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Folding Car Can Be Stacked, Stored, and Recharged
The City Car, half the size of a normal compact car, is more than just a small, electric two-seater, though. Foldable to roughly half its size, the car is designed to be stacked, stored and recharged at central locations throughout a city. Franco Vairani, the car's designer, says, "you would just go and swipe your card and take the first one available and drive away." Researchers see the City Car as part of a shared transit system within urban areas -- it isn't a replacement for full-size cars or public transportation.
As reported by Engadget a couple months ago, MIT is working with GM to build a prototype, and researchers hope to begin manufacturing the City Car within three to four years. We're all for cutting emissions and traffic, but we're also anxious to see if the golf-cart sized City Car fares well in crash tests!
From Engadget and The Boston Globe
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Comments
76
Subscribe to commentsKevinMar 11th 2008 1:15PM
It also will become your coffin when you get into a car accident with another vehicle.
surferdivabianxMar 11th 2008 1:22PM
Neat Idea....But, whats the point of stacking if not everyone will have bought the car! I giggled when I read this article...
It looks like a airport security car..LOL
Obviously not for your a-typical american family
WayneMar 11th 2008 1:36PM
Share a car? What are they nuts? What if things were left in it, such as guns, drugs, blood stains, sex toys, or a real stinky fart? Sounds like a criminal's dream and a C.S.I. nightmare to me!
atedensjjMar 11th 2008 1:41PM
sherry lilly you silly girl. Car not for familys dumb ass
Darth NemesisMar 11th 2008 1:43PM
Why GM? Why Detroit? You've got to be kidding... that's a Honda if I ever saw one!
WendyMar 11th 2008 2:08PM
Why does everyone think if something has four wheels and an engine, it automatically has to survive a head-on with a bus? Scooters don't, motorcycles don't, bicycles don't.
Motorcycles are, by their very nature, more economical than cars. They get better mileage, wear out fewer tires, and fit in smaller spaces than the most econimical cars. The disadvantages are you can get wet, your hair can either get windblown or helmet-mashed, and skirts are difficult to impossible.
If the DOT would just accept a class of "4-wheel motorcycles" we could seriously improve our nations eco.
MitchMar 11th 2008 2:09PM
How often do you see a full family in an SUV? This would be good to have outside a major city, you park in a large lot and trade for one of these smaller vehicles to get you into and around on city streets. Concessions could be made for folks that would use them, and higher parking fees could be accessed to those who still needed to bring their larger vehicles in to town.
This would be ideal for a large number of folks, it's not meant to replace a car for everyday use. Some of these small cars can be virtually indestructible.
Raymond GrantMar 11th 2008 2:10PM
When the gurus at MIT build a portable house and limo to match the car,THEN-maybe-there will be legit interest in this item. Until then,it's "Jetsons" time...
JenMar 11th 2008 2:39PM
Shared vehicle systems are already in place in many cities. In fact are very popular. I personally experience this system in Wash DC - called Zip Cars. A Zip Car is parked at various locations, you sign up for a Zip Car membership and fee, and you can sign out the car all done online. The car was always maintained and clean - part of the contract / rules. Zip Cars uses a wide variety of vehicle types and I don't think you could request what type of vehicle - but overall was worth the cost and value of not having to own a car. This new car type sounds great - would be nice to have here in downtown LA.
joel rambaudMar 11th 2008 3:46PM
FUNERAL DIRECTORS ARE BE SUING AS THEY WONT BE ABLE TO SELL GASKET.
iso400Mar 11th 2008 4:04PM
Good catch Eric. I guess my point about using a correctly spelled incorrect word in place of the correct word was to subtle. (reed-read, right-write) However, "breaking" has been changed to "braking" in the article. I would not comment about words or grammar used in this comment section, but people getting paid to write articles are fair game.
iso400Mar 11th 2008 4:17PM
Oops. That should have been "too subtle."
Mickey DeMar 11th 2008 4:32PM
get a donkey and have hay stations put around the city give the manure to all the environment nuts to put in their gardens
LarryMar 11th 2008 6:43PM
If I see this car on the road, I will not only laugh at the car but the drive too. lol, haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
ichiwazaryuMar 12th 2008 5:45PM
I love it. No I wouldn't pack the kids into it but if I was going to go to the city or on a date, yes I'd take it. And I'd love to have one at home to keep.
AdamMar 23rd 2008 4:52PM
Ok, I know this car and the concept of car sharing is very foreign to the lifestyle of most Americans. That being said, I live in New York City. I am a member of Zipcar, and love it. Zipcar is regular cars, at lots around the city, that you can rent for basically $10.00/hr. When you live in a large city, and don't need a car daily, there are times when its much more time and cost effective to rent a car than try to navagate the subways, or shell out the money for a cab or a car service. No this isn't for taking your family 600 miles away to visit grandma. This is for the daily errands, and tasks that all of you suburbanites take for granted. And please don't reply back with "How could you fit a week of groceries in that thing?" or the like. I know this is an odd concept for many, but a) when you live in a pedestrian city normally you can only buy what you can carry and b) we don't buy food for a week.