Space-saving urban vehicle concept by Rudolf Mihu

Romanian industrial designer Rudolf Mihu has created a brand new urban mobility solution that looks to serve as a smart for-hire vehicle for the cities. The urban vehicle concept is petite in size and is super compact which allows it to be stacked more efficiently at the hiring stations as well as occupying less space in parking lots and streets when in use. The concept highlights the space shortage problem in urban areas which more often than not is caused by the use of space-eating vehicle that are used by their owners just to commute to and from work. By re-imagining the daily commute vehicle in a smaller, more compact ad more efficient zero emission vehicles, the design also addresses key environmental and energy-efficiency issues that plague our society today.

Urban vehicle Concept

When parked at the hiring docks, the side signal lights of the urban vehicle are turned green indicating that the vehicle is free for shared use. When stood in the maximum tilt position in platoon parking mode, the vehicles occupy less space. When a user needs to hire a vehicle, they simply have to chooses a vehicle and opens up the windshield/door to gain access to the cabin. When the windshield is opened, the entire vehicle tilts down to a medium 23 degree position allowing the driver to get inside as comfortably as possible.

Before boarding the vehicle, the user can store a small handbag, a suitcase or another piece of small luggage in the space behind the seat. The user can then unlock the driving console from the handle to bring it down to a more suitable position for entering the cabin. On being occupied, the side lights of the vehicle become orange indicating that the vehicle is in use.

Before the user can enter the vehicle, the tilt control handle automatically comes down to the lowest level and the vehicle stands parallel to the ground making easy the access the cabin. The driver can then adjust the seat to a custom level maneuvering the vehicle tilt and the position of the driving console, either bringing it down or taking it up, and leaving space for the driver to occupy the seat comfortably.

When the wind shield is closed and the console and seat are adjusted for driving, the vehicle automatically lifts itself up to an optimum medium driving position. As vehicle is ready to leave the parking lot and the platoon, the wheels of the vehicle turn 90 degrees allowing it to leave the parking lot sideways thus avoiding unnecessary movements and preventing energy expenditure. When the vehicle is on the road, the wheels get back to normal parallel position and the vehicle become ready to be driven.

The vehicle is designed to be able to drive though the city adjusting itself to a configuration best suitable for it. It can remain tilted up at a medium level occupying the minimum space in traffic or adjusted to slow-moving traffic in limited-speed zones while cruising in less congested traffic, the vehicle adopts a more aerodynamically posture optimizing its position for best performance. When the final destination is reached, the vehicle can be parked in the platoon parking lot in the tilted position after the driver has disembarked from the vehicle.

Via: Behance