Peel P50 Is The World’s Smallest Car, Buy It For $16,000

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Our choice of vehicles would depend on how we are going to best use it. Some prefer vehicles that can be dressed up (pimped if that’s the term) while others deem it how it can be optimized (i.e. large storage space factor). There are also instances that fuel efficiency is the aspect looked at.In the case of Peel, compactness and efficiency kicks in. It is the Guinness World Record holder for the smallest street legal car in the world. Having been relaunched, its makers adhered to making it small and efficient. The Peel is a mini-car that was hand-built in the 60’s. It is the brains of Cyrill Cannell. Cannell’s philosophy in making the vehicle is that having a personal vehicle that is easy to maintain, easy to park and easy to run.

Faizal Khan, current owner and commercial director of Peel, brought it back to the limelight. His company produced the Peel which appears exactly the same as the original. There is a bit of twist though as Khan together with his team added an electric motor on the mini vehicle. According to Khan and James Buggle (head of Innovation at Peel), the dependence on fossil fuels particularly petroleum has brought back the interest for fuel efficient cars that’s why Peel has this appeal. They added that it also gives new meaning to the green car concept. Peel’s design sticks to Cannell’s philosophy of having an ultra light, ultra compact and very basic car. Bringing it back made the company stick to principle of making it simple, light and easy to use. The element of looking like from the 60’s was also added.The original engine of Peel was two (2) stroke but this was changed to four (4) stroke because of emission regulations. Khan and his team also added an electric motor which is placed inside the rear wheel. This led to freeing up space in the front which then was used to house the ultra lightweight batteries. The battery pack is removable and light (17 to 18 pounds). A single charge can make the Peel run for 20 miles. Up to three (3) batteries can be fitted in the P50 thus increasing range to 60-80 miles. Moreover, batteries can be charged at a standard socket found in households.

This cute urban car is available starting at £10,000 or about US$16,000. And since it is handmade, only five (5) to ten (10) can be produced by the company every few months.