The Folding Stackable City Car (Boston Glob)

[eppur_se_muova]

Researchers at the MIT Media Lab envision a fleet of lightweight stackable electric cars that can help reduce congestion and urban energy waste.

By Robert Weisman, Globe Staff | February 18, 2007

CAMBRIDGE -- Will the car of the future be foldable?

That's the vision of a team of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Media Lab. With backing from General Motors Corp., they are building a prototype of a lightweight electric vehicle that can be cheaply mass-produced, rented by commuters under a shared-use business model, and folded and stacked like grocery carts at subway stations or other central sites.

It's called the City Car, and the key to the concept lies in the design of its wheels. Dreamers have been reinventing the wheel since the days of cave dwellers. But the work underway in "the Cube," the Media Lab's basement studio, may be the most ambitious remake yet.

The MIT team has transformed the lowly wheel into a sophisticated robotic drive system that will power the City Car. Embedded in each of its four wheels will be an electric motor, steering and braking mechanisms, suspension, and digital controls, all integrated into sealed units that can be snapped on and off.

And under the hood . . . well, there won't be a hood on the City Car. Just an eggshell-shaped glass plate -- part roof, part windshield -- framing the modular cabin and stretching almost to the chassis.





***
more: http://www.boston.com/cars/news/articles/2007/02/18/the_car_20/

graphics: http://www.boston.com/cars/news/articles/2007/02/18/citycar

[SteppingRazor]

1. To quote The Marathon Man, "Is it safe?"

That thing looks like the last place you'd want to be in an accident.

[Vilis Veritas]

2. Technology like this will only work...

if you can get the big trucks off the road or at least get dedicated lanes...

I already feel uncomfortable here in Texas...I drive a VW and I am sorely outnumbered...

Peace.

[demnan]

3. Wouldn't mass transit systems, carpool commuting

and smartly designed suburbs be a better solution? I have to admit, though, it is cute and I wouldn't mind driving one on the weekends, however it needs a little more room for the groceries.

[orleans]

4. now there's a safe car--one you can just fold up and put in your purse

when you're done using it