APPROVED as a 125cc motorcycle with an unknown electric motor, the Nimbus Halo is scheduled for a future release in mid to late 2022.
It’s though that this latest pod-vehicle can be ridden on a car licence, in a similar fashion to the Piaggio MP3 LT series due to the adequate width of the front two wheels and foot-brake.
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My girlfriend looked over my shoulder when looking at this, and simply said: “What’s that thing?” So it may not be a looker, but it provides a safe, green, commuting pod with two seats, safety features and airbags. I’m sure there’s someone out there who would want this, I mean, I saw a Renault Twizy in Norwich the other day…
The Nimbus Halo will be released in two formats, a standard model with 8.1 kWh battery, capable of reaching a top speed of 50mph (80kph), accelerating to 30mph (50kph) in 2.9 seconds, and a range of 77 miles (126 km). It’s thought to be priced at around £4,600, or $6,420 - with a specific rental price set on their site at $99 a month.
95% charge at home can be achieved in 5.4 hours, 1.2 hours with a Level 2 7kW charger, or 45 minutes with a level 3 charger. Level 3 chargers are specific Nimbus Zones ‘in most cities’.
Nimbus Halo - is it the electric scooter car for you?
Act quick and you could get a $500 discount from the final total if you fancy one. First deliveries are anticipated for mid-late 2022 in the US, Europe and Latin America, with Asia in early 2023.
If that’s not quite enough, there will also be a ‘Nimbus X’ model with a larger 21.7 kWh battery, a top speed of 90 mph (145 kph), and a snazzy design - but it’s marked at a much higher price: £13,970 / $19,400.
The main point that Nimbus raise to differentiate their product from Smart cars and other electric pod-cars is the slim width (32” / 0.81m), lean-balance steering (like the Carver) and park in the same spaces as a motorcycle.
I don’t know about it, to be honest. I’d have to see one in person to decide if it’s all it seems - there have been loads of these things dreamt up, and they never seem to prove that popular. Kind of like the Sinclair C5 - looks like great fun, but just never took off...
Consider also that the big boys of the motorcycle world are hot on the heels of electric power, starting a consortium to develop swappable batteries.
But, either way, you can only applaud the electric effort going in.
