Skip to main content

Another $13,000 micro EV from a no-name automaker is just what the world needs, right?

Colibri EV
Image used with permission by copyright holder

We know what you’re thinking: Why can’t there be more tiny electric micro-cars for under $13,000? Well you’re in luck. Behold the “Colibri” from upstart EV automaker Innovative Mobility Automobile GmbH.

Small enough for two to fit into a single normally proportioned parking spot; the Colibri is the perfect EV for an urban commuter on the go, from a company you’ve never heard of.

With a top speed of 75 mph from a 6.5-kilowatt-hour electric motor, the Colibri will easily keep up with the average flow of traffic on the American highways.

Distinctively, the Colibri will fully recharge in two hours on a normal 120-volt household wall outlet, which is some 16 hours less than most production EVs. Should you find yourself near a level-two charger, your Colibri can recharge up to 80 percent capacity in 20 minutes, which isn’t all too far off the Volkswagen e-up!

If you’re interested in this two-door, two-seater subcompact EV that Innovative Mobility Automobile GmbH brags can hold “one bag and two crates,” you can pre-order online here.

Don’t worry that small EV startups like Fisker Automotive and CODA are failing left and right. Though Innovative Mobility Automobile GmbH is asking for investment partners, your Colibri will most certainly get built, let’s say.

You’ll have to forgive our cynicism, but how many start up EV companies are going to have a go before they realize that without a product as gorgeous or as groundbreaking at the Telsa Model S, they don’t stand a chance?

Why would anyone buy an EV from a company they’ve never heard of when they can already get any number of great EVs from well-known automakers that customers know will be around in six months?

If a startup EV company hit the right mix of form, function and price, would you take a chance? Leave a comment.

Nick Jaynes
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…
Mercedes-Benz G580 first drive: old-school off-roader goes electric
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

American car buyers mostly know Mercedes-Benz as a luxury brand. But for decades, the automaker has also produced the tough, rugged G-Class (also known as the Geländewagen or G-Wagen), an SUV not afraid to get its leather upholstery muddy. And now, this iconic Mercedes is going electric.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology — the final name of the SUV previously known as the EQG — isn’t the first electric off-roader. The Rivian R1S and R1T and GMC Hummer EV have proven that electric powertrains and off-roading are a great combination. But the electric G-Wagen is different because it’s based on an internal-combustion model — and a very traditional one at that.

Read more
Honda believes hydrogen semi trucks will make the case for fuel cells
Honda hydrogen fuel-cell semi truck.

Honda remains committed to hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, but the market for those vehicles remains limited. So Honda is looking at other uses for fuel cells -- including commercial trucks.

To show how that could work, Honda converted a semi truck to fuel-cell power, replacing its diesel engine with three fuel-cell modules. Together, the three modules produce a combined 321 horsepower, and can propel the truck to a top speed of 70 mph. There's enough onboard hydrogen storage capacity for a 400-mile range with a full load, Honda claims.

Read more
Mercedes-Benz G580 vs Rivian R2: Is the much cheaper Rivian actually better?
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

Mercedes-Benz has finally taken the wraps off of the new "Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology." Yeah, it's a mouthful, but it's basically a new electric G-Wagon. It looks a lot like the G-Wagon you know and love, but with an electric powertrain and a battery. It's not the only electric SUV out there, however, and there are some great ones -- like the Rivian R2.

Both the Mercedes G580 and the Rivian R2 have a lot going for them, but they also approach the electric SUV slightly differently. Is one better than the other? I put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The approach that the two vehicles take to design is quite different -- and you might like one better than the other.

Read more