Eli Electric Vehicles

Series ARaised Since Featured

Reimagine personal mobility

LA-based micro-EV manufacturer building affordable, zero-emission two-seater electric vehicles for short-distance urban trips.

Founded January 2016Los Angeles, CA11-50 people$16.6M raisedFeatured at Seed

eli.world 𝕏Twitter inLinkedIn Instagram Crunchbase Read our feature

EvElectric VehiclesMicro MobilityHardwareAutomotiveClean EnergyUrban MobilityCrowdfunding

About

Eli Electric Vehicles designs and manufactures affordable, zero-emission micro-EVs for short-distance urban mobility. The company's flagship product, the Eli ZERO, is a compact, fully enclosed two-seater neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) that offers up to 90 miles of range, climate control, and modern features like keyless entry — all starting at $11,990. Founded in 2016 by Marcus Li, an architect-turned-entrepreneur who envisioned reimagining urban transportation while studying at The Cooper Union in New York, Eli debuted the ZERO at CES 2017 and has since launched in over 13 European countries and French Polynesia. The company opened US reservations in May 2024, targeting the massive low-speed vehicle market. Eli has raised $16.6M primarily through equity crowdfunding campaigns on StartEngine and Dealmaker Securities, building a community of thousands of individual investors. In 2024, the company was valued at approximately $71M and was named 'Startup of the Year' at the AutoTech Breakthrough Awards.

DailyDropout Take

Eli caught our attention as a bold bet on micro-mobility in a market obsessed with bigger, faster EVs. Marcus Li's architectural background gives him a unique lens on urban transportation — designing vehicles that fit cities rather than forcing cities to accommodate vehicles. With production rolling in Europe, a sub-$12K price point, and US reservations opening, Eli is positioned to prove that the future of urban EVs is smaller, not larger.

Discovery signal: Novel product positioning in the micro-EV space at a sub-$12K price point, strong European traction across 13+ countries, CES 2017 debut generating sustained interest, and community-driven crowdfunding model building brand loyalty.

What Makes Them Unique

Eli ZERO is a fully enclosed, climate-controlled two-seater micro-EV priced under $12K with up to 90 miles of range — offering car-like comfort at a fraction of the cost of traditional EVs, targeting the underserved low-speed vehicle market for daily urban trips.

$11,990

Starting Price

Up to 90 miles

Vehicle Range

13+ countries

European Markets

4,000+ vehicles/year

Production Capacity

~$71M (2024)

Valuation

Target Markets

Urban CommutersEco-Tourism OperatorsCampus MobilityFleet & Sharing OperatorsGovernment Fleets

Founders

Marcus Li

Founder & CEO

Architect-turned-entrepreneur who conceived the vision for Eli while studying at The Cooper Union in New York. Previously worked as Principal Design Architect at Greenman Machinery Company and as OHEV R&D Director. His architectural perspective on how transportation shapes cities fundamentally informs Eli's design philosophy.