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Is mobility a human right? Portugal seems to think so. The world’s oldest country just designed a cutting-edge compact EV.

The BEN was developed by Portugal’s Engineering and Development Center. The European Union has approved it for production and sale. According to a press release, the country hopes to build 20,000 units annually “in a decentralized manner.” That likely means contracting existing factories to assemble them. The target price is 8,000 euros, or about $9,300. Sign me up!

The BEN only exists because of Europe’s quadricycle vehicle class. These subcompact vehicles are often limited to top speeds under 30 mph. They are easy to park and ideal for short urban trips. A perennial favorite is the Citroën Ami. After the Stellantis merger, Fiat unveiled its own retro-styled cycle car based on the Ami called the Topolino. After President Trump cleared the way for “cute” subcompacts on U.S. streets, Stellantis also announced plans to bring the Topolino stateside.

How Portugal’s BEN rethinks shared urban mobility

The BEN stands out for its flexible interior. Need a third seat? You can configure it that way. Want 400 liters of cargo space? That option is available. It may not sound like much by American standards, but it suits city life.

The vehicle also supports shared use by design. A group of users, whether villagers or farm workers, can access the car through software. Its “Spirit” digital platform handles “user identification and customization through biometric systems, access via a digital key shared by the community, vehicle configuration to the service, intelligence and data analytics.” To that end, it is “designed to be used and traded as a service.” That phrasing is certainly vague, but if it leads to cheaper mobility options, I am interested.

I have previously argued that a quadricycle class sounds appealing in the U.S. However, with 46 states already allowing golf carts on public roads at the municipal level, we arguably have that niche covered. It may make more sense to focus on designing golf carts that are comfortable, configurable, and usable for three seasons.

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari is a MotorBiscuit Staff Writer who brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Henry covers Ford models daily, including the F-150. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. He’s an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts. Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont.

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