Collapsible Electric Cars May Ease Public Transit Woes

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology wants to reinvent the way people get around downtown: the City Car. Rather than slogging through a brutal summer day to a train stop or waiting in sub-zero temperatures to catch a bus, MIT’s Media Lab envisions this electric-powered, compact two-seater as a city-dweller’s best friend.

Using the Zip Car rental system as a model, the City Car could be rented at a kiosk and returned to multiple locations at the driver’s convenience. Oh, and the vehicles stack like shopping carts, allowing as many as eight to fit into a single parking space. While the City Car isn’t on the market yet, cities with overburdened public transportation systems have begun to show interest, enticed by the prospect of an emissions-free vehicle powered by an electric motor in each wheel. This independent wheel system also allows the City Car to pivot on a dime, making tight urban parking less of a hassle.

As for highway driving, the City Car can top 55 mph, but designers want to improve on both speed and the car’s limited range if the vehicle is ever to be used in a long-distance-driving city, like Los Angeles. For now, the car remains an interesting prospect in the movement to reduce urban congestion and make life easier for city drivers.

MIT offers City Car for the masses (CNET News)

Comments

I don't think it will ease congestion. 40 people on one bus is much more efficient than 30-40 of these things running around. Not to mention the 500-1000 people on a subway train. This is not a replacement of public transportation.

Urban streets are already overcrowded and I don't think this is an answer.

LM,
You're right. It's more about overtaxed public transit systems like the one we have here in Chicago versus easing congestion. Although...no big stinky tailpipes like a city bus.

Who cleans them up when they get trashed?
Who gets sued when they crash?
Who evicts the person living in one?
How many frat guys will fit in one?

DT - buses here in Boston now use clean diesel and there is no cloud of smoke. They are wicked loud though. I think investing in hybrid and electric bus technology may be better.

But I shouldn't say too much, MIT is right across the street.

These are really cool, but I don't think they'd be very popular in houston, nor do I think the smart be. We are very congested, and also very spread out.

I think someone should make a high end bus line, or something nicer than the run of the mill bus with out the riding the bus stigma and more people would give up their cars. Also, LM, we have lost of hybrid buses here, you can tell by the absence of smoke and the giant battery pack on top, plus some have stickers on them, and they are really cool. I haven't been on one, but I have seen them pull away from a stop and they look really quick. I know that is not the point of the technology, but it is a cool side effect. Does anyone know if they actually are faster?

The Hybrid busses here have noticable faster acceleration from a dead stop - enough that you REALLY need to hold on when they pull away.

not to mention that our public transportation system is rear death...the doomsday plan for our CTA was supposed to come out on Sunday, but was postponed.

this though, sounds like a good idea for city driving. they can add regenerative brakes to boost range because city driving is mainly stop and go. im not crazy about the rental idea, but i would consider buying one.

This is just a rehash of countless "car of the future" concepts for years now (cue: Ed Norton)

I remember Toyota used to do a concept like this every few years. So MIT is basicly wasting time plagerizing old Syd Mead concepts.

What about a hanging monorail? It would swoop down to near street level for stops but then raise high enough to clear traffic.

Although the "Suburban to Urban" commuting model is starting to die out, getting down town with no traffic, only a few stops and no lights would REALLY get people's attention. An El would also be easier to build over existing roads as opposed to these light rail projects that either take over existing roads (to their detriment) or spend years trying to survey, plan, buy and develop new right of ways for the trains. Going over head on existing roads hasn't been done much in almost 40 years.

Going overhead lost appeal because of the blight they cause - overhead. Blocking sunlight, etc. Street light rail is really a joke, and an attempt to get people to not drive - that rarely works. Regular buses or BRT is much less expensive than light rail and can carry just as many people in the same amount of time.

The public perception about riding with "bus people" has to change. I think $5/gal gas will do that, all the while transit agencies are buying nicer buses with lots of technology. Being able to go online and see when the next bus is coming is spreading, in addition to easy payment cards etc.

We have new clean diesel buses here that lack the smoke too - so being 'hybrid' is not necessary for smoke, but it does improve emissions dramatically.