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Background: The electric Mega City is based on an existing car made in France, powered by a traditional diesel or petrol engine. It’s now being marketed with an electric engine in the UK by NICE, with a team including ex-Lotus engineers. For: • Bigger than the G-Wiz – more room inside, and in the absence of rear seats, with a relatively large load area (would make an ideal small van!) • It feels more like a ‘real’ car than the G-Wiz – especially in the interior (it even seems to have a ‘proper’ steering wheel) – it’s better engineered, and the build quality feels much more solid. And the gear lever is where it should be! (unlike the G-Wiz where there is a dial stuck on the top right hand side of the dash) • Styling of the Mega City is probably to more people’s tastes than the G-Wiz • Performance and the driving experience is absolutely fine for London traffic, and the ‘get up and go’ feels slightly stronger than that of the G-Wiz Against: • The Mega City only has two seats – if the miniscule G-Wiz can accommodate 4 seats (even though the rear seats are only really any good for very small children), then it should be a breeze for the extra length of this vehicle to allow seating for four • It’s more expensive than the G-Wiz at £9995 Summary: This feels more like a proper car in terms of design and build quality – especially in the interior. It’s absolutely fine in terms of get-up-and-go for the streets of London. One improvement that we think would be a good idea is to offer a four seat version in due course. VERDICT Both the G-Wiz and the NICE are small, basically two seater, electric cars aimed primarily at the London Congestion Charge market. They both offer cheap, environmentally-friendly motoring. So at first sight it may appear that these are two very similar cars. However in reality nothing could be further from the truth. Up until now, if you wanted an electric car, there’s not really been a choice. The G-Wiz was first to market and has been, and continues to be, very successful. It stands for ‘cheap and cheerful’. If that’s what you want, go for the G-Wiz. However, now we have the Mega City. And yes, it may take sales away from the G-Wiz, but more importantly, it now gives people a choice. If you’re not sure about the styling of the G-Wiz, or the cramped interior, or the poor quality of the materials, you now have another option. It’s more expensive, but the Mega City starts to bridge the gap between an electric novelty that’s not generally accepted as a proper car, and a vehicle that feels much more like a mainstream offering from a mass manufacturer. Both cars are on the same side in the battle against climate change, and this test shows that competition is a good thing (as opposed to communism (a bad thing) resulting in everyone having to drive a Trabant) (very bad for climate change). To contact NICE, visit www.nicecarcompany.co.uk or e-mail theteam@nicecarcompany.co.uk

Maximum speed 40 mph
PTAC endorsed range on flat roads at constant speed 50 miles
PTAC endorsed range on mixed roads 38 miles
Electric consumption 185 Wh/mile
Charge costs < 1.5p/mile
Maximum gradient more than 20%
Number of seats 2
Luggage compartment volume 800 litres
Weight
Unladen, with batteries 645 kg
Total authorised laden weight 850 kg

The Mega City is manufactured by the French-based company, Aixam-Mega.

Aixam-Mega manufactures approximately 15,000 vehicles every year and is the market leader for this type of vehicle across Europe.

Aixam-Mega Limited is working in partnership with the NICE Car company for the distribution of the Mega City throughout the Greater London area.

Aixam-MEGA Limited also imports the Aixam A751 and Scouty GTR models which have petrol and diesel engines.

Low cost of ownership less than 1.5p per mile

2 year warranty.

The vehicle takes 8 hours to fully charge its batteries. However, due to the battery technology used it is possible to apply ‘top-up’ charges as required with no memory effect to the batteries

The vehicle can be charged from a normal house electricity supply using a 16A outlet.

Recommended that the batteries and all systems are checked out at 6 monthly intervals.

Range of up to 50 miles

Made from 100% recyclable thermo-plastic on a tough aluminium safety structure

The whole vehicle has been designed and built to be recyclable. 95% of the components can be re-used on other vehicles or for other applications, making the MEGA city one of the most recyclable vehicles on the road

The vehicles are safety tested to the same level as all similar small cars

NICE offers an optional package that includes switching your electricity supply to Ecotricity. Ecotricity supply electricity exclusively from renewable resources and invests in new renewable generation.

NICE can also offset any CO2 that has been produced in the manufacturing to ensure complete carbon neutrality.

The MEGA City has passed extensive crash testing to ensure passenger safety. Furthermore the soft body panels and the absence of a hard engine underneath the bonnet make the car a safer vehicle for other road-users and pedestrians.

Base equipment includes:

• Exterior temperature gauge with black ice alert (< 3°C)
• Anti-theft with security
• Central remote locking with indicator flash alert
• Automatic illuminating hazard lights in sudden deceleration
• Reversing light and rear fog light
• Door mirrors, left and right, adjustable from the inside
• Sun visors with vanity mirror on passenger side
• Laminated windscreen
• Electric heater and defroster
• CD/Radio with removable security face
• Rear window demister and wiper

Options:

• CD/Radio upgrade
• iPod/MP3 connection and integrated Bluetooth preparation
• Satellite Navigation unit
• Pre-programmed Park-and-Charge information (kept up to date via the NICE website) and with MP3 player and integrated Bluetooth preparation
• Front fog lights
• Alloy wheels (13”)
• Multicolour body kit with 14” Alloy wheels
• Front and rear bumper modifications, wheel arches and roof in contrast colour, front fog lights
• Zero CO2 ownership - Offset of any CO2 produced in the manufacturing process and switch of electricity provider to pure renewable sources

NICE Car has joined up with Streetcar, the UK’s largest car club, to offer its owners the added benefit of 24/7 self-service pay-as-you-go access to a fleet of Volkswagen Golfs. Available at more than 90 convenient locations in London. Streetcar makes it easy for NICE owners to access a larger car for longer trips or bigger loads.

Owners can sign up for optional green energy package from partner Ecotricity - the leading green energy company in the UK, supplying all its electricity from wind generation.