MIT's stackable city car

[Queasy]

Link (pics in link)

While public transportation is a great green urban option, the ?last mile? problem is a real shortcoming- referring to the conundrum of the extra distance from your bus or train stop to your doorstep (while this may seem trivial to some, Midwestern commuters can attest to the annoyance of this problem). The folks at MIT think that they may have a solution to that problem: The City Car, a stackable electric two-passenger city vehicle, would combine the best features of mass transit, car-sharing, and personal vehicles in a high-density, high-convenience system.

Meant to work more like a car sharing service than that of a personal vehicle, MIT hopes to change the way that we think about personal transportation. Stacks of vehicles could be placed throughout the city to create a small network that is linked to the existing mass transportation systems within the city. When a person comes gets off a bus or train, they can just hop into one of these vehicles and go about their business. They can either drop it off at the vehicle stack at their destination, if there happens to be one, or returned to their original stack, where the vehicle will be recharged and wait for the next person to take it.

The cars are electric two-passenger vehicles. Rather than using a single engine motor, the car comes equipped with four in-wheel electric motors, powered by lithium-ion batteries. The electric motor and suspension system of the vehicle eliminate the need for traditional drive train configurations, like gear boxes, thus removing the need for a large engine block, thus making the cars smaller and more maneuverable. Furthermore, the vehicle is designed with 360 degrees of steering capability, allowing it to maneuver in small spaces and even park sideways.

This is an idea that makes sense. Think of how much time you spend not using your vehicle. Most of the time, for most people obviously, public transport should be more than enough to meet their transportation requirements, but by solving the last mile problem, MIT could change the way that we do our traveling. A prototype is expected next year.

Sounds interesting but it also reminds me of a program that one of the local Atlanta area counties had with leaving bicycles out for public use. So many of the bicycles ended up being stolen that the program was terminated. Granted, a small car isn't the same as a bicycle but the general public is notorious for not properly taking care of something that is not their own.

 

[intogamer]

edit:ninja edit

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: intogamer
how the fuck you unparallel park that shit?

They are community cars. Think of them like shopping carts. You take the car that is at the front of the stack and drive off.

 

[FoBoT]

morons
they need to go back to their hippy communes

 

[warmodder]

Whats preventing anybody from just taking one and using it as a personal vehicle? I'm sure the proprietary charing system can be worked around. Seems like a good idea on paper, but there'll probably never be any around to use if they're all stolen/used/destroyed etc.

 

[aircooled]

Originally posted by: warmodder
Whats preventing anybody from just taking one and using it as a personal vehicle? I'm sure the proprietary charing system can be worked around. Seems like a good idea on paper, but there'll probably never be any around to use if they're all stolen/used/destroyed etc.

GPS tracking

 

[Sahakiel]

Originally posted by: aircooled

Originally posted by: warmodder
Whats preventing anybody from just taking one and using it as a personal vehicle? I'm sure the proprietary charing system can be worked around. Seems like a good idea on paper, but there'll probably never be any around to use if they're all stolen/used/destroyed etc.

GPS tracking

Wire cutters.

 

[SpunkyJones]

ATOT effect in full force.

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: warmodder
Whats preventing anybody from just taking one and using it as a personal vehicle? I'm sure the proprietary charing system can be worked around. Seems like a good idea on paper, but there'll probably never be any around to use if they're all stolen/used/destroyed etc.

If it's anything like a Zipcar, they'll require you to register your driver's license and credit card in advance and then charge you by the hour while you're using it.

 

[Jeff7]

Yeah, it'd be a great idea, in a world inhabited by something other than humans. If those things aren't all stolen, they'll be abused like crazy. Expect to see a few million videos on Youtube of morons taking them out for a spin (literally, thanks to the 360 degree steering), and doing who knows what else with them. Or people might take a crap on the seat in the hopes that the next person will sit in it. Or rig them with cameras for the hell of it. Who knows what else. People can get creative when they're being destructive idiots.

Now if they get the cost down to $2 apiece, then it might be feasible, so as to replace the entire fleet once it's been destroyed after the first week.

Think of how much time you spend not using your vehicle. Most of the time, for most people obviously, public transport should be more than enough to meet their transportation requirements, but by solving the last mile problem, MIT could change the way that we do our traveling. A prototype is expected next year.

Yes, there's a lot of time spent not using the vehicle. The problem starts at rush hour though, when everyone wants a vehicle, at the same time.

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
If it's anything like a Zipcar, they'll require you to register your driver's license and credit card in advance and then charge you by the hour while you're using it.

Fake ID + stolen credit card = free car.

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: warmodder
Whats preventing anybody from just taking one and using it as a personal vehicle? I'm sure the proprietary charing system can be worked around. Seems like a good idea on paper, but there'll probably never be any around to use if they're all stolen/used/destroyed etc.

Probably the same thing as zipcar.

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
If it's anything like a Zipcar, they'll require you to register your driver's license and credit card in advance and then charge you by the hour while you're using it.

Fake ID + stolen credit card = free car.

The zipcar system works quite well actually. I have used them for the last year and a half and have never heard of any shens.

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
Yeah, it'd be a great idea, in a world inhabited by something other than humans. If those things aren't all stolen, they'll be abused like crazy. Expect to see a few million videos on Youtube of morons taking them out for a spin (literally, thanks to the 360 degree steering), and doing who knows what else with them. Or people might take a crap on the seat in the hopes that the next person will sit in it. Or rig them with cameras for the hell of it. Who knows what else. People can get creative when they're being destructive idiots.

Now if they get the cost down to $2 apiece, then it might be feasible, so as to replace the entire fleet once it's been destroyed after the first week.

The Zipcar guys already have a solution for fighting stupid drivers as well. If you get more than 2 "violations" on your record in an 18 month period (traffic ticket or accident), you're banned from using the service.

I'm sure that these things will get abused anyway, but probably no more than the average rental car.

 

[m1ldslide1]

Yeah I say gps locator + registration/sign-out system FTW. Of course you'll lose a few, but if they're inexpensive then the benefits should outweigh.