeed. The mia U doesn't have anywhere near the storage space of Ford's trailblazer Transit Connect electric van that we featured in 2010, but it does have a similar battery range and speed, and places the driver right in the center of the action.
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