Ark, a British start-up, has just announced the launch of the Zero, a license-free electric cart sold at a particularly attractive price: £5,995, or less than €7,000.
After the commercial success of the Citroën AMI, we can no longer count the number of electric carts without a license that have landed on this growing market. Of course, the chevron brand has already offered several variants of its quadricycle, such as the AMI Tonic and the AMI Buggy II. For its part, Opel responded with the Rocks-efollowed by Fiat with the attractive Fiat Topolino, designed to appeal to young users with its trendy and elegant look.
Now it’s the turn of the British startup ARK to enter the dance with ARK Zero. Presented at the start of 2023, deliveries of the license-free electric cart have just started in the United Kingdom and France. According to the London company, the ARK Zero is positioned “as the most affordable electric car” in Europe, with a price set at £5,995, or a little less than €7,000.
Since the opening of sales in June 2023, ARK claims to have sold 200 copies of its vehicle. On the company’s official website, the ARK Zero presents itself as an ultra-compact cart, as evidenced by its dimensions: 2.5 m long, 1.2 m wide and 1.6 m high for a wheelbase of 1.7 m. In comparison with the Citroën AMI, the ARK Zero is therefore a little shorter, but slightly higher.
A great classic for a car without a license
To offer such an attractive and aggressive price, the ARK Zero does not have exceptional performance and is primarily intended for city dwellers looking for a soft mobility solution. Thus, the small four-wheeled vehicle has a range of 80 kilometers And a top speed of 45 km/h thanks to a 3 horsepower electric motor. The latter is powered by an 80 Ah lithium-ion battery.
According to ARK, the body and chassis form a single piece entirely made of aluminum. This monocoque construction improves the vehicle’s strength and rigidity, for greater safety. The company chose this material for its lightness (the ARK Zero weighs only 489 kg), but also to offer better shock absorption. Furthermore, aluminum helps avoid any corrosion problems.
Fatally, you shouldn’t expect a lot of space in the ARK Zero. The vehicle can only accommodate two people with seats placed in tandem (one in front, one behind). In terms of equipment, the ARK Zero has a sunroof, a reversing camera, LED lights, a central LCD infotainment screen and Bluetooth connectivity. In addition, interested customers can choose between four colors: red, black, white and gray.
