MIT Unveils Stackable, Environmentally Friendly Rental Cars

Researchers in the "Smart Cities" group at the MIT Media Lab are set to unveil two low-cost electric vehicles this week at the EICMA Motorcyle show in Milan. They are hoping that these vehicles will help revolutionize mass transit, as well as alleviate pollution. A prototype of the "City Car", the group's foldable electric car, is scheduled to follow in 2008.

The "Smart Cities" group sees the vehicles as key part in a strategy to reduce pollution with electric power, expand limited public space by folding and stacking vehicles like shopping carts, and alleviating congestion by letting people rent and return the vehicles to racks located near transportation hubs, such as train stations, airports, and bus depots.

William Mitchell, director of the "Smart Cities" research group said, ""We're looking at urban personal mobility in a much more sustainable way than the private automobile provides."

They believe that their strategy of housing the vehicles near transportation centers will solve the so-called "last mile" problem, which is the inconvenient distance between any major transit stop and a person's final destination. With MIT's new electric vehicles, you'll get the benefit of mobility on demand, be able to get to your destination, and reduce your negative impact on the environment.

At the center of the electric vehicles is an omnidirectional robot wheel that the researchers have developed. it encases an electric-drive motor, as well as suspension, steering, and braking systems. Because the vehicles do not have an engine or mechanical parts between the wheels at the driver's controls, the vehicle system offers great flexibility in design. With the fold-up capability of the vehicles, you can fit 6 to 8 of these MIT vehicles in one traditional parking space.

The vehicle's wheels enable an incredible degree of maneuverability, and instead of making u-turns, the car is able to spin on the spot. When the driver turns each wheel 90 degrees, the car can parallel park by moving sideways.

Development of the car was sponsored by General Motors.