Would you drive a microcar?

CGTN Europe

The global auto industry now produces nearly 100 million cars a year. Many of them are mega machines that don’t fit in street parking bays. More cars mean less space in public areas. So, is it time to go small … really, really small?

Transcript

00:01Nearly 100 million vehicles were built around the world last year.

00:06More than half were SUVs or sports utility vehicles.

00:11They're large and in charge.

00:15But is bigger always better?

00:20There's only one way to find out.

00:22I'm cruising the streets of London in a micro car.

00:26It's really easy to move around and you just feel like you can go almost anywhere.

00:32Swiss company Microlino has just released this electric micro car in the UK.

00:38It developed the prototype for its vehicles in China.

00:41Now it's hitting the roads of Europe.

00:44You can drive it on the highway in most parts of the continent

00:47but it's more suited for short trips in the city

00:50when very often the driver is the only person in the car.

00:54Nine times out of ten, it's one person.

00:58So that throws up an interesting question.

01:01How much car do you need?

01:03Microlino may have a mountain to climb.

01:06Other brands like Fiat and Smart have released similar models over the years.

01:10But most of us are still driving big cars.

01:14Research firm T&E looked at the top 100 models sold in Europe.

01:1952% of those cars were too wide for standard parking bays on the street.

01:25And here in London, some people are getting revved up.

01:29They say the city was not made for mega machines.

01:33Our roads are designed for awesome cars, so large vehicles, it ain't gonna work.

01:38They can get a bit dangerous with what they're doing.

01:40Rules kind of go out the window for them in busy times in London.

01:43Some cities are taking action.

01:46Paris, for example, raised parking fees, forcing large SUVs to pay $21 an hour for a spot in the city centre.

01:54Analysts say that's a good idea.

01:57It will create the signal, this kind of bottom-up signal from cities, which can ultimately,

02:03and this is kind of where we should be going to, ultimately also influence what car makers will be producing and selling.

02:11London's city council is also calling for higher parking fees for super-sized cars.

02:17But could micro-cars solve the parking problem?

02:21The councils and the authorities that run the cities would have to react to it,

02:25because they'd see the potential of the space that would be created for parking.

02:30Back on the streets, I'm zipping around.

02:33Here, there and everywhere.

02:36But not everyone's impressed.

02:38When you drive alongside huge trucks, you don't want to be in the little micro-car.

02:45It just doesn't feel very safe.

02:48Transport experts say there are now nearly 1.5 billion vehicles across the globe.

02:54The fact is, we're making more cars, but we're not making more space.

02:59Look, I don't know if this is the future of cars, but it is an option.

03:04And right now, the world needs options.

03:08Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to find a way out of this traffic.

03:14Michael Marilia, CGTN, London.

03:19So, let's pick up the reality of this tactic and let's walk away.

03:20Kind of go to the group of people'sDRs are capable of strength or want the people's

03:24dagegen than you, in particular.

03:26And when you keep coming in and watching, go for the

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