Contact ! Birò, a new electric quadricycle, reinforces the offer of small urban vehicles that can be driven without a licence. After Renault’s Twizy (launched in 2012), and Citroën’s AMI (coming on the market in 2020), it is the Italian company Estrima which is coming to French city centers with its small vehicle, and in particular in Paris where a dedicated store, the Birò Store*, allows you to discover it. “20 Minutes”, which had already tested its competitors, was able to travel a few kilometers with it.
From tractor to quadricycle
It’s a name that will probably mean nothing to you. Birò is Italian, born and made near Venice. It was the Estrima company that designed and created this electric quadricycle, drawing on its know-how from 30 years of manufacturing high-security tractor cabins. Needless to say, aboard the Birò there is a real sense of security. Its metal frame inspires confidence, and even if the passenger compartment of the vehicle remains very plastic, the driver and his passenger are at ease. Moreover, no real problem of space as we noticed when we sat next to Côme Drescher, the general manager of Birò France, who accompanied us for our test.
“Birò is the smallest electric quadricycle with 1.74 meters long, 1.03 meters wide and 1.56 meters high”, recalls Côme Drescher. Compared to the Citroën AMI which measures 2.41 x 1.39 x 1.52 meters (L x W x H), the reduced length of the vehicle pleads in its favour.
Park (almost) everywhere, and free of charge
Able to be driven without a license from the age of 14, Birò is easy to drive. Only two pedals (an accelerator and a brake pedal), not to mention a small lever to operate (to choose forward or reverse gear) are to be tamed before entering the road. Nothing mean. The vehicle, whose top speed is 45 km/h, claims good torque with some thrust during acceleration and quick braking.
The absence of power steering requires keeping both hands on the steering wheel to turn and maneuver. At the rear, a small storage space of 41 liters can store a few races, but little more. A more advanced version of the Birò, the Birò Big, offers 300 liters of storage space with a real trunk.
Testing the quadricycle, despite a fairly rough level of comfort, is engaging. We appreciated the possibility of sneaking in almost everywhere, but above all, that of parking perpendicular to the sidewalks between two cars (which the AMI does not allow). Benefiting from a CritAir 0 sticker, the cost of parking the Birò is nil.
Two types of batteries to choose from
Estrima had a great idea for the lithium battery in his quadricycle. The manufacturer thus offers two possibilities: either a fixed battery with a range of 100 km (recharging time on the mains: approximately 5 hours); or a removable battery with a range of 50 km (3 hours of recharging). Dilemma when buying, since you have to choose one or the other possibility.
The removable battery certainly limits the autonomy of the small car, but adds great convenience to it: mounted on wheels, like a suitcase, this 27 kg battery can be easily removed and moved, thus being able to be recharged anywhere . Another point not to be overlooked: the basic price of the Birò (from 10,800 euros, ecological bonus of 900 euros not deducted) does not include… the doors. They are also removable (which can be appreciable on sunny days), but quickly become essential when the weather is not good.
Up to 16,000 euros with options
Thus, the price of the Birò can reach 16,000 euros with different options! Côme Drescher, the general manager of Birò France, insists on the almost infinite customization possibilities, with, for example, the addition of Sonus Faber or Bose speakers, leather upholstery, or even a table board made of recycled plastic. The manufacturer is taking the opportunity to emphasize the “retrofittable” aspect of its vehicle, which can be completely dismantled and reconditioned. “We will keep the tubular structure of a Birò at the end of its life to manufacture a new model”, explains to “20 Minutes” Côme Drescher. Another interesting point: the quadricycle includes a telematics box as standard which, linked to an application, makes it possible to offer car sharing. Maybe enough to make your purchase profitable.
The more commercially aggressive AMI
Purchase which supposes, if not a significant expense, a real civic engagement. We regret that Estima cannot offer a commercial offer as aggressive as that of Citroën and its AMI. This quadricycle is not only cheaper to buy (from 7390 euros, excluding the ecological bonus of 900 euros), but it is also accessible with a very attractive long-term rental offer. This is based on a first rent of 3,700 euros, then monthly payments of 19.99 euros per month for 48 months. For its part, the Renault Twizy is offered at a price close to that of the Birò, from 11,600 euros, excluding ecological bonus.
Excluding cost, it remains ultimately difficult to oppose the various rivals. The Twizy is fun to drive, but probably at the end of its life. The AMI looks like a real small car with a very welcoming closed living space, but not so reduced in size. As for the Birò, its compactness and modularity remain solid arguments. On the speed side, the same fight: up to 45 km/h. As for autonomy, those announced are 100 km for the Twizy and the Birò, and 75 km for the AMI. There will remain the tastes and the colors which are indisputable.
* 27, rue des Archives, Paris IVth.
Source: 20minutes
