Michelotti LEM

The Michelotti LEM—short for “Mobile Electronic Laboratory”—was an innovative electric city car developed by designer Giovanni Michelotti and engineer Gianni Rogliatti between 1973 and 1974.

Rogliatti built the frame and mechanical components by hand, while Michelotti shaped an exceptionally light and versatile aluminum body.

One of the LEM’s most distinctive elements was its diamond-shaped wheel layout: a single driven wheel at the rear supported by two lateral stabilizing wheels, a configuration that improved agility and stability in tight urban environments.

The doors opened gull-wing style, hinged at the sides of the windshield—an eye-catching feature that also saved space when entering or exiting the vehicle.

To keep weight to a minimum, the car used traditional glass only for the windshield; the side windows and rear window were made of Plexiglas. A 48-volt battery system powered the LEM, giving it quiet, efficient performance and positioning it as an early exploration of environmentally conscious city transport.

The LEM debuted at the 1974 Turin Motor Show, where it drew attention for its unconventional engineering and forward-looking design.

After Rogliatti’s death in 2012, his wife donated the vehicle to the National Automobile Museum in Turin, where it remains a celebrated example of early electric-vehicle innovation.