City Pod

Proof of concept: A one-seater car for urban commuting

Objective: 

To demonstrate the feasibility of a pod (micro car) in an urban setting

Why the need for a new form of transportation: 

1. Traffic congestion is a huge problem in most major cities in the world

 - http://traffic.findthedata.org

 - http://media.miamiherald.com/smedia/2013/02/04/18/40/K7J8w.So.56.pdf


2. Gasoline cars are expensive due to recurring fuel costs and substantial wear and tear

 - http://energy.gov/articles/egallon-how-much-cheaper-it-drive-electricity

 - http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/06/24/gas-vs-electric-cars-cost-comparison/


3. Rise of a generation of eco-conscious consumers yearning for a cost effective mode of transportation that causes considerably less harm to the environment than the standard gasoline car

 - http://www.prweekus.com/consumers-getting-more-environmentally-conscious/article/287203/


4. Finding a parking spot has become a huge hassle

 - http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/11020389-the-average-time-it-takes-to-find-parking-in-a-big-city-is-20-minutes-and-one-in-four-drivers-has-argued-over-a-parking-spot-in-the-past-year

 - http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ibm-and-streetline-address-one-of-the-great-unsolved-city-problems-parking-130694848.html


5.   Majority of drivers drive less than 35 miles each day on average

 - http://content.sierraclub.org/evguide/myths-vs-reality


6.  Most cars in a city during working days have a vehicle occupancy of only slightly more than 1. there is no need for a 5 seater car for a working adult who predominantly uses the car to only commute to work. 

 - http://trac29.trac.washington.edu/wiki/page/show/AverageCarOccupancy


(The links provided above function to prove the points put forward in addition to providing evidence for it. Please keep in mind that the links account for only a fraction of the research that can be found and is by no means meant to be comprehensive)


Characteristics of the proposed city pod:

1. Very narrow. So narrow that you could fit two pods in a single lane

2. Fully electric, potentially have a range of 50 - 100 miles on a single charge

3. Fitted with solar panels

4. Build is as sturdy as the average car, equipped with airbags

5. Would look sleek (not geeky like most small vehicles)

6. Be less than $5000

7. Light enough to be pulled around when not being driven (optional)

8. Small enough that it would take up only one quarter of the space of a parking lot.

9. Combines the structural integrity of a car with the maneuverability and guile of a bicycle

10. Could potentially be compacted down the middle to save even more space on parking

11. Phone acts as steering wheel and key (optional)

12. Windscreen is transparent, foldable plastic