Results

European and Asian cities have long been home to tiny, compact cars such as Mercedes-Benz’s Smart fortwo or Ford’s Ka model. Overseas cities without the suburban sprawl of U.S. cities long ago learned to love these miniature vehicles. It seems, however, that the American market is ready for a small fuel-efficient car which can maneuver quickly and easily through our worst traffic and parking nightmares. Urban dwellers may soon be introduced to “CityCars”, the product of a research initiative at Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Lab. CityCars are battery-powered electric vehicles with a remarkable wheel design that allows them to be stacked like shopping carts at major transportation crossroads, such as subway stops and train stations.

These remarkable little cars are cleaner than any gas-powered vehicle, even if charged from electricity produced by burning coal. They are recharged when stacked, and can travel for approximately 10 miles on a full battery. All four wheels rotate, allowing the CityCar to be parked almost anywhere. Instead of a traditional drive train, each wheel on the CityCar is equipped with a “wheel robot”, which is an all-inclusive motor, suspension, steering, and brake system. The stripped-down chassis can then fold up and allow the CityCars to be stacked. According to designers, up to six CityCars can fit in one traditional parking space!

The proposed business model for CityCars is delightfully simple: to use one, you would swipe a pre-authorized payment card, remove one from the stack, and drive off. You would be able to return them to any stack in the city, and they would come with digital locks and GPS units to prevent theft. The car will also host a high-tech computer system to help the driver find available parking spaces and avoid potholes. Developers stress that CityCar is not meant as a replacement for a traditional vehicle, but simply a supplement for use in congested city centers. GM is rumored to be following the CityCar’s development closely, and MIT researchers are hoping the auto maker may adapt their prototype to display at concept car shows in 2008.

While vehicle-sharing businesses have been around for awhile (think zipcar), this new initiative is a step towards making the proverbial community bike as environmentally friendly as, well, a bike. But is it just a glorified bicycle for those too lazy or busy to pedal around the city? The CityCar’s size certainly doesn’t make it useful for more than getting from point A to point B (without carrying much of anything with you). Many of my urban-dwelling friends don’t own cars, but do subscribe to a car-sharing service like zipcar for large grocery runs, weekend trips, or buying furniture. The CityCar would be less than ideal for any of these activities. There is also the question of safety. CityCar designers are working towards meeting government safety and speed regulations, but will the miniature car’s compliance be enough to convince SUV-driving Americans of its viability? Time (and oil prices) will tell if we can eschew our gas-guzzling ways, but CityCar is definitely a step in the right direction.

Monday, October 22nd, 2007 Both comments and pings are currently closed.

By Haley January Eckels