Paris Auto Show 2024: Softcar – perhaps the world's first truly net-zero car!

Even as a child, I was amazed by the indestructibility of the Bobby Car my little brother had: The plastic ride-on toy couldn’t be broken despite the worst mistreatment, and one of my design professors in the early 1990s vehemently demanded a rethinking in car manufacturing! A car should ideally be made from fully colored plastics so that expensive paint damage and dents could finally become a thing of the past, and insurance could become cheaper.

Since then, not much has happened - until now! From the Swiss history of the Smart car emerged a lightweight vehicle like a Bobby Car, which can be built and sold for under 20,000 euros - yes, even and especially in expensive Switzerland!

The "Softcar" is intended to fully transition the automotive industry to a circular economy. The company of the same name aims to increase the number of assembly units in the heart of cities! And would plan the factory right along with it.

Convertible, sedan, or van? Whatever is preferred!

The chassis, according to Heinz Lamprecht, the "Directeur Commercial" at Softcar, is designed for up to 1.6 million (!) kilometers, meaning it can last an eternity even for delivery services, and the body can be shredded and re-sprayed up to six (!) times without quality loss - it is made in one piece except for the gullwing doors and can be swapped on the chassis as desired!

Only 1.49 meters narrow, with great gullwing doors

Briefly on the data of the 3.42-meter short, only 1.49-meter narrow, and 1.65-meter high dwarf for four: It has a 2.42-meter wheelbase and up to 350 liters of trunk volume. The turning circle diameter is seven meters.

The 15-kWh Li-Ion battery is supposed to provide power for up to 200 kilometers of range and can be fully charged with a maximum of 6.6 kW within two and a half hours. With a 2.3 kW socket, it also takes only about eight hours.

It delivers 15 kW of continuous power and 30 kW peak power, accelerates to 50 km/h in four seconds up to a top speed of 90 km/h and is therefore allowed on highways.

The seat test with two giants

And how does it feel to sit? Lamprecht opens the gullwing doors. We are allowed to do the toughest test: once 1.9 meters and once 2.08 meters in the car.... if the 2.08-meter person sits in the front, everyone fits just fine! Conversely, the rear is too tight, but four times 1.9 meters fit comfortably. Tricky: The seat rails are mounted very far in on the outer sides so that a foot can fit underneath. Early 1980s Renault seats say hello.