This Tiny Affordable Van Is the Urban Game-Changer the US Needs

With prices soaring on window stickers, at the fuel pump and throughout the secondhand market, it’s not a fun time to be shopping for a set of wheels here in the United States. Buying is rough right now, and it doesn’t matter if the car in question is new or merely new to you.

As a result, it’s easy to look around the world with envy at some of the affordable solutions that remain tantalizingly out of reach. From tiny, small-displacement motorcycles to kei vans, there’s a lot of forbidden fruit that just begs for a stateside release.

Olinia

The latest of which actually doesn’t come from Japan. Rather, this is something much closer to home, as it’s a vehicle that hails from just south of the border.

Mexico’s new city-focused EV

It’s called the Olinia Uno, and it’ll be hitting the market in Mexico thanks to the backing of the Mexican government. As an EV designed, developed and (soon to be) built domestically, it’s a truly homegrown effort.

Olinia

Now, as you can probably tell from the size of the wheels and the uncharacteristic body shape, the Uno won’t be much for joy rides. It’s an urban runabout intended to make electric vehicles more accessible by lowering their cost of entry.

As a result, the powertrain specs aren’t anything to write home about. The single rear-mounted electric motor makes 18 horsepower and can take the car up to a top speed of 31 mph, while the 14.7 kWh battery is good for a max range of 77 miles and charges in four hours or more.

Olinia

For that matter, though the Uno does come with some modernities such as a Bluetooth speaker, some power windows and LEDs, Olinia has even avoided other basics like A/C and airbags.

However, what the vehicle forgoes in complication, it more than makes up for when it comes to things like utility and accessibility. In addition to room for up to six, it’s wheelchair-friendly and it takes a charge at standard outlets. That’s not even addressing the promise of the bed-equipped Cargo variant.

Ultimately, the Uno’s biggest selling point is that it’s cheap. At around $8,700, it even undercuts affordable Chinese cars that aren’t available in the United States.

Olinia

An option for US roads?

Based on the price alone, I have to imagine that more than a few Americans would be willing to give it a shot, regardless of its pedestrian specs.

After all, the cheapest new electric car you can buy stateside is Chevy’s $28,995 Bolt, an option that costs more than 3X as much. The used market isn’t faring a lot better, as the ongoing premiums for gas mean that asking prices for EVs have climbed at a breakneck pace.

Olinia

Granted, being a niche, urban-focused solution, the Uno is comparatively limited in its scope. However, even tiny kei trucks have developed a following because of their size, so there is some precedent.

In that same spirit, the Uno promises savings beyond its initial MSRP on account of its footprint and efficiency. According to Olivina’s website, its monthly operating costs work out to less than a quarter that of a traditional sedan.

Olinia

If only as an alternative for ride-shares in low-speed environments and city centers, it’s not hard to imagine some application. When you factor in the storage, accessibility and potential for future variants, it could definitely be a hit with the right vision.

So close, yet so far

As the Uno is for Mexican roads, there’s no word right now about whether it will ever leave the domestic market. However, take a quick trip south, and you soon may be catch these in action.

Olinia

Olinia Uno

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