YKS1 Solo EV

Besides Spyker, the Netherlands has seen another remarkable car brand rise, shine, and eventually fade away: Carver. In the early 2000s, Carver gained fame with its unique tilting vehicle.

After declaring bankruptcy in 2009 and attempting a comeback, the company once again folded last year. But now, a new Dutch tilting vehicle has emerged.

Rotterdam-based start-up YKS1 has been working on this project for several years and are now officially unveiling their Solo EV.

Like the Carver, the Solo EV features a tilting mechanism, though its tilt angle is smaller. While the Carver could lean up to 45 degrees, the YKS1 manages up to 20 degrees.

So no — this isn’t a direct evolution of the Carver, in case you were wondering. According to its creators, the tilting chassis enhances efficiency by taking advantage of momentum.

The YKS1 is extremely compact, offering space for just one passenger. That may seem like a downside, but it helps keep the vehicle’s weight down to just 600 kg (1,323 lbs) — which comes with several performance and efficiency benefits. Still, it’s not as tiny as it looks; one image shows it standing nearly as tall as a Hyundai Ioniq 5.

Unlike microcars such as the Opel Rocks-e or Renault Twizy, the YKS1 is intended to be a full-fledged car. It’s highway-capable, with a top speed of 130 km/h (81 mph). Its projected range is also impressive for its size: around 350 kilometers (217 miles) on a full charge.

Through the Solo EV, YKS1 aims to “redefine mobility” and it looks like a genuinely fun and intriguing concept. The only catch? It still exists only as a digital prototype. But YKS1 has no intention of stopping there — they fully intend to bring it to life.