Migros MEV-1
The Migros MEV-1 was a single-seat electric vehicle developed in Switzerland as an inexpensive commuter car. The project was created by the supermarket chain Migros in cooperation with Horlacher, while engineers from ETH Zurich also contributed to its development. Its lightweight composite body was produced for the prototype in 1985.
The vehicle emerged during a period when the oil crisis had increased interest in energy conservation, electric mobility and renewable power. Independent developers, small companies and universities were exploring more efficient vehicles, while advances in battery technology were beginning to replace traditional lead-acid batteries with newer types of accumulators.
Under the direction of Roger Burri, the MEV-1 was built in the workshop of a Migros distribution centre. Its design was based on an ETH Zurich racing car, adapted for use as a compact electric commuter vehicle. The single-seat layout and lightweight construction were intended to keep the vehicle simple and economical.
Migros supported the project financially and technically, while the vehicle was equipped for solar-assisted operation. A solar panel was mounted at the rear like a flat board. When the MEV-1 was stationary, a separate solar charging unit could be used to replenish its batteries.
The prototype attracted particular attention at the 1986 Tour de Sol, a Swiss event dedicated to solar-powered vehicles and sustainable mobility. The first Tour de Sol had taken place in 1985, with the route running from Romanshorn through Winterthur to Geneva. The event later expanded its focus to include other forms of renewable energy and environmentally oriented transport.
In 1986, the Migros MEV-1 competed with solar panels and won its category for solar vehicles intended for mass production. It had not been developed as a conventional racing car, but its low weight and solar-assisted electric system allowed it to perform successfully in the event. The 1985 race had been won by Alpha Real, the solar vehicle developed by Mercedes.
The MEV-1 also formed part of a wider Migros concept phase known as “Swissmobil.” The company examined the possibility of developing and selling an improved production vehicle together with electronics manufacturer Autophon AG and the energy department of the Canton of Zurich. The intention was to move beyond a one-off experimental vehicle and create a practical solar-powered model for wider use.
The proposed project never reached serial production. Migros ultimately did not enter the mass manufacture of solar-powered vehicles, leaving the MEV-1 as a single prototype.
