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The Independent
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Is this the world's smallest mobile house? Inside the tiny home on wheels that's just 7-feet long (but has a toilet and shower)
There's downsizing – then there's this. Step inside what could be the world's smallest home on wheels. The living space measures just 21 square feet – which is three feet by seven feet – but the creator, YouTuber Levi Kelly, has managed to squeeze in all the mod cons you'd need for a comfortable night or two. The features of this camper truck include a shower, toilet, bed, sink, running water and solar power. The wood-frame living quarters perch on the back of an imported Japanese 1998 4x4 Honda Acty pickup truck, which Levi spent $9,000 upgrading to a tiny home. Levi, who lives in Hillsboro, Ohio, reveals that the shower system works by attaching the hose to the faucet in the sink – fed by a five-gallon water container – and threading it through the open window and hooking it onto the side of the camper. The flushing portable toilet, meanwhile, is small enough to be used inside, with a bubble window in the roof available for taller users to poke their head into. Levi, who has amassed over 730,000 subscribers on YouTube, points out that the camper also features "the smallest wood stove on the market" and a fan that blows air through ventilation slates. You can cook inside, too, thanks to a portable cooker that slides under the bed when it's not in use. Levi admits that if you're taller than 5ft 10in, you may not be very comfortable on the bed (which converts from a bench), but describes the set-up as "genuinely cozy". And he told The Independent: "I would be willing to stay in it indefinitely if I were a single man. "Is it better than a home? In most cases no, but I can go where typical homes can't. "I haven't stayed in it longer than a night, so maybe my opinion would change quickly." The truck can reach 60mph with the (removable) camping unit on the back, and Levi said that while it's not available to rent, he will be selling it.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The Unexpected Vehicles Hitting Colorado's Streets
In a win for automotive enthusiasts and fans of unique imports, Colorado has officially legalized kei cars for road use, starting in 2027. Governor Jared Polis signed HB25-1281 into law last week, allowing residents to register and drive these compact Japanese vehicles, provided they're at least 25 years old. It's a significant step for a vehicle category that has long existed in legal limbo within the state. Kei cars, short for kei-jidōsha (a Japanese term that translates to "light vehicle"), are a class of micro-sized vehicles designed for efficiency, affordability, and tight Japanese city streets. They're limited in engine size, horsepower, and physical dimensions. Popular examples include the Suzuki Cappuccino, Honda Acty, and Autozam AZ-1. While the bill is signed, it won't go into effect until July 1, 2027, giving state agencies time to implement new registration and emissions procedures. Previously, Colorado had no laws specifically addressing kei cars. A proposed ban by the state DMV in 2024 nearly wiped out the possibility of their legal use, arguing they weren't intended for American roads. That rule was ultimately withdrawn after pushback. Until now, enthusiasts had to navigate a murky system. While some managed to obtain temporary plates, many were stymied by emissions testing requirements — particularly in the Front Range — where keis struggled to pass the usual emissions tests. The new legislation spells out exactly how kei vehicles will be handled in Colorado. Instead of undergoing traditional emission testing, these cars will be tested using a simpler two-speed idle method — an approach typically reserved for vehicles built before 1982. The law also formally defines kei vehicles within Colorado's Uniform Motor Vehicle Law, giving them the same legal standing as any other registered vehicle. However, there are limits: kei cars won't be allowed on roads with speed limits higher than 55 mph, a sensible restriction given their limited power and modest top speeds. Governor Polis called the move a win for consumer choice, saying, 'I hope [other states] join the club. We're excited in Colorado that now Coloradans have another vehicle choice to get where they want to go. And I would encourage other states to take the same step.' Through this new law, Colorado becomes the 30th state to allow kei vehicles, joining places like Texas, California, and Florida. But regulations vary. In New Hampshire, for example, they're restricted to a 25-mile radius of the owner's home. Some states — like New York and Rhode Island — require costly upgrades to meet federal safety standards. Others, including Connecticut and Georgia, have banned them outright. Enthusiasts in states with strict rules have found workarounds, but not without risk. In Colorado, that chapter is nearly closed. Starting in 2027, those little cars with big personalities will finally have a legal place on the road.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The Unexpected Vehicles Hitting Colorado's Streets
In a win for automotive enthusiasts and fans of unique imports, Colorado has officially legalized kei cars for road use, starting in 2027. Governor Jared Polis signed HB25-1281 into law last week, allowing residents to register and drive these compact Japanese vehicles, provided they're at least 25 years old. It's a significant step for a vehicle category that has long existed in legal limbo within the state. Kei cars, short for kei-jidōsha (a Japanese term that translates to "light vehicle"), are a class of micro-sized vehicles designed for efficiency, affordability, and tight Japanese city streets. They're limited in engine size, horsepower, and physical dimensions. Popular examples include the Suzuki Cappuccino, Honda Acty, and Autozam AZ-1. While the bill is signed, it won't go into effect until July 1, 2027, giving state agencies time to implement new registration and emissions procedures. Previously, Colorado had no laws specifically addressing kei cars. A proposed ban by the state DMV in 2024 nearly wiped out the possibility of their legal use, arguing they weren't intended for American roads. That rule was ultimately withdrawn after pushback. Until now, enthusiasts had to navigate a murky system. While some managed to obtain temporary plates, many were stymied by emissions testing requirements — particularly in the Front Range — where keis struggled to pass the usual emissions tests. The new legislation spells out exactly how kei vehicles will be handled in Colorado. Instead of undergoing traditional emission testing, these cars will be tested using a simpler two-speed idle method — an approach typically reserved for vehicles built before 1982. The law also formally defines kei vehicles within Colorado's Uniform Motor Vehicle Law, giving them the same legal standing as any other registered vehicle. However, there are limits: kei cars won't be allowed on roads with speed limits higher than 55 mph, a sensible restriction given their limited power and modest top speeds. Governor Polis called the move a win for consumer choice, saying, 'I hope [other states] join the club. We're excited in Colorado that now Coloradans have another vehicle choice to get where they want to go. And I would encourage other states to take the same step.' Through this new law, Colorado becomes the 30th state to allow kei vehicles, joining places like Texas, California, and Florida. But regulations vary. In New Hampshire, for example, they're restricted to a 25-mile radius of the owner's home. Some states — like New York and Rhode Island — require costly upgrades to meet federal safety standards. Others, including Connecticut and Georgia, have banned them outright. Enthusiasts in states with strict rules have found workarounds, but not without risk. In Colorado, that chapter is nearly closed. Starting in 2027, those little cars with big personalities will finally have a legal place on the road.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Colorado Becomes the 30th State to Officially Allow Kei Cars
Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed HB25-1281 into law today, officially allowing the state's residents to register and drive kei vehicles. Kei cars, a class of small four-wheel vehicles from Japan, can be brought into the U.S. under the 25-year import rule. Until now, Colorado lacked kei-specific regulations, creating a bit of a gray area for owners. Score another one for the little guys. Today, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed into law HB25-1281, which officially recognizes kei vehicles as road-legal in the state and puts in place the necessary framework for their titling, registration, and use. For the uninitiated, kei is short for kei-jidōsha, a Japanese term that translates to "light vehicle." Japanese regulators limit kei cars, trucks, and vans in engine size and output as well as exterior dimensions—length, width, and height—although the maximum values for each have changed over the years. Because these tiny vehicles weren't sold new in the United States, they can only be brought into the country under the 25-year import rule, which allows vehicles with non-compliant safety and emissions equipment to be given a pass if they're over a quarter-century old. Popular examples include the Honda Acty pickup and van, the Suzuki Cappuccino, and the Autozam AZ-1. The new law comes with some stipulations. Kei vehicles cannot be driven on roads with speed limits above 55 mph. This is sensible, since these low-powered vehicles have trouble maintaining high speeds on flat ground, let alone at altitude going up a grade on I-70. The law also clarifies how emissions testing will work for kei vehicles; instead of being subjected to a dynamometer test, the state's emissions agency will use a static two-speed idle test, which is otherwise used on vehicles from model year 1981 and prior. The law also explicitly recognizes keis as motor vehicles for the purposes of the Uniform Motor Vehicle Law and the Certificate of Title Act. The bill had bipartisan co-sponsorship in both state houses. There are still some issues that can bridge the widening aisles of our legislatures. Colorado has had an on-again, off-again relationship with kei legality recently. Until now, there have been no kei-specific regulations on the books. A rule proposed by the state's Division of Motor Vehicles in 2024 would have put an outright ban on them and could have prevented registration of other "non-traditional" vehicle types; it was rescinded, with the DMV arguing that it was unnecessary, as kei vehicles were already illegal in its view. This rule was backed by lobbyists from a group called the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators and would have deferred to AAMVA guidance when deciding which vehicles the state would allow to be registered. The AAMVA is also behind proposed kei bans in other states, including Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. AAMVA's argument is that kei vehicles are intended for off-road use only. It also appears to conflate kei vehicles with mini-trucks, some of which are intended only for off-road use. But not all keis are trucks, and even the little JDM pickups are legal for on-road use in their homeland. For those who have tried to register keis in the state, the main sticking point was emissions testing, which is required in certain counties, most of them in the Front Range, where much of the state's residents (and their emitting vehicles) are located. Unfortunately, some would-be kei drivers learned of this too late; it was possible to get a temporary plate for a kei vehicle, but without passing the emissions exam, these owners couldn't get their mini automobile registered. Tales of palm-greasing and dubious registration tactics abound on Reddit. In counties that don't require emissions testing as part of the vehicle registration process, this was a non-issue. Colorado joins 29 other states that have laws allowing kei vehicles on public roads. They are: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Like Colorado, some locales restrict which roads kei vehicles can use based on speed limit, with a handful kept to roads with 25-mph-or-lower maxes. Even where keis are deemed legal, there may be additional hurdles to clear for registration or restrictions placed on their road use, which can vary by jurisdiction, so be sure to do your homework before pressing "Buy It Now" on that auction. In New Hampshire, for example, a kei vehicle can only travel within a 25-mile radius of its owner's residence and only on roads with a speed limit of 35 mph or less. Several states—Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and West Virginia—have restrictions in place, many of them specific to kei trucks, which may be limited to farm or agricultural use. New York requires compliance with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and emissions requirements, which requires expensive retrofit work and is therefore prohibitive, especially since many keis can be bought and imported for several thousand dollars. Rhode Island is already starting to clamp down on kei registrations while legislation is pending. The states of Alaska, Delaware, and Hawaii, as well as Washington, D.C., have no laws concerning kei vehicles. And then there are the states where kei registration is explicitly prohibited: Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, and Vermont. You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Before You Buy That Kei Truck, These Are The U.S. States They're Road-Legal In
If you love a packaging miracle, it doesn't get much cooler than a kei car. Or a kei truck. Or a kei van. These Japanese-market exclusives are small in size, use tiny engines, and yet are still ridiculously practical. Many of the best ones are also finally old enough to import into the U.S. under the 25-year exemption, and even in fantastic condition, they usually aren't very expensive, either. You'll have to get used to driving on the right side of the car, but their tiny footprints should make that easier than you might think. The real problem is that many states have decided these specific old cars are too dangerous, and you might not be allowed to register your new-to-you purchase. Unfortunately for kei car owners, figuring out whether or not kei cars are legal in your state isn't quite as simple as looking up a list of states that ban them, checking to make sure your state isn't on the list, then confidently clicking the "Place Bid" button. Some states allow them but limit how fast you can drive them. Others technically allow them but won't let you drive them on public roads. Thankfully, World Population Review, a data-gathering and visualization site, keeps a list of kei car laws in various states that can help you figure other whether the kei car you want is legal or not. Read more: The Best-Looking Pickup Trucks Ever Sold, According To Our Readers To keep things simple, let's start with the states that outright ban kei cars. Those states are: Connecticut Iowa Maryland Nevada New Jersey New Mexico Oregon Vermont Kei cars are also explicitly illegal in Georgia, although if you want to use one to do work on your farm, it does allow an exemption for agricultural purposes. You still can't register your kei truck in Georgia or drive it on public roads, but they won't stop you from using it on your property. Or, at least, that was the case until recently. Georgia is currently waiting on the Governor to sign a bill that would make kei cars legal again. Well, sort of. Will all of these states allow you to register an original Volkswagen Beetle that's even older and less safe than a Honda Acty? Of course. For some reason, these states are only concerned with how safe kei cars are. If you drive anything else, who cares about you or your passengers? Your knees can be the crumple zone in any other vehicle as long as it doesn't threaten to cut into Big Truck's profits. Some states haven't explicitly banned all kei cars, but they do place heavy restrictions on them. Basically, think of these states like Georgia but without the Department of Revenue telling everyone they're super illegal. In a way, it's a distinction without a difference, but no one ever accused kei car bans of making sense. The states that currently restrict kei car use include: Colorado - Off-road only Minnesota - Only legal if local laws allow it Montana - Only legal if local laws allow it New York - Legal if modified to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Environmental Protection Agency requirements Pennsylvania - Strict inspection requirements make registering kei cars for road use difficult, but it is possible Rhode Island - Hostile toward kei cars in general Virginia - Legal to register as antique or special-use vehicles, but road use is heavily restricted West Virginia - Only legal for agricultural purposes with a limit on how far you can drive them away from your property Some states are sane enough not to outright ban kei cars or regulate them so aggressively, it's almost impossible to legally drive one on a public road. That said, even states that haven't unfairly banned kei cars sometimes limit how fast you're allowed to legally drive them. Sadly, while 55 mph is technically fast enough to drive on a state highway or interstate, that doesn't necessarily mean these states allow it. You should make sure you understand your local laws before buying a kei car anyway, but you really want to read up on the specifics in these states: Alabama - 25 mph Arkansas - 55 mph Florida - 35 mph Illinois - 35 mph Louisiana - 55 mph Maine - 35 mph Missouri - 45 mph New Hampshire - 35 mph North Dakota - 55 mph Ohio - 35 mph South Carolina - 55 mph Tennessee - 35 mph Utah - 50 mph Alaska, Delaware and Washington, D.C. don't have any laws on the books specific to kei cars, so if you live in one of those states, they aren't illegal. If you live in Alaska, though, there may be local restrictions that limit where or how you can use your kei car. As for other states where kei cars are legal, most of them require you to jump through several hoops if you want to register one. So while it's good news if your state is included here, that's only the first step toward ensuring your kei car is street legal. The states where kei cars are legal include: Arizona California Idaho Indiana Kansas Kentucky Massachusetts Mississippi Nebraska North Carolina Oklahoma South Dakota Texas Washington Wisconsin Wyoming Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
