I've often wondered if a Canadian EV "Kei Car" type program would help the country achieve zero emission goals, provide affordable transportation, and reduce grid lock in our cities.
In 1949, Japan created a special category of keijidosha (light vehicles) created for affordability and maneuverability in dense cities. The Kei car quickly became popular despite strict limits on dimensions (length, width, height) and engine displacement (under 660cc). They were given unique license plates for enforcement purposes and had tax benefits for owners.
What if an "Ion" vehicle category was created in Canada:
- must be manufactured in Canada
- minimum 100Km range, suitable for any urban commute
- limited to 50Km/hr
- restricted to street use, not to be used on highways
- size restrictions, perhaps Smart Car sized for personal vehicles, larger for commercial vehicle category

How many city-dwelling Canadians would buy a cheap EV to run errands and give the finger to big oil?

#KeiCars
https://youtu.be/LtTirdKvyeI

@cyb3rrunn3r @guenterhack geht schlecht, weil unangeschnallte Passagiere und weil "Ram-Bars" wegen Crash-Inkompatibilität mit Füßgänger*innen und Radfahrer*innen grundsätzlich illegal sind!

• Wenns nach mir ginge gäb's hingegen strenge #Kriterien was #Maximalabmessungen, #Scheinwerferhöhe, & #rundumsicht von #Autos angeht.

Hier könnte @bmv sich mal von #Japan ne Scheibe abschneiden und die #Regularien von #KeiCars importieren. und z.B. #Parkplatznachweispflicht für #Autozulassung (oder generell Fahrzeug-#Zulassungen) verpflichtend einführen.

• Nur würde @Bundesregierung ungern auf #KfzSteuer-Einnahmen verzichten, also wird das nix!

• Von der deutschen #NRA in Form des #ADAC ganz zu schweigen: Deren 17,5M+ Mitglieder sind ein wahlentscheidender Block...

@kokubunji @BrennpunktUA @plusmid @ulrichkelber ja, #KeiCars sind nen exzellentes Beispiel wie #Restriktion (Abmessungen (über Alles), Hubraum (maximum) und Leistung (brutto)) #Innovation fördern.

• Und genau sowas brauchen wir auch bei #Elektroautos denn wenn nacher nur noch 3,5t Boliden mit 1,5t Akku rumfahren sind alle Umweltvorteile der #BEV|s komplett für'n Arsch weil diese mehr Straßenverschleiß verursachen werden!

@tikibunnyimports Yeah, but #KeiCar - #Roadsters show that a restrictive envelope breeds innovation!

• One doesn't need liters of displacement to get fast and have fun!

• And that makes it good, because if one has a "fun vehicle" it better not require an oversized garage to park in...

Also with a smol engine and "low" speeds everything else gets cheaper:

• smaller, low speed-index all season tires are cheap even from high quality brands.

• the engine barely sips fuel and oil

• emissions are low and thus vehicle tax is also lower

• a small vehicle that isn't commonly stolen or ran into the next tree by beginners is cheaper to insure.

Which is why I think #KeiCars are good at incentivizing #SmallCars and that more manufacturers - espechally outside #Japan - should do such vehicles!

• It's really embarassing that only the #SmartK was launched as non - #JDM Kei-Car and that basically noone even tries it* despite there being enough models and options.

• But I also guess that like with European Car Brands, #ServiceNetworks and coverage with branded repair shops is really what makes or breaks it for #consumers!

So small companies like #Aixam never had a chance to establish themselves and due to existing expertise inhouse none of the Kei-Car manufacturers was interested in "Badge-Engineering" anyway.