I’ve driven everything from seven-seat SUVs to high-performance electric super cars, but every now and then something tiny reminds me that smaller can be smarter.
Meet the XEV YOYO, a pint-sized all-electric city car that costs less than a bag of peanuts per 100 miles to run. It’s quirky, compact and designed for one very clear purpose: to make short urban journeys simpler, cleaner and more affordable.
So who’s this little EV actually for? Let me break down where it really makes sense.
1. City Drivers and Commuters
If you live in a city like London, Manchester or Edinburgh, the YOYO starts to look like a brilliant solution. It’s small enough to slip through tight streets and park in spaces that would make an SUV blush. In fact, you can fit two YOYOs into one standard parking bay.
With a top speed of 56 mph and a real-world range of around 85 to 90 miles, it’s not built for long-haul trips. But for the daily commute, school run or a dash across town, it’s spot on. You can plug it straight into a three-pin socket at home and get a full charge in just three hours. No public charger faff, or waiting around, just plug in and go.
2. Shared Mobility and Urban Fleets
In Italy, more than 16,000 YOYOs are already zipping around cities like Milan and Rome as part of car-sharing schemes. That’s because the YOYO has something very clever up its sleeve: removable batteries.
In Milan, local energy providers and petrol stations have even set up battery swap stations, where drivers can exchange flat batteries for full ones in minutes. It’s a system that works beautifully for fleets, universities or local councils looking to electrify short-distance travel without investing in rapid-charging infrastructure.
If that model takes off in the UK, cities like Oxford, Bristol or Cambridge could be perfect candidates.
3. First-Time EV Buyers or Second-Car Owners
Not every household needs a big family car every day. For a lot of people, especially those living in urban flats or with on-street parking, the idea of a simple plug-in city car just makes sense.
The YOYO is affordable to run, incredibly easy to drive and surprisingly fun. Inside, it’s light, airy and full of character – the sort of car that makes short trips actually enjoyable. You get the comfort of an EV without the price tag or footprint of something oversized for your needs.
4. Businesses and Local Deliveries
From independent cafés to courier services and maintenance teams, there’s a growing number of small businesses looking for electric solutions that are both cheap to run and easy to park.
The YOYO’s tiny turning circle and low operating costs make it a great candidate for micro-delivery work or urban mobility services. And because it’s fully electric, it’s ULEZ-friendly, saving you money every single day.
A Quirky Step Forward
The YOYO isn’t trying to replace the family SUV or the long-range EV. It’s filling a gap that’s been ignored for far too long, offering affordable, fun, short-range electric mobility.
At a time when cars keep getting bigger, heavier and more expensive, this little Italian-designed EV is a reminder that sometimes less really is more.
Would you drive something like the YOYO for your daily trips? Let me know what you think.
