06/30/2023 • 6 min

Guide to EV Coupes

Learn more about electric coupes and whether they could be the right car for you. Find out more about these small but mighty cars and what they can offer.
coupe electric vehicle

Thanks to the progress of electric car technology, it’s becoming ever easier to find electric vehicles (EVs) in various shapes and sizes, with new models available every year. An electric coupe is a great option if you’re looking for a compact EV that will help reduce your carbon emissions.

Find out more about some of the leading electric coupe cars, including what they can offer and how they perform.

 

What is a coupe?

A coupe is a compact two-door car with a fixed roof that slopes down towards the rear. Designs can vary as much as the price depending on the make and model, with some coupes looking and driving more like sports cars.  

The term coupe dates back to 18th century horse-drawn carriages. Derived from the French word coupé, meaning “to cut”, the body of the coupe is inspired by shorter carriages with only two front seats. The coupe became popular in the 1960s with hard-roofed two seaters coming onto the market.

The first electric car to make its debut in the US was in 1890, introduced by Willian Morrison from Des Moines, Iowa. Boasting a top speed of 20mph, 24 battery cells and an average range of 50 miles, the electric carriage was a sensation.

Decades later, Detroit Electric became renowned for building electric cars from 1907 to 1942. However, it was General Motors that broke the mold with the GM EV1 in the 1990s, pioneering the new technology we see in EVs to this day.

Due to their size and passenger capacity, coupes often appeal to sports and leisure drivers. Whether you’re planning a coastal road trip for two or driving solo on the commute, a coupe EV is ideal for compact driving and easy city parking.

 

Renault Twizy

The Twizy has been around since 2012, and in many ways was ahead of its time. The narrow EV was an immediate success and is still going strong as a miniature city car. It stacks up with:

  • Two seats
  • Capable of 50mph
  • 60 miles per charge

This is an extremely compact car with limited cargo space. At the size of the average golf cart, the Twizy is useful for local commuting where you won’t need to reach top speeds.

Citroen AMI One

Launched at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show, though the Citreon Ami One looks and drives like a car, it’s officially classed as a quadracycle. To put this into perspective, this means it’s legal for a 14-year-old to drive it in France. The EV offers:

  • Two seats
  • Two doors
  • A small trunk
  • 5.5 kWh battery
  • Speed of up to 28mph
  • Full charge of 43 miles in two hours

At just 2.41 meters long and 1.39 meters high, this is a tiny car and therefore not very fast. At a value of approximately $6,600 it may be slower than some of its rivals, but it’s one of the more affordable EV coupes on the market.

Micro Microlino

The Microlino was created with city slickers in mind. Easily charged up from a power point at home and easy to park in even the busiest cities, the Microlino is the ideal EV coupe for urban driving. The Microlino offers:

  • Two seats
  • Small cargo storage
  • Top speeds of 56mph
  • Range of up to 125 miles with the large battery option
  • Range of up to 78 miles with small battery

Known for producing electric scooters, Micro is established in creating electric mobility solutions – an electric coupe is the next logical step. A company spokesperson for Micro has hinted that we may see the compact bubble car in the US in the future.

e.Go Life

This car from German start-up e.Go Mobile comes in various trims with a choice of 20, 40 and 60kW electric motors with batteries ranging from 14.5kWh to 23.5kWh.

  • Two seats
  • Two doors
  • A small trunk
  • Speed of up to 88mph
  • Up to 62 miles on a full charge

While the e.Go Life is currently unavailable in the US, with enough units produced in Germany, there’s a chance this may change in the next few years.

Depending on what they’re looking for in an EV, an electric coupe could be the perfect choice for some drivers due to their condensed size, speedy charging and sporty appearance.

If you’re searching for something with more a little more range, passenger or cargo space, there are plenty of other EVs out there to explore. Why not consider:

Electric Vehicles