Adult toy minicar

Anyone who sees an adult's toy fluctuating in their heart should be an old driver (people who understand this sentence naturally understand the meaning). It's a pity that today is not about this topic, but minicar . Of course, this is not the mini car that children love.

In Japan's motor vehicle classification, there is a special specification called [ミニカー] which is the minicar in English!

It looks like a car, but uses the license plate of a motorcycle. Japan's Road Transport Vehicle Law stipulates that it is a bicycle with an engine (meaning a motorcycle in a broad sense), and the displacement is limited to 20cc~50cc, but the driver's license required to drive it is at least a general car driver's license. However, in another regulation, the Road Traffic Law , it is recognized as a general car, so there is no need to wear a helmet, and there is no need to turn right in two steps like riding a motorcycle (Japan is a country that drives on the left, contrary to Taiwan) .

Seeing this, does it start to be confusing, is this guy a car or a motorcycle? !

Looking directly at the real photos, it should be easier to figure out its identity, right? XD

These are all minicars, and they all have light blue license plates dedicated to minicars.

There was a time on the streets of Tokyo when a live-action version of Mario racing suddenly appeared in the crowded car array, and the minicar trend has been revived since then. Can't see Mario outfit now because Nintendo won the lawsuit. However, there are still fair kart rental companies, and these karts are also minicars.

Specification standard of minicar (current standard in 2022)

According to the Road Traffic Law, a motor vehicle with three or more wheels with an engine with a total displacement of less than 50cc, or a power output of less than 0.6Kw. Passengers are limited to 1 person, and the speed limit is 60km/h.

According to the Road Transport Vehicle Law, the size of the car body should not exceed 2.5 x 1.3 x 2 (meters) high. It is not easy to understand intuitively just by looking at the numbers. Rough explanation, about 2 minicars are equivalent to 1 common car when they are side by side. size.

Advantages and disadvantages of minicar

advantage

• There is no need for a garage certificate or a car inspection when purchasing, and the tax is super cheap, about 1/3 of the K car.
• There is no need to wear a helmet and no two-step right turn.
• The car body is small, suitable for shuttle in narrow alleys, and parking is more convenient than ordinary cars.

shortcoming

• It is classified as a motorcycle and is not allowed on the highway. (However, the speed is limited below 60, and I wouldn't dare to go up if I drive.)
• Only one person can drive, no passengers. Cargo is handled like a 50cc motorcycle, and it can only carry less than 30kg.
• The car body is small, there is no cooling and heating supply, and the gasoline tank or power supply is naturally insufficient, so it is not suitable for long-distance travel.

car purchase cost

The general market price is about 500,000 to 1 million yen, which is equivalent to a salary of 3 to 5 months for newcomers in society. If eligible for government subsidies, for example, Tokyo is promoting ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle) carbon dioxide zero-emission vehicle subsidies. The subsidy for the electric minicar is about 380,000, and the COMS that buys a Toyota can drive home as long as it pays 500,000 out of pocket.

People with strong hands-on ability can also assemble or modify the minicar by themselves. There areキットカー(Kit car) accessories on the market, which are very similar to assembling a model car, but this kind of adult toy can really drive on the road.

In other words, the Japanese minicar is often used to refer to a model car, so some car manufacturers or Japanese people will use "マイクロカー" (microcar) instead, but minicar is the official legal term, and both actually refer to the same model.

Finally, attach a number of minicar photos.

2022/01/21 posted.