Is this the future of urban transport? I hope so because it looks fantastic. VW’s single-seater EV concept will be unveiled at next week’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Called NILS, it has a range of 40 miles and a top speed of 80mph, which mean it will easily cover the daily return journey of almost three-quarters of Berlin and Munich commuters. Technically, it’s the same as a Formula 1 race car, with the driver in the middle, the engine in back and free-standing outboard wheels. It tips the scales at just 460kg. I can’t help thinking this is the sort of pioneering vehicle that could have been wearing a Smart badge, had Daimler not got confused and tried to go mainstream with a four-door reskinned Mitsubishi Colt.On an almost totally unrelated note, news of a excellent initiative. The people who were sacked from the military last week through no fault of their own are being encouraged to seek work in the low-carbon vehicle industry. Forces’ careers advisors and Cenex, the UK’s Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Technologies, reckon ex-Service personnel have the kind of advanced engineering skills and experience now being sought in hi-tech EV manufacturing. Top idea.
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