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Uniti unveils $19,618 electric vehicle

Swedish automotive start-up Uniti is set to deliver its quirky three-seat electric model, complete with an unusual central driving position, to the Swedish and UK markets by mid-2020

What distinguishes the Uniti One from other EV models is its unique one-plus-two seat design. Image © Uniti

On October 14, Swedish automotive start-up Uniti unveiled its new electric vehicle (EV), the Uniti One. The futuristic three-seater will be priced at €17,800 ($19,618) and can achieve a range of up to 186 miles. Most strikingly, the car comprises one centrally positioned driving seat and two rear passenger seats.

Uniti believes this design will give the driver more space and provide additional legroom for passengers. The battery is located beneath the car’s floor to save even more space and, with just three passengers, the Uniti One can store up to 155 litres of cargo. The rear seats can also collapse to create a single-person carrier.

The Uniti One is just the latest example of a trend towards compact EV models for city dwellers

The standard model has a 12kWh battery unit with a capacity of 93 miles between charges, but an optional 24kWh battery pack can lengthen that range to 186 miles. The larger battery can be charged from 20 percent to 80 percent in 17 minutes with a 50kW combined charging system, while the 12kWh model can achieve this feat in just nine minutes, according to the company’s press release.

The ultra-compact vehicle weighs only 600kg. It has two driving modes, ‘city’ and ‘boost’, the latter of which will sharpen the responsiveness of the accelerator and add artificial weight to the steering wheel. The Uniti One can reach 62mph in 9.9 seconds and has a top speed of 75mph.

Customers in Europe can order a Uniti One now, with those in the UK benefitting from a £3,500 ($4,420) government subsidy. The first deliveries are planned in Sweden and the UK from mid-2020.

The Uniti One is just the latest example of a trend towards compact lightweight EV models for city dwellers. It has been designed for the daily commute and will target the second family car market. What distinguishes the Uniti One from other EV models is its unique one-plus-two seat design, though a second Uniti model is expected to come with a more conventional two-plus-two set-up.