2023 saw the demise of several small and affordable EVs, such as the ElectraMeccanica Solo, Honda e, Sono Sion, and Mazda MX-30. These vehicles failed to make it in the size- and range-obsessed North American EV market due to factors such as power failure issues, weak price-to-range ratios, and limited availability. The cancellation of collaborations between automakers on affordable EVs and the bankruptcy of Dutch e-bike startup VanMoof further highlighted the challenges faced by smaller and lower-priced EVs in the market.
However, there are still positive developments in the small EV space, such as the increasing popularity of city bike-sharing programs, the upcoming arrival of the Fiat 500e in North America, and the efforts of startup Telo Trucks to develop a small pickup truck with the footprint of a two-door Mini Cooper. Despite the challenges, there are still opportunities for compact and affordable EVs to thrive in the market.