VENICE – The electric quadricycle (rideable from 16 years) designed by Umberto Palermo: Mole Urbana, touches the ground at the Venice arsenal. The concept, presented only last July at the Mauto in Turin, chooses the lagoon city for its official debut, on sale in the first half of 2022. Not a vehicle, it seems, but a new “mobility solution”.
“Urban mobility must necessarily take into consideration the careful use of space, an intelligent use of materials and production systems. This is why I thought of a different automotive product – explains Palermo – and for the debut in Venice: it was the city that first made a virtue of necessity ”.
Mole Urbana, a microcar designed for change
Mole Urbana wants to be a response to the change in city mobility, both for the transport of people and for the movement of goods, with maximum attention to the recyclability of components, easy production and careful production simplification.
“The opportunity for electrification must be accompanied by a design review and production systems, including non-automotive ones, because CO2 is produced not only by vehicle emissions” underlines Palermo. For its realization, therefore, different production systems from the classic ones have been introduced such as molding, relying on extrusion techniques inspired by the world of architecture, which require less energy. Hence the claim that will accompany customers in the purchase process from 2022: “Energy saver: it really changes”.
The innovations of Mole Urbana
To date, the car is innovative in its design, but also in the systems under the hood. From the point of view of the engine and battery, the autonomy will guarantee a distance between 100 km and 200 km. In addition, according to me, from E-LECTRA of Cassino (FR) – a company of the Faist Group, which took care of the entire part of the engine, they ensure an auxiliary solar charging system that can be integrated with the electric powertrain capable of acting as an “extender range ”, increasing the kilometers available.
More safe than a quadricycle
Safety and sturdiness seem fundamental characteristics of the project, as much as the design: the anti-intrusion bars for the side doors, the safety roll bar cabin, 18-inch wheels have been introduced to ensure better grip. The wide visibility of the panoramic cabin, reminiscent of a carriage, moreover, the seats with double armrests and the folding seats (in the 4-seater version), finally, give a feeling of comfort never seen in the segment with a great optimization of spaces, in addition to the old fashioned trunks of the exterior.
Colonnine Tailor Made
A “mobile evolution” that of Mole Urbana, as Umberto Palermo calls it, ready to join a “motionless” innovation, namely that of the columns. If infrastructures have never been aesthetically compatible with the urban fabric, today the designer has redesigned them so that the size of our cities remains historical and real rather than futuristic.
Each historic center will be able to have a customized column with the most exclusive materials, made in Italy – from Carrara marble, to Murano, to cast iron, so that the new automotive thrust can pay homage to historic centers with a tailor-made cut.
The Mole Urbana world: online and in temporary stores
Where to find all this? Based on the principle of energy saving, the Mole Urbana world can be consulted online and will not have its own dealerships but will share existing environments with brands that are attentive to eco-sustainability. We start with the Signature Kitchen Suite, part of the LG Electronics Group for a temporary experience in Milan.
Range and prices
Today the Mole Urbana range includes the La Small two-seater version, La Corriera 4-seater, The Pick-up and, given the strong development of delivery, the Il Lavoro double cab, Lavoro Small, Lavoro Maxi and Lavoro Shop versions for the world. of street vending. Price from 14,000 euros (incentives excluded).
Norauto: from car collection to maintenance
After-sales maintenance will be entrusted to Norauto Italia, Mobivia group, with 2,000 points, which in addition to maintenance (surprise!) Will also be used for collection / delivery points. The one proposed by Mole Urbana, in short, is a new way of moving but also a new concept of urban center: it uses the resources that already exist, making the cities less busy, cleaner and more sustainable.
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