A CLOSER LOOK AT GRANSTUDIO AND KOMMA'S COMPACT EV DESIGN

December 18, 2023 · 2 min read

December 18, 2023

A CLOSER LOOK AT GRANSTUDIO AND KOMMA'S COMPACT EV DESIGN - TheArsenale

The Komma compact EV, designed in collaboration with Granstudio, is a new category of urban electric vehicle that sits between a motorcycle and a city car. With a top speed of 130 km/h, a range of 200 km, and a four-wheel electronic tilting system that earns it the L5e-A homologation category, the Komma is engineered to address everything that makes city driving both inefficient and uncomfortable, without scaling up to the size and cost of a conventional electric car.

What Makes the Komma a New Type of Compact EV?

The Komma is not a microcar and it is not a motorcycle. It occupies a genuinely novel position: four wheels, two seats, airbags, ABS, seatbelts, and anti-collision sensors give it the safety profile of a car, while its narrow footprint, agility through traffic, and ability to use tight parking spaces give it the practicality of a motorcycle. The electronic tilting system allows the vehicle to lean through corners the way a two-wheeler does, while all four tyres remain in contact with the road, delivering stability that neither format can match alone.

Komma compact EV safety features including airbags, ABS, and anti-collision sensors

Granstudio's Design Approach

Granstudio, the Turin-based mobility design firm, brought a clean, functional aesthetic to the Komma. The exterior avoids decorative excess and focuses on aerodynamic coherence and visibility for other road users. The cabin is designed around a two-plus-luggage layout with up to 230 litres of storage, an aerodynamic shell that protects occupants from wind and rain without requiring helmets, and sufficient headroom for a comfortable ride. The result is a vehicle that feels closer to a premium small car than to a scooter cabin, even at a fraction of the material footprint.

Komma uses 70 percent fewer materials in production than a conventional car of comparable capacity, and the vehicle's energy consumption is three times lower per kilometre than the average battery electric vehicle. The modular battery system offers either a single 7.5 kWh module or a twin 15 kWh configuration for the full 200 km range.

Komma compact EV open and closed body versions showing modular design and cabin access

Urban Mobility Reimagined

The Komma targets city drivers, car-rental operators, and municipalities looking for a sustainable, low-footprint alternative to conventional urban transport. Its ability to fit into half a standard parking bay, navigate congested urban corridors, and achieve genuine car-level safety is exactly the combination that urban planners and individual commuters have been waiting for. A carbon footprint only 30 percent of that of a standard car, combined with significant savings on fuel and maintenance of up to 66 percent, makes a compelling economic case alongside the environmental one.

Designboom's in-depth feature covers Granstudio's design brief in detail, while AutoEvolution positions the Komma within the broader landscape of emerging urban EV categories.

Komma compact EV exterior view showing four-wheel tilting design and urban proportions